Artscape Theatre Centre
theaterMajor performing arts centre in Cape Town housing an opera house (1,487 seats), a 540-seat theatre and a 140-seat arena; opened in 1971 and located on reclaimed Foreshore land in the Cape Town CBD.
Upcoming Events (43)
FoCTO Bursary Competition
Finals of the FoCTO Bursary Competition for young South African singers, presented by Opera UCT and Friends of Opera in Cape Town. The Baxter Theatre Centre hosts a showcase of emerging operatic talent and the next generation of SA voices.
Morning Melodies - A Pinch of Celt - Bob Hughes
Morning Melodies at Baxter Theatre Centre presents a Celtic-tinged morning concert by Bob Hughes, part of a senior-friendly series across the Western Cape, offering accessible, professional live music in an intimate setting.
Sin & Salvation – The Story of Johnny Cash
A gripping theatrical musical exploring the life of Johnny Cash, staged at the Baxter Theatre Centre. This biographical production blends storytelling with live country-inflected songs to trace Cash's rise, trials, and enduring hits. An intimate, high-energy show that will resonate with fans of music and theatre alike.
Afrisnaaks
Afrisnaaks brings authentic Afrikaans humour to Baxter Theatre Centre. This lively comedy night features local stand-up acts delivering sharp, relatable jokes about South African life. Expect a warm, intimate theatre atmosphere and a celebration of Afrikaans comedy at UCT's Baxter Theatre.
Stupid Fucking Bird
Aaron Posner’s Stupid Fucking Bird offers a bold, darkly funny reimagining of Chekhov’s The Seagull. Witty, provocative and timely, it probes fame, love, and the quest for meaning through vivid performances at Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town.
Krismis van Map Jacobs
An Afrikaans-language theatre drama at Artscape Theatre Centre, following a feared gang member released on parole after seven years. The production asks whether Map Jacobs has changed and what the return means for a tense Cape Town community.
Master Harold…and the boys
A powerful revival of Athol Fugard’s Master Harold... and the Boys at Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town. Starring Sello Maake kaNcube with Lebohang Motaung and Daniel Anderson, the production probes race, friendship, and resilience in apartheid-era South Africa.
Young Artist Recital: Roelof Temmingh
CTCS presents a Young Artist Recital by Roelof Temmingh at the Baxter Theatre Centre, featuring a Steinway grand piano. The program highlights a rising pianist in an intimate classical setting, blending technical finesse with expressive artistry at a historic campus venue.
SACM Student Showcase
A vibrant SACM Student Showcase at Baxter Theatre Centre features the UCT Symphony Orchestra performing across Opera, Classical, Jazz and African/Pan-African music in a dynamic concert. A celebration of student talent in a premier Cape Town venue, blending diverse musical worlds on one stage.
You should go in
You Should Go In is a moving new drama about family, abandonment, and the complicated road to forgiveness. This intimate production at Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town explores tense relationships with sensitive performances and a powerful, emotional arc.
Manje Manje: An Epic
Manje Manje: An Epic is a theatre piece at Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town. Fresh from a successful run and Fleur du Cap nominations (winning Best Original Music), the show promises a gripping live performance with strong music and storytelling.
Sean Kierman Tribute Concert
An evening tribute concert honoring Sean Kierman, featuring WindWorx and the UCT Symphonic Wind Ensemble at Baxter Theatre Centre. The program highlights wind ensembles and collaborative pieces in a formal homage presented by Cape Town's university music community.
The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival
Cape Town's Jive Cape Town Funny Festival is South Africa's oldest and largest comedy festival, running since 1997 at the Baxter Theatre Centre. A multi-act celebration of stand-up and comedy across the venue, drawing local and international acts for a lively night of laughter.
Morning Melodies - Faried Swartz
Morning Melodies brings a professional, affordable morning concert for senior citizens at Baxter Theatre Centre. Featuring Faried Swartz, the program offers accessible live classical music in a welcoming, daylight setting at a premier Cape Town venue in the Western Cape.
