Medicine for boredom

Theatre on the Bay offers entertaining shows

Whether it’s the cold and boring winter nights in front of the T.V, or the search for variety of the eternally similar beach parties in summer; the result is the same: from time to time we all need an alternative for a night out in Cape Town. Theatre on the Bay in Camps Bay is tailor-made for a different night out since it offers local and international shows from drama, comedy, musicals and cabaret to dance and music. The ticket prices start at R80; good seats are available for R100 to R150.

We enter the theatre, which is located close to Camps Bay beach, on a cool June night. We’re a bit early so to pass time we head to the coffee lounge (in the room right beside the lobby) and drink a warming cappuccino. Dietrich’s Bar in the lobby offers wine, beer and other drinks.

Tonight ‘Love, Loss and What I Wore' is playing, it’s a funny performance of five women, who tell their life story based on the clothes they’ve worn. And, believe it or not, the audience is varied; the young, the-young-at-heart, women and men; all have fun equally. "We didn’t have such a great audience in Joburg. The people here in Cape Town and in this theatre are really up to scratch," says Christel Mutombo, one of the main actresses of the evening.

With about 250 seats and a medium-size stage, the Theatre on the Bay is not the biggest in town, it’s very cosy. Drinks are cheap and you can take them along into the theatre hall. And, of course, it’s possible to refill your glass after the show at Dietrich’s Bar.

And that’s exactly what we did. Glass of wine in hand, we mingle in the lobby chatting to Christel. On the way back home we agree: some nights there’s nothing better than a gregarious evening at the theatre.

by Anne Wallrabe

Theatre on the Bay
1 Link Street | Camps Bay | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 438 3301

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