Maynardville’s 70th Summer Kicks Off with a Feast of Jazz, Classical Music, Ballet and Shakespeare Under the Stars
Maynardville Open-Air Festival is ready to welcome audiences back for another magical experience this summer season. It’s a tradition that continues to delight theatre-goers new and old. In fact, 2026 marks 70 years since the first Shakespeare was performed in the wooded Wynberg amphitheatre. The celebration of Shakespeare has expanded into a full festival of music and dance and a gourmet food market has been added to the offering – this year including a luxe VIP experience too.
The season opens on 13th of January with Shades of Blue, a jazzy celebration of the classics, swiftly followed by a collection of jazz standards for Jazz in the Park on 15th & 16th January, and then Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s popular concerts are on 17th & 18th January.
Shades of Blue is a captivating evening of jazz-inspired classical works, featuring vibrant rhythms, lush harmonies, and virtuosic performances.. Book tickets for Shades of Blue via Quicket here.
Jazz in the Park is an easy-going repertoire of jazz standards; contemporary and classic jazz compositions, including timeless favourites such as My Funny Valentine, Take Five and Summertime. It’s a magical escape from the bustle of the season, completed by the gourmet Maynardville Food Market featuring offerings such as Poke Bowls, thin crust pizza, smokehouse BBQ, Thai and Tandoori. There is also a full bar on site as well as a pop-up coffee shop. Book tickets for Jazz in the Park via Quicket here.
Patrons can enjoy their dinner and drinks at the long tables beneath strings of twinkling lights or find a spot in the park to spread a blanket and watch the birds returning to roost. For anyone feeling like a VIP, these special ticket holders get reserved seating at the market, early access to the theatre, priority parking and cushions and blankets set up on their theatre seats.
From Louisiana to London and New York, there’s a rich tradition of jazz concerts in parks where the laid back, foot tapping classics mingle with the sounds of nature. Just as Maynardville’s Open-Air Concerts boast a rich history, the programme features musical works that have defined the 20th Century. George Gershwin composed Summertime in December 1933 for his 1935 opera Porgy and Bess; attempting to create his own spiritual in the style of African American folk music of the period. It was first covered by Billie Holiday, who was then just 21 years old, but it was Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong’s version that propelled the song into the limelight, cementing it as both a jazz staple and globally recognisable hit.
From Chet Baker to Miles Davis, Nina Simone to Sting; My Funny Valentine has been covered by the greats and now has a legendary place in the American songbook. Take Five is a Brubeck original famous for its unusual 5/4 time signature. It was the first jazz single to sell one million copies. Rhythmically complex, it’s still incredibly catchy and accessible and is perhaps most famous for its legendary drum solo, lasting roughly one and half minutes.
Blake Hellaby is recognised as one of South Africa’s top jazz pianists, having performed throughout Africa and Europe, he’s a part‐time lecturer at the University of Cape Town. A stalwart of the Cape Town jazz scene, Buddy Wells (saxophone) played at every edition of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival from 2000–2016 and has recorded with South Africa’s leading jazz figures. Double bassist Wesley Rustin is a prolific Cape Town bassist who has anchored numerous jazz ensembles and is widely noted for his steady work in the local jazz circuit. Matt Keswell is noted for his refined touch behind the kit on Cape Town’s jazz circuit, seamlessly blending subtle drive and lyrical phrasing in ensemble settings.
Ballet is back with not one but two ballet companies; Giselle (Cape Ballet Africa) on 20th & 21st Jan and Swingtime (Cape Town City Ballet) on 23rd & 24th January. The Shakespeare is the centrepiece arriving at the end of January (29th January – 8th March): a sultry reimagining of Twelfth Night, set to an original 1960s Rome soundtrack with Fellini-inspired glamour by Wessel Odendaal and an all star cast that includes Graham Hopkins, Emily Child, David Viviers, Natasha Sutherland and more.
Cape Ballet Africa’s Giselle brings together international and local excellence under the artistic direction of Maina Gielgud. The romantic ballet follows a peasant girl whose love and forgiveness transcend betrayal and death – one of the most moving stories in the classical repertoire.
Featuring guest artists from Europe and South Africa, with new designs by Michael Mitchell and performances to recordings by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. Book tickets for Giselle via Quicket here.
Choreographed by Sean Bovim, Cape Town City Ballet’s Swingtime sweeps audiences into the golden age of the Big Band Era. At its heart is Bojangles, owner of the famed Swing Club, whose memories of love, laughter and late-night dancing come vividly to life. A stylish fusion of Broadway glamour and ballet artistry, Swingtime is a high-energy celebration for audiences of all ages. Book tickets for Swingtime via Quicket here.
Experience Shakespeare’s beloved comedy like never before in this al fresco production of Twelfth Night, directed by Steven Stead and set to a sultry jazz soundtrack by Wessel Odendaal, with sound design by David Classen, that echoes the sophisticated sounds of 1960s Rome.
Maritha Visagie’s Sofia Loren-style couture costumes, shimmer under the stars as the cast featuring stage luminaries such as Graham Hopkins, Emily Child, David Viviers, Jenny Stead, Natasha Sutherland, Aiden Scott, Ntlanhla Morgan Kutu and more – brings to life this timeless tale of love, deception, and mistaken identity – infused with the decadent glamour of Fellini’s La Dolce Vita. Book tickets for Twelfth Night via Quicket here.
The Charl du Plessis Trio – featuring pianist Charl du Plessis, bassist Werner Spies, and drummer Peter Auret – has been captivating audiences since 2006 with its seamless blend of classical sophistication and jazz flair.
United by intuitive musical chemistry, the trio’s performances are fresh, dynamic, and deeply engaging. Their innovative fusion of styles has earned them international acclaim as one of the leading voices in contemporary crossover music. Book tickets for The Charl du Plessis Trio via Quicket here.
Experience Cape Town Opera in Gershwin in the Park – a one-night-only celebration of the golden age of American music. Featuring the Cape Town Opera Chorus and guest soloists performing highlights from Porgy and Bess and other Gershwin-era classics, this performance blends jazz, opera, and Broadway in a magical open-air concert not to be missed. Book tickets for Gershwin in the Park via Quicket here.
Sunday Evening Jazz Sundowners
Later in the season, The Great American Songbook will also be looking to the jazz greats, including Cole Porter, Gershwin and Duke Ellington, for inspiration. This time with four vocalists accompanied by the Paul Roos Orchestra, conducted by Wessel Odendaal. The voices are none-other than Katlego Maboe (former SABC 3 Expresso show presenter), Tankiso Mamabolo (Chicago, A Midsummer Night’s Dream & The Tempest), and Amy Campbell (AcaNote, Kinky Boots) – as well as the dynamic singing ensemble Track 5, a five-voice a cappella group that specialises in classic jazz standards and popular music, will be on the bill. These limited edition concerts take place 21 February and 1 March 2026. Book tickets for The Great American Songbook tickets via Quicket here.
Maynardville Open-Air Theatre is a long-held tradition that celebrates its’ 70th year of presenting an annual outdoor Shakespeare play in 2026. For more about the full programme, please visit the website.
All Maynardville Open-Air Festival tickets can be located and booked via Quicket here. The box office phone line is active from 14h00 – 17h00 Monday to Friday or call 069 792 6020 for assistance. There will be a box office on site during the festival season to assist with any last-minute queries or sales.
Maynardville Open-Air Festival is grateful to the City of Cape Town for their support of the 2026 season.
For the full season of shows visit the website.
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