Chilly at home? Come into town where things are hot and happening! Here’s a line-up of musts-see events and experiences.
EVENTS
Decorex
16 to 19 June 2022
Decorex returns to the Cape Town CBD under the theme “Reimagined”, which is in the spirit of change happening across Africa in the interior, design and lifestyle industries. In addition to the latest décor trends and design industry insights, designers will share ways we can “reimagine”. For the first time, the event will feature a summit that will run alongside the events and exhibits of the freshly conceived Decorex. Various speakers will focus on “design as a broad discipline across various sectors”.
Where: CTICC, 1 Lower Long St
When: 10h00 – 18h00 (Thursday), 10h00 – 18h00 (Friday and Saturday) and 10h00 – 18h00 (Sunday)
Cost: R25 – R120
www.decorex.co.za
Youth Jazz Festival
Artscape is big on uplifting young people. Its latest initiative worth supporting is the Youth Jazz Festival which gives young jazz musicians a platform and focuses on continuous skills development within the jazz genre. Following a call for auditions, the centre will stage selected school jazz bands on 17 June 2022 and showcase young jazz soloists on 18 June.
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre, D.F. Malan St
When: Bookings will open soon
Cost: R150
www.artscape.co.za
Rhythm of the Night
28 June 2022
If you love music with a Spanish flair, don’t miss this production featuring pop and rock hits by various artists including Gypsy Kings, Santana, Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estafan, Pitbull and many more.
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre, D.F. Malan St
When: Bookings will open soon
Cost: R150
www.artscape.co.za
Krotoa: Eva van de Kaap
3 to 5 June 2022
This play brings to life the neglected story and history of the 17th century Khoi woman, Krotoa van Meerhof, who was an interpreter and negotiator alongside Jan van Riebeeck. It sheds light on what happened then and what is still happening in the modern world so viewers can be prepared for the future.
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre, D.F. Malan St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R100
https://bit.ly/3NzefIn
Dinner and a movie at Odeon Cinema
Ongoing
Pepperclub Hotel has a five-star retro cinema that’s ideal for a memorable night out in the city centre. It has 29 luxurious seats and is available to hotel guests for free. Members of the public can visit the venue during the "dinner and movie night" which takes place every week. A ticket includes a one-course dinner at Pepperclub Hotel, movie and popcorn.
Where: Pepperclub Hotel, cnr Loop & Pepper sts
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R265
https://bit.ly/36JMop8
Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cape Town Opera performing at City Hall
Cape Town Opera’s 2022 Season
Now on till September 2022
Cape Town Opera’s 2022 Season is underway, with great performances on the cards from now until October in the Cape Town CBD and beyond. After teaming up with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra during Easter, Cape Town Opera will join forces again in June with the orchestra for a Duet Gala Concert. Other performances include Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro and L'elisir d'amore by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti.
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre and outside the CBD
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R180 – R620
https://capetownopera.co.za/operas/
Meet the Makers
Now on till August 2022
If you’ve ever dreamed of tasting some of South Africa’s best wines and their creators over a decadent meal, now’s your chance. Grub & Vine has an impressive list of winemakers coming up between now and August, including Remhoogte Wine Estate, Raats Family Wines, De Kleine Wijn Koöp, Cape Point Vineyards, Brookdale Estate, Paserence and Miles Mossop Wines. The evening includes five courses and five wines.
Where: Grub & Vine, 103 Bree St
When: 08h30 – 22h00
Cost: R750 per person
www.grubandvine.co.za
Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s Winter Symphonies
2 to 30 June 2022
The first concert of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s winter season with pianist Leo Gevisser is already sold out. Don’t miss out as tickets to the remaining three are selling out quickly. Performances include Magnificent Mozart, Prokofiev and Sibelius, Organ Vibes with James Jones on the organ as well as a celebration of the youth featuring the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. The main attraction is the duet gala on 11 June with Cape Town Opera. It’ll be conducted by Polish-German conductor Adam Szmidt and directed by Christine Crouse.
