SamSays

10/09/2025

Alto 234 Bar at The Leonardo in Sandton

Jean and some friends went to the Alto 234 Bar

Jean Says....

"From the moment you arrive at the Leonardo and announce yourself, you feel indulged and spoilt, your bubbly is poured, and you are ushered into the first lift.

A quick swap on the 45th floor and up you go to the 57th floor. As you step out of the lift at Alto 234, the waiting staff are ready to attend to your needs. There are a variety of seating options from comfy couches to bar and bistro tables. You can easily walk around to get the full 360-degree experience. It definitely seems to be a great place for special events; the evening we were there we witnessed a proposal, a surprise party and large group of people entertaining overseas visitors.

The sunset is beautiful but don’t rush off, watching Sandton, Northcliff, Midrand and everywhere in between light up is spectacular. Sample from the comprehensive wine list and try the snacks or light meals as you watch the night come alive. When you are not people watching or chasing the sun, take a few minutes to marvel at the feat of engineering that got you to the “highest urban bar in Africa”, but don’t think too hard, it may make your eyes water.

So, if you’re looking for a fun way to watch the sunset, start saving and treat yourself to Alto 234 Bar.

The tickets are around R400 per person and include a glass of Moët and ride in not one but two lifts!"

Sounds like a fabulous night out to me!!

Book your tickets online through Dineplan

09/09/2025

MOFFIE
Flipside Theatre at the Baxter Theatre until 27 Sept

Jozi and Sam were at the Opening of MOFFIE

Jozi says...."The Flipside Theatre in the Baxter Theatre Complex has become one of my favourite Cape Town theatres - where I have seen shows like The Fire Eater, and the Cry of Winnie Mandela which have both been incredible South African pieces leaving me thinking about our country’s unique, and often painful-to-revisit, history for a long time after curtains.

Last week was another one of those experiences with the South African debut of MOFFIE, adapted for the stage by Philip Rademeyer, and based on the semi-autobiographical novel by André Carl van der Merwe. MOFFIE has come home after a wonderful reception in London, and you could feel how much this show meant to a South African audience by the faces full of emotion in the Baxter foyer after the show.

Under Greg Karvellas’ skilful direction, MOFFIE tells the story of 17 year-old Nicholas Van Der Swart who is conscripted to the South African Defence Force during the Border War. Nicholas grew up with a father who was determined that the greatest insult to him would be a gay son - a “moffie”. This belief is shared with the senior members of the army and the state, and knowing that he can never reveal his sexuality to his family, or to the other soldiers, Nicholas does not feel at home in any place. Through a clever combination of flashbacks, memories, and nightmares, we are shown the violence and destruction of the Border War and the growing helplessness felt by soldiers in training in Namibia and the Karoo.

The simple set design of army-green duffel bags, lighting by Niall Griffin, and sound by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder, perfectly mirrored the harsh, isolating conditions both in the army and in Nick’s upbringing.

David Viviers, as Nicholas, was absolutely incredible and the highlight of the show. Having seen him in The Tempest earlier this year, I was glad to see a sprinkle of Stephano and Antonio’s humour in this piece, but even more impressed to see him deliver something so emotional. These kinds of impactful performances must be incredibly fulfilling for any actor. According to Sam: “his physicality and energy were consistent throughout in grappling with heavy moments. He was able to portray the variations of emotions, of an emotionally-demanding story, very well.” I know that I could watch Viviers deliver performances for many more hours and his timing and well-thought out movements kept us transfixed until the very final, defiant line of “They must not be able to touch us”, well worth the standing ovation.

Thank you so much to The Common Humanity Arts Trust for sharing this story with us and to Christine Skinner for having us as always!"

Don't miss this beautiful piece of theatre.

Tickets Webtickets
https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1568693912

08/09/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that The TX Theatre Hub is heading to The Market Theatre!
This time, bringing 5 phenomenal productions to the Mannie Manim and Barney Simon stages.

Here are the shows brought to you by our amazing directors:

1. Behind Van Vuuren’s Farm by
2. Dark Magic by
3. Chasing Laughter by
4. Madi Phatleng by
5. Stevovo the Puppeteer by

This collaboration is both timely and necessary. Make sure you are a part of the journey. And hey, best believe the hype.

06/09/2025

FALACE IN WONDERLAND
No U18 - for the show and maybe also the review...
At Hotel Sky - Falace in Wonderland sadly closed on Friday...but I hope it comes back. In fact it could easily become the signature show at Hotel Sky, Sandton.

Bravo to Tessa Denton who has written and directed (and stars in) an absolute banger! (Sorry, this keeps happening and I think it's because of the show)

They added an extra show on Friday due to the outrageous demand for tickets and I am so glad we managed to get there. The audience was suitably enthusiastic in their appreciation - it's that kind of show ;-)

Narrator (and an affable do******ix), Tessa Denton has brilliant comedic timing. She picked out a "Susan" [read in Afrikaans] in the audience and "Susan" became part of the rollicking storyline, along with "swipe, swipe...match" that had the audience fully invested. It was brilliant! [Ironically "Susan" and her date for the night met online 3 months ago - I know 'cos I sat next to her - and she was wondering if he was trying to tell her something by bringing her to see Falace :-)]

Jordyn Schaefer, Sibusiso Mxosana, Nozi Phehane and Arno Meyer, make up the rest of the outstanding, polished and super talented cast. 5 actors, 12 characters, glorious costumes, with bits that come off over the duration of the show as Alice begins to shed her expectations and lower her standards - but all subtle and absolutely hilariously achieved.

