How Now Brown Cow presents Constellations at The Baxter and Theatre On The Square
Directed by industry luminary and renowned choreographer Jay Pather (The Firebird; Bridling; Hold Still; Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre), Constellations is a spellbinding exploration of love, choices quantum theory, and infinite possibility for heartbreak or for hope. Through a kaleidoscope of moments between two people, it asks what might happen if every version of our lives existed at once – and whether love can endure across them all.
Constellations contemplates how even the smallest change in our lives can dramatically alter the course we take.
The stellar cast features Mark Elderkin (Speelgoed van Glas/The Glass Menagerie; Amadeus; A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Mwenya Kabwe (Hold Still; Yellowman; mAnJE! MaNje (an epic)).
Director Jay Pather says:
“We have all experienced an ‘if only’ moment. What if I had done something differently, said something else? Would it have worked out better?”
“Constellations is a remarkable play that evokes this human frailty through compelling text, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heart wrenching that builds steadily with the inevitability of ancient ritual and Greek drama.”
Marianne, a physicist, and Roland, a beekeeper, meet at a barbeque. They hit it off, and go for a drink. Or perhaps they don’t. They go home together, or maybe they go their separate ways. Perhaps Marianne is engaged to someone else, perhaps Roland is. Maybe she breaks his heart, maybe he breaks hers. Perhaps they come together and their love story can finally take root and grow, or perhaps it will be tragically cut short.
Julie-Anne McDowell, founder of How Now Brown Cow, says:
“In an increasingly fast-paced world filled with AI images and fake news, theatre remains a vital medium to share stories, understand each other and create connection. At How Now Brown Cow, we believe storytelling is not an escape from reality, but a way to understand it. The stories we choose to tell are driven by urgency, humanity, and the need to spark conversation that extends beyond the theatre.”
“Constellations is a captivating journey of celebrating choices, questioning free will versus destiny, and considering infinite possibilities. Together, these productions reflect the duality of our existence – the personal and the political, the tender and the confronting. They ask us to look more closely at ourselves, at each other, and at the systems we live within.”
Show Information:
Constellations
Cape Town:
Baxter Studio – Baxter Theatre Centre
Dates:
2 – 20 June 2026
Tuesday – Friday at 8pm
Saturday at 3pm & 8pm
Ticket Prices:
R250 (including VAT)
Bookings:
Bookings available via Webtickets
Johannesburg:
Theatre On The Square, Sandton
Dates & Times:
23 June to 11 July 2026
Tuesdays to Fridays at 20h00;
Saturday at 15h00 & 20h00
Ticket Prices:
From R180 – R220 (including VAT)
Bookings:
Bookings available via Webtickets or the Theatre Box Office (011) 883 8606
Age Restriction:
14+ years
About How Now Brown Cow:
How Now Brown Cow was launched in 2020 during a global pandemic. The company, founded by Actor and Writer Julie-Anne McDowell, was established to offer world class South African and international works for local and international audiences and stages. Daniel Galloway, who was The Fugard Theatre’s Managing Director and Lead Producer from 2009 to 2020, is the General Manager and co-Producer alongside Julie-Anne. During the global theatre shutdown of 2020 and 2021, How Now Brown Cow launched the How Now Brown Cow Writer’s Collective which saw the commissioning of 12 new South African scripts several of which are now in the next phase of development. In 2022 the Production Company released their first short film, The Hive, which was screened to critical acclaim on the international and local film festival circuit. The Beauty Queen of Leenane was How Now Brown Cow’s first stage production in South Africa which was presented in Johannesburg in October 2022 and Cape Town’s The Baxter Theatre in August 2023. The production won five Naledi Theatre Awards, including Best Production of a Play. How Now Brown Cow will be staging 3 new productions in the coming 16 months.
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