Where: Cape Town City Hall, Darling St
When: 20h00
Cost: R 275 – 350
https://www.cpo.org.za/new/concerts/
Brunch Club at The Blue Room
Every Saturday
Enjoy a sumptuous and leisurely brunch to the sounds of jazz at Grub & Vine’s Blue Room on Saturdays. This is a unique experience with a fresh take on brunch classics with an option to choose from delicious à la carte dishes or the whole menu. What’s more, bubbles from Graham Beck are to be enjoyed all day.
Where: The Blue Room, 103 Bree St
When: 11h00 – 15h00
www.grubandvine.co.za
Night Market on Greenmarket Square
Now on till 6 October 2022
All corners of the Cape Town CBD are being revived with exciting events and experiences. The next big thing is the Night Market on Greenmarket Square. Following its success during the festive season, it’s been extended and will now take place on First Thursdays from March until October 2022. This City of Cape Town-backed initiative is a family-friendly affair with music, food, clothes, jewellery, and crafts from a range of stalls available.
Where: Greenmarket Square
When: 18h30 – 01h00 (Every first Thursday of the month)
Cost: Free
DE TRIANA A GRANADA
3 to 4 June 2022
If you’d like to support rising artists, check out this production which features eight young artists from The Cristina Heeren Foundation of Flamenco Art. Through their commitment, they have become great flamenco performers and are making their mark in national and international festivals and theatres. Flamenco is defined as a Spanish art form made up of guitar playing, song and dance.
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre, D.F. Malan St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R350 – R450
https://bit.ly/37Yiiyt
Cape Town’s Most Wanted
9 to 11 June 2022
Catch the 10th edition of Cape Town's Most Wanted featuring the best Hip-hop dancers and choreographers in the Mother City. Over the years, this show has grown in popularity and has succeeded in unearthing the best talent. Organisers say this isn’t a competition but a collaboration that sees Cape Town’s dance community working together to bring out its best. Don’t miss it.
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre, D.F. Malan St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R140
https://bit.ly/3MaN6us
South African International Ballet Competition
26 to 30 July 2022
Catch Africa’s largest ballet contest at Artscape Theatre Centre this July. The South African International Ballet Competition returns as a hybrid event once again and dancers from South Africa and around the world will compete over five days and be put through their paces by renowned international and South African judges.
Where: Online and at Artscape Theatre Centre, D.F. Malan St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R150 - R285
https://bit.ly/3MdcBLV
EXHIBITIONS
Salon Afrique: A Homecoming Reimagined
Great to see the space which formely housed The Fugard Theatre being revived. It’s now called the District Six Homecoming Centre (HCC) and the new exhibition on show, called Salon Afrique, is part of the venue’s launch as a cultural hub. Curated by Beathur Mgoza Baker and Sara Bint Moneer Khan, the exhibition features over 30 African artists. In line with the new space’s ethos, it aims to “unite diverse cultures from across the African continent through visual art in a “home” that represents hope, remembrance, and belonging.
Where: District Six Homecoming Centre (HCC), 15 Buitenkant
When: 09h00 – 16h00 (Monday to Friday)
Cost: Free
www.districtsix.co.za
AVA exhibitions
Now on till 30 June 2022
The Association For Visual Arts (AVA) Gallery has four new exhibitions running until the end of June. These are spread across all the gallery’s spaces on Church Street and include Katherine Bull’s “The Pieces That Find U” assembled from her works spanning 20 years. Then there’s a group show called “Location”, curated by Lesole Tautswala and Shakes Mbolekwana, and “landofmilk / LIVE DIY DEMOS” by Matthew Cannon. The final show is “Greatest Hits”, the only exhibition of the calendar year curated by the gallery director, Mirjam Asmal.
Where: Association For Visual Arts (AVA) Gallery, 35 Church St
When: 10h00 – 17h00 (Tuesday to Friday), 10h00 – 13h00 (Saturday)
Cost: Free
www.ava.co.za
The Space Between
Now on till 30 June 2022
Rising artist Abdus Salaam has his first solo exhibition at THK Gallery. It follows a sold-out presentation in the Tomorrows/Today section of the recent Investec Cape Town Art Fair at the CTICC. His multidisciplinary presentation is spread across all four gallery levels and is not to be missed. Salaam’s work is described as “both a personal journey and a meditation on the nature of existence”.