Jordyn Schaefer is gorgeously perfect as "our" Alice! A tiny twitch at the corner of her mouth and you instantly know what Alice is thinking. Nozi Phehane has the audience eating out of her hand with her glorious stage presence and translucent beauty. Sibusiso Mxosana, oh my word, those high kicks!! And the way he moves!!! And completing the, ahem, foursome, Arno Meyer carries off his interesting (cough) props to perfection!

They can all sing (gloriously), dance (superbly) and act (just the right amount) and it translates into a thoroughly entertaining show that suspends time! This was such fun! A beautiful cast sharing an electric stage energy.

What's it about?...My photos tell a bit of the tale...The first photo of the evening was crystal clear [it even has a crystal chandelier in it], just like my relationship goals. The last photo of the evening is a bit blurred around the edges :-)

And that's what Falace is about. We think we are crystal clear, but the rabbit hole Alice enters with online dating is a labyrinth that takes a whole lot of navigating and we end up with the blurred-around-the-edges love we eventually find. It's a journey we all know too well...even before the days of online dating.... we have all made some wacky, weird, fun and not-so-fun relationship detours.

I think the audience was a bit in love with all 5 actors by the end of the show. Entertainment with a capital E! I hope Tessa is writing more. I can't wait to see what she um...comes up with next.

Did I mention how much fun this was? As fun as....well, you get the idea.....

PS the after party was just as much fun

06/09/2025

🤩

SPRING SEASON OF DANCE: CELESTIAL BODIES
A world premiere by choreographer Mario Gaglione in an unprecedented partnership with the visionary Universe on Stage duo, physicist Dr Luca Pontiggia and composer Yasheen Modi, Celestial Bodies is a new creation born from Mario’s fascination with the Universe on Stage’s production of Hidden Giants.

“I remember walking up to Luca and Yasheen and saying that I longed to see their vision manifest through dance; that their world of music, science and art was already moving like choreography waiting to be embodied,” explains Mario. “Almost a year later, this dream has become reality. This is a ballet that carries us into the essence of life itself. We are all part of an ever-expanding universe, reflections of the very stars we gaze upon. Every atom, every particle, whether vast or invisible, belongs to an infinite cosmic dance with the Universe our stage and we ourselves celestial bodies, orbiting in an endless poem of light.”

The dancers of Joburg Ballet are Mario’s greatest source of inspiration, “each one a spark of magic and stardust”, he says. “It’s their artistry that brings Yash’s astonishing score and Luca’s profound narrative into motion, carrying us through galaxies and black holes into the delicate structure of atoms and finally to the simple, universal breath of life.”

Spring Season of Dance: Celestial Bodies
Sat 4 Oct 14h00 & 19h00; Sun 5 Oct 14h00 (R200, R290, R350, R420, R510)
Book on 0861 670 670 or at https://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=1574592164

Image: Savannah Ireland, Gabriel Fernandes, Chloé Blair, Miguel Franco-Green, Gabriella Ghiaroni, Bruno Miranda in Celestial Bodies, Joburg Ballet
Photographer: Lauge Sorensen

06/09/2025

Try, try and try again until they see your star dust 💫

The Longest-Running Rafiki Says Goodbye to ‘The Lion King’
After more than 9,000 performances as the shaman in the Broadway show, Tshidi Manye prepares to hang up her mandrill costume.
The first time Tshidi Manye auditioned for the musical “The Lion King,” in Johannesburg in the 1990s, she went with a friend and neither of them was cast. In response, they fasted for seven days, she said — “no food, just water. Praying like nobody’s business,” asking for a better outcome next time.

When the show returned to hold fresh auditions, her friend got a role and went off to London. Manye (whose name is pronounced TSEE-dee MAHN-yeh) got nothing. Disappointed, mad, discouraged — not least because her prayers hadn’t worked — she decided: never again.

So the third time she heard about “Lion King” auditions, Manye resolutely stayed away. But on the day of callbacks, a colleague banged on her door at 7 a.m. and summoned her there nonetheless. “He’s like, ‘I’m telling you, I’m not asking you,’” she said.

05/09/2025

🤩

04/09/2025

CHARLIE'S ANGELS TURNS 25!!!

And you (we) can win a movie night at the The Bioscope Independent Cinema for all y/our friends!!

And then....they have added a special preview of NO-ONE TO TELL.....

Tickets only R300.

Book soon before it sells out

🎬 Exciting News! A special preview of by local filmmakers Kamogelo Motsamai & Dr. Brown of TWD has been added to our Movie Matinee on the 14th September! Be part of the exclusive crowd that gets to see this pre-premiere snippet and meet it’s creators.
This powerful mini-feature (funded by one of our partners – Civ Source South Africa) shines a light on GBV, with the creators sharing their journey before we kick back with the classic Charlie’s Angels.
🎟 Every ticket enters you into a raffle to win a private Movie Night for you + 46 friends! Attend, donate, or grab a raffle entry for just R50 → https://forms.gle/mbpsWRhDCimWRKuJ6 Ticket sales are closing soon, so RSVP today.