Unmissable Once-off Concerts and Shakespeare Under the Stars as the Maynardville 2025 Season Opens
One of Cape Town’s oldest theatre traditions (dating back to 1956), Maynardville amphitheatre’s summer festival kicks off in Wynberg, Cape Town on 22 January 2025.
Winding through a programme of classics, this season’s line-up includes Tour de Tchaikovsky (22 and 23 January) dedicated to the legendary composer with Gerhard Joubert performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, and Ethan Lawson presenting Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations for cello, both accompanied by the talented Elna van der Merwe on piano.
Cape Town Philharmonic’s Stormy Weather – A Symphonic Weather Report’s two concerts (24 & 25 January) are already sold out but will be less of a reflection on the actual weather and instead a nod to this year’s Shakespeare, The Tempest, which opens 31 January and runs till 8 March. This production of The Tempest is directed by Sylvaine Strike with a stellar cast that includes Antoinette Kellermann, Albert Pretorius and David Viviers and is expected to be a swirling and magical look at the themes of power, illusion and possession that defines Shakespeare’s swansong.
Another sold out concert for this season is Cape Town Opera’s once-off concert on 9 February; Cape Town Opera Sings Shakespeare, with songs performed by The Cape Town Opera Chorus featuring international opera star Clint van der Linde, accompanied by Jan Hugo.
In a rare treat for lovers of musicals, this year’s Festival also sees Jonathan Roxmouth, who rocketed to international stardom as the youngest leading man to portray the mysterious Phantom in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, return to South Africa while on a touring break to headline Sunday in the Park with Sondheim (16 and 23 February). The concert will celebrate the prolific composer’s 95th birthday and audiences can expect Broadway classics and an ensemble of singers from Vivox Voices, accompanied by the Winelands Philharmonic Orchestra, Kate Normington, Lynelle Kennedy and Andre Terblanche.
The City of Cape Town is a key partner for the Maynardville Festival. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis celebrates the 2025 season,
“The Maynardville Open Air Festival is undoubtedly one of the highlights of our city’s incredible music and theatre calendar, and the programme for this summer is one of the best ever. I urge Capetonians and visitors alike to come and share in this most unique experience. Come and enjoy the very best of Cape Town’s musical performers – including our beloved Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and the incredible Cape Town Opera, alongside an impressive line-up of other artists – all set in the tranquil Maynardville Park under a beautiful Cape Town summer sky. As far as music performances go, it doesn’t get much better than this.”
This year marks a first for Maynardville as Festival producers VR Theatrical introduce a ground-breaking deaf accessibility programme which will enable audiences with a loss of hearing to enjoy this year’s Shakespeare, The Tempest. The entire performance on the 19th February has been dedicated to a special edition of the show that has been specifically created to accommodate those who are deaf or struggle to hear through a live-interpreted performance by expert DASLs in partnership with SociGo and Jazzhands. Deaf schools have been invited to send their pupils for free to enjoy the evening; a first for theatre in South Africa.
VR Theatrical also remains committed to fostering a new generation of theatre makers with their technical training programme from which several graduates have secured employment locally and internationally. Students on the technical programme will be shadowing the experienced team who produce Maynardville.
The Festival experience now includes a food truck feast, full bar and hot drinks offering. Patrons can enjoy their dinner sitting at long tables beneath twinkling strings of lights, enjoying the evening ahead of the show, or following half a century of tradition by sitting on the park lawns overlooking the lake for a picnic.
VR Theatrical’s Executive Producer, Jaco van Rensburg, says:
“The Maynardville Festival is made possible through a host of incredible partners who believe in the magic of live performance and this historic venue. Our thanks to all our partners, and the multitude of suppliers and team members who make this experience so memorable and an enduring Cape Town tradition.”
Tickets are available via the Maynardville Open-Air Festival website or directly from Quicket.
Ticket prices are as follows:
- The Tempest : From R220 – R380
- All Other Concerts : R220-R335
- Pensioners & Students : 15% off on Premium and Tier 2 tickets.
- For school block bookings, or ticket enquiries email Boxoffice@maynardville.co.za
Connect with Maynardville Open Air Theatre on social media:
Facebook | Instagram |
Connect with VR Theatrical on social media:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