Where: THK Gallery, 52 Waterkant St
When: 10h00 - 18h00 (Tuesday to Friday), 10h00 - 15h00 (Saturdays)
Cost: Free
www.thkgallery.com
A Point of Departure
Now on till 26 June 2022
This group show has works by Haneem Christian, Rory Emmett, Wooju Lee, Jabu Newman, Mikhailia Petersen, Aviwe Plaatjie and Xhanti Zwelendaba. Using a range of visual and conceptual strategies, the artists explore identity and look at how, “when intentionally played with, the burden of identity may move and shapeshift, becoming a tool of collectivity and belonging”.
Where: EBONY/CURATED, 67 Loop St
When: 09h30 - 17h00 (Monday to Friday), 09h30 - 13h30 (Saturdays)
Cost: Free
www.ebonycurated.com
OPEN 24 HRS ART
Ongoing
OPEN 24 HRS ART in the CBD’s East City is on a mission to make art accessible, and its creators are of the view that “art appreciation is not the preserve of the privileged few”. The space is open 24 hours a day and provides a platform for artists to present their unfiltered ideas. Currently, the gallery has works by artists Bella Knemeyer and Unathi Mkonto on display.
Where: OPEN 24 HRS ART, 50 Harrington St
When: 24/7
Cost: Free
www.open24hrs.co.za
Purebred
Now on till 11 June 2022
99 Loop Gallery is hosting a solo show by Cape Town artist Paul Wallington. In Purebred, Wallington is questioning the various ways people search for meaning in an increasingly complex world. The gallery explains that he “draws parallels between the practice of purebred breeding and the narratives humans create as we make sense of our world”.
Where: 99 Loop Gallery, 99 Loop St
When: 10h00 – 15h00 (Monday to Friday), 10h00 – 14h00 (Saturday)
Cost: Free
www.99loop.co.za
Nelson Mandela legacy exhibition
Ongoing
Cape Town’s majestic City Hall boasts a permanent Nelson Mandela legacy exhibition that's accessible to the public on weekdays. The installation, with interpretive panels, audio-visual and interactive displays, honours Madiba’s history and the country’s long struggle for liberation. One can either do a self or guided tour to see the various phases covered including an early life timeline, the 1940s and 1950s in Cape Town, 1960s events leading to imprisonment, prison years on Robben Island, struggle protests, 1980s negotiations, his release, 1994 democratic elections and presidency and legacy. To book a 45-minute viewing slot, email Mandela.Legacy@capetown.gov.za.
Where: Cape Town City Hall, Darling St
When: 10h00 – 16h00 (Tuesday to Friday)
Cost: Free
https://bit.ly/3JhTQpu
amaHubo
Now on till 30 June 2022
This poignant video installation by Buhlebezwe Siwani explores the relationship between African spiritual beliefs, cosmology and Christianity. Siwani wants people to reflect on the challenges of “rootedness, devotion and healing in our society”.
Where: Iziko Slave Lodge, cnr Adderley and Wale sts
When: 09h30 – 15h30 (Monday to Sunday)
Cost: R30 – R15
www.iziko.org.za
Rethinking the William Fehr Collection
Ongoing
People should not take things at face value and challenge themselves to grow and see the world differently. That’s the aim of this exhibition, curated by Esther Esmyol. While it’s slightly outside of the CCID’s operational footprint at the Castle of Good Hope, it’s significant and worth viewing. It has extensive historical art and objects collected by Cape Town-based businessman Dr William Fehr. Iziko Museums is the custodian of the collection and urges viewers to look at the stories behind what’s presented and see multiple meanings.
