Alexander Upstairs Theatre line-up for December includes Paulo Costa in Another life; Show Up with Ursula Botha; Couch & Piano with Cat Simoni; and Andi Colombo’s Ames.
It’s a potent cocktail of Samba in a Jazz Live Music Show, a One Woman Show that explores the behind the scenes of show business; musical theatre performed by Cat Simoni and Alan Glass; and a look at a post-cyberpunk Cape Town!
Paulo Costa in Another life
Join Paulo Costa on a journey through his latest compositions: a fusion of Samba and Jazz, interwoven with South African scents; inspired by contemporary Brazilian and international music. His music reflects the challenges of modernization without losing roots and genuine human connections, moving into the feelings that listening to the world engenders, and finally bringing one to a place of presence with the environment around us.
Paulo is a musician and a composer born in São Paulo. He has been surrounded by music since childhood: his mother is a pianist and his father is a clarinettist at church. He started playing clarinet at the age of seven and, four years later, he became interested in the guitar as well. He took classes with music teachers as a child and at the age of 17 he left the church circle and joined his first band. In 2013, returning from his first trip to South Africa, he released “Ndiphilile”, an EP of his own compositions mixing Brazilian and African styles.
He is currently working on some new compositions: an album of 8 tracks that is being produced and recorded in collaboration with “Home Grown Music” (Knysna) and talented South African musicians. The songs are a combination of Samba and Jazz, a genre that he likes to call “Jamba”.
Written and Directed by Paulo Costa | Performed by Paulo Costa on Acoustic Guitar and Vocals | Sandile Jwaai on Bass | Werner Denner on Keys
WHEN: Sun 2nd Dec 7pm TICKETS: R150.00 – Pre-paid Online R130.00 Book here
Show Up Written & Performed by Ursula Botha
Ursula Botha Photo: James Cairns
Show Up is an experimental one woman show where actress Ursula Botha explores the behind the scenes of show business. It is a Universal narrative for the strong hearted as Ursula takes her audience on an honest account of the ups/downs, breakdowns/breakthroughs and the humour/ heartaches that come with taking the road less travelled.
Show Up is an experimental one woman show where actress Ursula Botha explores the behind the scenes of show business. It is a Universal narrative for the strong hearted as Ursula takes her audience on an honest account of the ups/downs, breakdowns/breakthroughs and the humour/ heartaches that come with taking the road less travelled.
Ursula Botha is an actress and accidental academic who is passionate about exploring the female narrative. Through Show Up she demonstrates how life becomes a show in which we are the main characters starring in it. As Shakespeare stated: “all the worlds a stage” Ursula literally takes the stage as both an actress and 21st century woman who is showing up to a dream no matter what the cost.
Funny and witty (not always pretty). Come and have fun, even if you’re just one!
WHEN: Mon 3rd Dec to Wed 5th Dec 7pm TICKETS: R120.00 – Pre-paid Online R100.00 Book here
Couch & a Piano Performed by Cat Simoni and Alan Glass
A new romantic musical comedy about ‘Club D’ (Divorce!)
Carl, a divorced, eccentric Cape Town psychologist and frustrated songwriter, meets his new client Jo, an angry, depressed singer going though a difficult divorce. Jo sings at The Manhattan, a Waterfront club. Their therapy session is not run of the mill as they use songs (both original and covers) to unpack the complexities of their lives.Couch and a Piano, recently enjoyed a highly successful debut run at Theatre on the Square in Joburg.
During his divorce, Alan Glass wrote a full-length musical with grammy nominated American jazz pianist John Fresk about divorce called That’s All We Have Time For. The musical is due for production in 2019. Four of the original songs from the musical have been included in A Couch and a Piano.
The songs in ‘Couch and a Piano!’ are a rich mix of Alan Glass & Cat Simoni originals – and popular classics. Each song relates to a different aspect of the emotional divorce spectrum.
Performed by Cat Simoni and Alan Glass | Directed by Paul Spence | Written by Alan Glass, Cat Simoni and Paul
WHEN: Tue 4th Dec to Sat 15th Dec 9pm TICKETS: R150.00- Pre-paid online R140.00 Book here
AMES takes place in a post-cyberpunk Cape Town
Kathleen Stephens, Photo Liese Kuhn
‘AMES’ takes place in a post-cyberpunk Cape Town, where humankind has been reduced to a few surviving individuals in small groups, scattered across the desolated landscape. In a storeroom of a laboratory, sheltered from the elements, Amy and Roald try to survive, come to terms with what has happened, and to figure out the answer to the most pertinent question of all: how do they keep their succulents alive?
AMES is the creation of emerging theatre-maker Andi Colombo (PAN., Like Hamlet), and stars Kathleen Stephens (Shakespeare in Love, Like Hamlet) and Russell Crous (Outlander, The Widow, The Escape Room).
Andi Colombo
WHEN: Mon 17th Dec to Fri 21st Dec 7pm TICKETS: R110.00 – Pre-paid Online R90.00 Book here
WHERE: Alexander Bar & Café, 76 Strand Street (Corner Loop), Cape Town CBD, 8001
Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Open 7 days a week: Mon-Sat: 11am – 1am, Sun: 3pm – 12am.
Sandwiches, light meals, cheese boards and snacks served til midnight. Menu available here
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