With Lockdown restrictions easing, it’s time to come back to the city centre, people! While some events are still firmly online, and there’s a lot of fun to be had from the comfort of your home, venues are starting to open up, offering entertainment and events with all the Covid-19 safety protocols in place. Here is a list of the best of the best Central City events.
ART AND THEATRE
Ongoing
99 Loop Gallery exhibitions
Art lovers are in for a treat at 99 Loop Gallery with five solo exhibitions by Manyaku Mashilo, Marolize Southwood, the duo Fonseca & Mokgata and Rory Emmett. The fifth exhibition by Manuela Karin Knaut can only be viewed online. Don’t forget your mask.
Where: 99 Loop St
When: 11h00 – 15h00
Cost: Free
Cape Town City Ballet celebrates William Kentridge in their latest venture, a dance film.
Ongoing
Cape Town City Ballet celebrates William Kentridge
It’s incredible to see eminent South African artists being honoured in their lifetime for their immense contribution. A wonderful example is the latest dance film by Cape Town City Ballet celebrating William Kentridge. The film is described as “a captivating marriage of ballet and sculpture” and by all accounts, a must-view. It’s inspired by and set against a stage of Kentridge’s Why Should I Hesitate Sculpture exhibition. Produced in collaboration with the Norval Foundation with support from the City of Cape Town, this is one way of supporting South Africa’s best ballet company until it can perform on stage once more.
Where: https://artsfundi.com/
Cost: R50
Ongoing
Reading Matters
Young learners can now enjoy a collection of excellent South African stories from Reading Matters, one of the leading distributors and suppliers of educational books and resources in South Africa. The stories range from six to 12 minutes and are relayed in a fun and animated manner by skilled story tellers via YouTube. Check them out to keep the young ones entertained.
Where: https://readingmatters.co.za/read-story-time/
Cost: Free
Ongoing
Book Lounge
The Book Lounge is open and welcomes a visit from its loyal customers. It has extended its trading hours, making it easier for you to come to the CBD and enjoy their wonderful selection of books. During the week, they’re open from 09h00 to 17h00, Saturdays from 09h00 to 16h00 and on Sundays they’re open from 10h00 to 16h00. They have a no mask, no entry policy and only allow 10 people at a time for physical distancing. What’s more. Every Saturday morning is Storytime at The Book Lounge and all kids are welcome. Storytime is always free of charge, plus there’s no need to RSVP. If you prefer to order online, Book Lounge will deliver for free for purchases over R300 and within 20 km, or a minimum of R40 beyond their shop’s radius.
Where: 71 Roeland St
www.booklounge.co.za
Ongoing
Movies by The Labia Theatre
The iconic Labia Theatre has reopened its doors. This means you can head to their beautiful venue to enjoy their independent movies, foreign films, historical cinema and other alternative and art circuit films. Says The Labia: “Rest assured we are fully compliant with government safety guidelines and have put numerous safety measures in place so that you can relax and enjoy the big screen experience.”
Where: 68 Orange St
When: Screenings start from 11h30 to 19h45
Cost: R60
www.thelabia.co.za
3 September
Exhibitions by the Association For Visual Arts (AVA) Gallery
CBD galleries are open for business, and AVA Gallery is happy to welcome you back. As part of their first post-lockdown First Thursdays, they’ll be showing various exhibitions including Post Plastic by Elgin Rust, Living in a Box: A Retrospective by Warren Maroon and Unapologetic by Philip Steele. Don’t forget your mask.
Where: 35 Church St
When: 10h00 – 20h00
Cost: Free
www.ava.co.za
3 September
Soft but Not Silent
Youngblood Arts and Culture Development presents Soft but Not Silent, a group exhibition by Laura Wenman, Lonwabo Baliso, Peter Webber, Xolani Sivunda and Gill Aldermann. The exhibition is part of First Thursdays festivities in the CBD since Lockdown. What’s more, Theo Saint Mark Myburgh’s Hair Gallery inside the gallery will be offering their full range of hair styling services on the day from 10h00 until 09h00. Book an appointment in advance to avoid disappointment or visit www.hairgallery.co.za for more details.
Where: 70 Bree St
When: 10h00 – 09h00
Cost: Free
www.youngblood-africa.com
Don't miss A Return to the Earth by Joan Peeters and Wendy Coleman in the Voorkamer Gallery at Chandler House.
Ongoing
A Return to the Earth by Joan Peeters and Wendy Coleman
If you’re looking for something to lift your spirits, you’ll find it at Central City gallery Chandler House (53 Church St) where owner and resident artist Michael Chandler has curated the most evocative exhibition by combining recent works of painter Joan Peeters and ceramic artist Wendy Coleman. Now showing at Chandler House’s Voorkamer Gallery, the exhibition is called A Return to the Earth and is “a beautiful blend of observation, poetry, sculpture, painting and homeware”.
Where: The exhibition is well worth viewing in person – Chandler House has strict Covid-19 safety protocols in place – but can also be viewed online https://sites.google.com/ch…/a-return-to-the-earth-2020/home
When: 10h00 – 17h00
Cost: Free
Zip Zap Circus's Night at the Circus virtual screening is not to be missed.
Now on till 22 September
A Night at The Circus
Zip Zap Circus presents its third instalment of the Night at the Circus series after two highly successful virtual screenings. The production features the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, New Apostolic Church KBA Choir and soloist Robyn Botha. Says Marlene Le Roux, CEO of Artscape Theatre Centre: “It is a breath-taking production with world class circus acts in tandem with a world class orchestra.”
Where: Online
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R50
WEBINARS
Sunday Times Gen Next: Pre- and post-pandemic truths
The Sunday Times recently announced the country’s coolest brands in its annual Gen Next survey. One of the interesting insights from the survey is that “73 % of millennials and Gen Zers are willing to spend more on a product if it comes from a socially and culturally conscious brand and 81 % expect transparency from what they’re buying”. Their conversation with previous awardees prior to announcing this year’s winners is fascinating. Check it out for insights on creating brand longevity in a post-pandemic world.
Grab the connect with the youth
If you’d like your brand to connect with the youth in an era of hyper-connectivity, you will enjoy this Sunday Times Gen Next conversation. It looks at practical tools business can use to re-establish their connections with the youth who are the influencers of today and the buyers of tomorrow”. Check it out here.
How to grow your business post-Covid-19
Join business growth expert Pavlo Phitidis as he speaks to Alan Burger, owner of Infoslips about how South African businesses can use Covid-19 to grow their operations by embracing digitisation. View the conversation here.
Ideas Cartel
Living in a Covid-19 world means “we need to find a way in our separateness to connect” says Nikki Bush, a human potential and parenting expert. Being a part of the Ideas Cartel community is worth considering. They have a great app for business owners which allows members and non-members to access webinars, masterclasses, business coaching, home workouts and even food and drinks delivery services. Find more information here.
The Curious Cult Show
Join entrepreneur and author Nic Haralambous as he talks to exceptional people from all over the world about their curiosity and what drives them. His guests include serial entrepreneurs, authors, high profile people from advertising agencies, retail stores, learning businesses for children and more. This show will leave you inspired. Check it out here.
IMAGES: Mia Thom, Cape Town City Ballet, MIchael Chandler, Zip Zap Circus