Where: Iziko Slave Lodge, cnr Adderley and Wale sts
When: 09h30 – 15h30 (Monday to Sunday)
Cost: R30 – R15
www.iziko.org.za
Dreams as R-evolution
Now on till 17 May 2022
This one-of-a-kind show features sculptural forms, drawings, paintings, photographs and costumes. Artist Coral Bijoux challenges viewers to think deeply about transforming themselves and their environments. Check it out and, as per the show’s four pillars, dare to “reimagine ideas of self, space, authority, power and innocence”.
Where: Iziko South African National Gallery, Government Ave
When: 09h30 – 15h30 (Monday to Sunday)
Cost: R15 – R30
www.iziko.org.za
REGULAR EVENTS
Friday Night Live at The Royal Oyster Bar
Fridays
Catch live music at The Royal Oyster Bar on Friday Night Live. Diarise it so you can ease yourself into the weekend with good music, a selection of drinks and oyster specials. To book, call 071 490 2834.
Where: The Royal Oyster Bar, 17 Bree St
When: 19h00
Cost: Free
https://the-royal-oyster.com/
The Blue Room at Grub & Vine
Ongoing
Treat yourself to the sounds of jazz and blues, delicious cocktails and food at The Blue Room at Grub & Vine. There are two sittings for the evening performances, which take place from Wednesday to Saturday. Thursday nights are reserved for Jazz Jam Sessions, while the other nights are reserved for performances by headline artists. Cocktails and tapas are served from 16h00 daily except for Sundays. Check out the venue’s website and social media pages to see who is performing next. A selection of spirits, wine and beers are also served.
Where: Grub & Vine, 103 Bree St
When: 20h00 & 21h30
Cost: Cover charge of R150 per person (R200 for both sittings) on Wednesday and Friday, and R120 for Jazz Jams on Thursday night.
www.grubandvine.co.za/the-blue-room/
Live music at Local at Heritage Square
Wednesdays
Catch gifted local musicians singing live at Local at Heritage Square on Wednesdays. The food and drink emporium has various venues, including Liam Tomlin’s Mazza and Penny Noire Wine Bar, offering a variety of food and drink options.
Where: Shortmarket St, Local at Heritage Square
When: 18h00 – 21h00
Cost: Free
www.facebook.com/LocalatHeritageSquare
City Sightseeing South Africa
Ongoing
Discover or rediscover Cape Town and its surroundings by hopping on the popular Red Bus by City Sightseeing South Africa. Choose from a range of packages available for adults and kids, including a Hop on Hop Off Tour between the CBD and the V&A Waterfront. The two-day Premium Hop On-Hop Off Ticket includes an option to choose between a Harbour or Canal Cruise in between the three stops.
Where: City Sightseeing South Africa, 81 Long St
When: 09h00 – 16h52
Cost: R49 – R499
www.citysightseeing.co.za/en/cape-town
Sky-Hi Ride at Hotel Sky
Ongoing
Hotel Sky, the Cape Town Central City’s newest hotel, has a 30-metre Sky-Hi Ride on its rooftop. It offers the best views of Cape Town and is reportedly the first of its kind in Africa and only one of seven in the world. Have a look at what’s in store for you here and be sure to book your ticket here.
Fable Music Sessions
Every Saturday
On Saturdays, Fable hosts DJ Tanner Mason who keeps patrons entertained with great music as they indulge in cocktails and good food.
Where: Fable, The Block, cnr Bree and Wale sts
When: 07h00 – 22h00
Cost: Free
www.facebook.com/fablecpt
Gin Saturdays at The Station On Bree
Every Saturday
Where: The Station On Bree (five double G&Ts with garnish)
When: 13h00 – 17h00
Cost: R200
www.thestation.capetown
Story time for children at Book Lounge
Every Saturday
Where: Book Lounge, 71 Roeland St
When: 11h00 (all kids are welcome and there’s no need to RSVP)
Cost: Free
www.booklounge.co.za
First Thursdays
First Thursday of every month
Where: Cape Town CBD including inside galleries and restaurants
When: 17h00 till late
Cost: Free
www.first-thursdays.co.za
IMAGES: Decorex, Homecoming Centre, Cape Town Opera, Flamenco