HATCHED ENSEMBLE
HATCHED ENSEMBLE is a new contemporary dance work by Mamela Nyamza at Baxter Theatre Centre, building on her acclaimed 2007 solo HATCHED. The ensemble piece blends bold movement and provocative storytelling to explore identity, power, and resilience in a striking South African stage setting.
Suidoosterfees
Suidoosterfees returns to Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre Centre for a vibrant celebration of culture, creativity, and community. The festival showcases a multi-arts program across music, theatre, and visual arts, highlighting diverse South African talents in a dynamic urban setting.
UCT Big Band celebrates International Jazz Day
The UCT Big Band performs at Baxter Theatre Centre to celebrate International Jazz Day, marking 15 years of the global event. A high-energy big-band program blends swing and contemporary jazz in a stylish Cape Town venue.
THE HERD/LESS
Contemporary dance piece THE HERD/LESS by Mamela Nyamza explores the double meaning of herd—as a collective of people or animals—through visceral movement and sharp stagecraft at Baxter Theatre Centre. A bold, provocative examination of community, identity, and power by a renowned South African choreographer.
6th David Aldred Memorial Prize for Sopranos
SACM singers present classical soprano repertoire at the Baxter Theatre Centre for the 6th David Aldred Memorial Prize for Sopranos, featuring Strauss's Four Last Songs, accompanied by Prof. Jeremy Silver.
15th Annual High School Nasheed Competition
Join the 15th annual High School Nasheed Competition for a faith-inspired showcase of student vocal talent at the Artscape Theatre Centre. This family-friendly evening celebrates youth expression and brings together local schools for a memorable cultural performance in Cape Town.
Stirred Not Shaken
A captivating one-woman dramedy returning to Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre Centre after a sold-out debut at Galloway Theatre in 2025. This intimate solo show blends sharp wit with heartfelt drama, delivering a fresh, engaging performance at Baxter on 12 May 2026.
UCT / SU Vocal Collaboration
A joint vocal concert at Baxter Theatre Centre featuring UCT and SU performers in a collaborative program of choral-and-ensemble works. An intimate university-stage evening blending classical and contemporary repertoire with rich vocal textures in a formal campus setting.
The Killing of a Union Leader
An intense new drama at Artscape Theatre Centre about the fallout after a deadly union strike, following a captain of industry navigating guilt, power, and a decaying city. Sharp dialogue, tense suspense, and stark stagecraft illuminate labor conflict and corruption.
Buzani Kubawo
An isiZulu-language theatre piece staged at Artscape Theatre Centre, exploring love and tradition through intimate storytelling. Housed in Cape Town's iconic arts venue, this powerful drama delivers rich cultural performance and a standout stage experience.
Fragments of Sarah
The UCT Ibuyambo Orchestra presents Fragments of Sarah, an interdisciplinary performance that reflects on the life and legacy of Sarah Baartman through sound, movement, memory, and storytelling at Baxter Theatre Centre. A thoughtful fusion of music and theatre that invites reflection on history and identity.
Morning Melodies - Kim Kallie and Judy Page
Morning Melodies presents a morning concert by Kim Kallie and Judy Page at Baxter Theatre Centre, crafted for senior audiences with accessible, professional vocal repertoire in an intimate Cape Town venue.
Charl du Plessis: Mozart, Mambo & Merlot
CTCS presents Charl du Plessis at Baxter Theatre Centre in a Mozart-focused piano recital centered around a 65-year Steinway grand. The program blends classical mastery with mambo-flavored inflections and a Merlot-inspired mood, highlighting the season's celebrated recital piano.
Makin’ Magic – Family Magic Show
A high-energy family magic show by The College of Magic at Artscape Theatre Centre on June 6, 2026. Makin’ Magic delivers dazzling tricks, lively humor, and audience participation that kids and grown-ups will love.
ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD
A dazzling ballet production of Orpheus in the Underworld at Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town. This witty, glamorous show blends classical dance with operetta flair, delivering sharp wit, lush costumes, and spellbinding stagecraft for a sophisticated theatre crowd.
Artscape Youth Jazz Series 2026
Artscape presents the Youth Jazz Series 2026 at the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town, spotlighting rising jazz talents in a vibrant, urban setting. Originating from the Youth Jazz Festival, the program offers energetic performances by young artists in a landmark venue.
Centre Stage – Dancing into our future
Centre Stage – Dancing into our Future is a fundraising celebration marking 92 years of the Cape Town City Ballet. The program showcases collaborations with dance training organisations and tertiary dance, staged at Artscape Theatre Centre.
Cape Towns Most Wanted
Cape Town’s Most Wanted returns to Artscape Theatre Centre for a high-energy night of street dance, featuring Cape Town’s top crews and performers in a sizzling showcase. Now in its 15th production, this event blends hip-hop, breakdancing and popping in a theatre setting.
Morning Melodies
Morning Melodies at Baxter Theatre Centre offers accessible, affordable morning concerts for seniors in the Western Cape. Professionally presented in the UCT venue, this series pairs quality classical programming with a welcoming, intimate atmosphere.
Here & Now: A Luther Vandross Tribute
A live concert experience celebrating the timeless music and legacy of Luther Vandross at the Artscape Theatre Centre. Expect powerful vocal performances, lush arrangements, and a soulful night of Vandross classics in Cape Town.
The “PIRATES of PENZANCE”
Cape Town G&S presents a bold new staging of Gilbert and Sullivan’s swashbuckling comic opera, The Pirates of Penzance, at Artscape Theatre Centre. Expect lively melodies, witty patter, and sparkling period costumes in a rich, theatrical production.
My Children! My Africa
My Children! My Africa is Athol Fugard's poignant drama set in 1984 rural Eastern Cape, where a passionate teacher seeks to ignite a love of learning amid apartheid. This production at Artscape Theatre Centre invites you into a classroom where courage, friendship, and contested ideals shape young minds. A powerful, thought-provoking South African theatre experience.
Samthing Soweto – Good Morning Live
Samthing Soweto's Good Morning Live at Baxter Theatre Centre marks the official live launch of his album Touch Is a Move: Good Morning. A soulful Afro-pop concert in a refined theatre setting, delivering new tracks and fan favorites in an intimate live show.
Schalk Bezuidenhout - Hey Hey Divorcé
Schalk Bezuidenhout brings his sharp, observational humor to the Baxter Theatre Centre with a live stand-up set about his divorce. Expect candid stories, witty riffs on relationships, and audience-friendly punchlines in this engaging South African comedy night.
13th South African International Ballet Competition
Experience Africa's largest ballet competition at Artscape Theatre Centre as the 13th South African International Ballet Competition brings world-class dancers to Cape Town, August 4–6, 2026. Expect dazzling performances and international talent in a premier performing-arts setting.
Hamlet
Shakespeare's Hamlet returns to the Artscape Theatre Centre in a bold new production by Abrahamse & Meyer, following acclaimed seasons across Europe. Expect a visually striking, language-rich interpretation of the tragedy with contemporary staging and intense performances.
Boogie time, baby
Boogie Time, Baby brings a high-energy Motown-era musical to Artscape Theatre Centre, delivering soulful hits, disco grooves and iconic power ballads in a playful comedy format. Expect dazzling choreography, big-stage production and plenty of audience sing-alongs that celebrate classic rhythm-and-blues magic.
Roméo et Juliette
Cape Town Opera presents Charles Gounod's Roméo et Juliette at Artscape Theatre Centre. A towering tragedy of forbidden love and feuding families, featuring lush duets, vibrant sets, and a full-scale orchestra. Subtitled performance in French with English translation.
THE NUTCRACKER (2026)
Experience a classic ballet as The Nutcracker returns to Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town. This traditional performance follows Clara's Christmas Eve adventures with magical dancers, the Nutcracker prince, and the Land of Sweets in a lavish, family-friendly production.