SWAN SONG and THE HOLLOW CROWN this month

Look out for these two “Shakespeare-ish” productions in August

Buhle Ngaba in Swan Song (image: Neo Baepi)

Johannesburg’s POPArt Theatre has announced that Buhle Ngaba’s one-woman play, Swan Song, will run from 20-24 August. The show, first developed during Ngaba’s residency (through the Brett Goldin Bursary) with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2018, draws on Shakespearean points of reference along with the famous swans of the Avon river.

In Swan Song, multiple award winner Ngaba invites audiences into a visceral coming-of-age journey. Inspired by the ancient belief that swans sing only once – at the moment of their death – the play follows a young Tswana woman in Johannesburg, born with a winged scapula. The production is brought vividly to life within the confines of a tiny flat through the evocative direction of Ilana Cilliers.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Marcel Meyer, Graham Hopkins, Fiona Ramsay and Matthew Baldwin

Meanwhile, audiences attending the Hilton Arts Festival in KwaZulu-Natal will be the first to see another innovative piece of Shakespeareana from Abrahamse-Meyer Productions. The team at AMP staged their international premier of II – a fusion of Shakespeare’s Richard II and Marlowe’s Edward II – at the Verona Shakespeare Festival in July. Now, they are bringing their version of John Barton’s celebrated compilation The Hollow Crown (first performed by the RSC in 1961) to Hilton from 8-10 August.

Directed by Fred Abrahamse and starring Fiona Ramsay, Graham Hopkins, Marcel Meyer and Matthew Baldwin, the production is described as “a rich tapestry of speeches, letters and literature from Shakespeare to Jane Austen”. Abrahamse writes: “The Hollow Crown is a refined and riveting recital that breathes life into the foibles and follies of British monarchs, blending history with wit, drama, and elegance ... It strikes a masterful balance between satire and gravitas: Game of Thrones, Bridgerton, and The Crown rolled into one unforgettable afternoon.”

Buy tickets here.

Shakespeare Birthday Lecture 2025 - now online

The Makhanda Branch of the Shakespeare Society of Southern Africa hosts an annual Shakespeare Birthday Lecture. This year’s lecture, given by Andrew Renard at St Andrew’s College on 23 April, is now available via the #lockdownshakespeare YouTube channel.

In his talk, Renard - a teacher of many years’ experience - explores changing attitudes towards Shakespeare at schools and universities. Reflecting on the limitations that may be imposed by contemporary scholarly approaches to Shakespeare’s plays, as well as on his recent work with learners in an inclusive Montessori school environment, Renard considers how Shakespeare will survive “beyond academia”.

Pre-registration is open for the 2026 World Shakespeare Congress

The twelfth World Shakespeare Congress (WSC) will be hosted by the Skenè Research Centre at the University of Verona from 20-26 July next year under the theme of “Planetary Shakespeares”.

The event marks the fiftieth anniversary of the International Shakespeare Association (ISA).

The Skenè local organising committee has announced that ISA members may sign up for WSC workshops and seminars until 15 September.

Full registration will be open as follows:

  • Early bird registration from 1 December 2025 to 31 March 2026 

  • Regular registration from 1 April to 15 June 2026

Create an account here.

Here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about registration:

 

-              Where do I find the lists of panels, seminars, and workshops?

Here: https://www.wsc2026.org/panels/, https://www.wsc2026.org/seminars/ and https://www.wsc2026.org/workshops/ respectively.

-              Where can I sign up for seminars and workshops?

Here: https://www.wsc2026.org/seminars-workshops-pre-registration/

-              When is the deadline for signing up for a seminar and workshop?

September 15, 2025. Do remember that it is on a first-come, first-served basis. No abstract is needed at this stage. If you have any questions, please write to submissions@wsc2026.org

-              What is the maximum size of a seminar/workshop?

The maximum is 18 people.

-              Do I need to be an ISA member to sign up for seminars/workshops?

Yes, unless you are a performer. In order to become an ISA member, see here: https://internationalshakespeare.org.uk 

-              Can I sign up for panels or submit new seminars or workshops?

No, these submissions are closed.

-              Can I double-enrol?

Yes, but only in one other seminar/workshop.

-              What happens if I am enrolled in two overlapping seminars?

You’ll have to choose which one you are attending and you will have to notify the organisers at general_info@wsc2026.org

-              Can I request a particular day/time?

The Programme Committee will communicate the slot you have been assigned. In order to have an idea whether panels/seminars/workshops are held in the morning or in the afternoon, see our calendar: https://www.wsc2026.org/calendar/

-              Where can I register? What are the fees?

See here: https://www.wsc2026.org/registration/ You will be allowed to register from 1 December 2025. The early bird deadline is March 31, 2026.

-              Can I change my mind after registering?

We can provide up to 10 refunds of the registration fee by the end of June 2026 (on a first-come, first-served basis).

-              Is the social dinner included in the fee when registering?

No, unlike the welcome aperitivo, you will have to pay extra for the social dinner.

-              Can I buy a day pass?

No. 

-              Are there any grants or fee waivers?

A small number of need-based registration fees waivers and bursaries are available. Please send your application letter and a CV to office@internationalshakespeare.org.uk by 1 December 2025. The results will be announced in January 2026.

-              Who should I contact if I have any questions?
See here: https://www.wsc2026.org/contacts/

Shakespeare Schools Festival in Cape Town this month

If it’s May, then it’s time for the Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa (SSFSA) in Cape Town!

Over forty schools will gather at the Star Theatre (District Six Homecoming Centre) from 6-31 May to perform their abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays.

Later this year, there will be festival events in Johannesburg (9-14 September), George (11-14 September) and Durban (22-27 September). Audiences can expect bite-sized Shakespeares as the talented participants present a play of their choice in 30-45 minutes.

The festival provides a unique, non-competitive space for young thespians to develop their theatrical potential in a fun and educational way, while also promoting literacy, literature and live theatre. In preparation for the festival, SSFSA offers training programs for teachers, young learner-directors and school casts to enhance their performances. 

More than just a celebration of Shakespeare, the festival is a platform for sharing the stories, experiences and voices of enthusiastic learners, drama societies, educators and community youth groups from diverse backgrounds. SSFSA embraces inclusivity and accessibility. The festival also promotes multilingualism by encouraging learners to draw on their wide language repertoires; a collection of twelve scripts in South African languages is available to support this process.

Since it was launched in 2009, the SSFSA has grown into Africa’s largest youth drama event dedicated solely to Shakespeare. To date, it has worked with 15 027 learners from 807 schools, and supported over a thousand teachers in their roles as drama and performing arts directors.

Bookings via Webtickets.

On stage soon: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar

Over the next two months, audiences in Johannesburg and Cape Town have a Shakespearean feast to enjoy! The Abrahamse & Meyer production of Hamlet opens at Artscape on 11 April, followed by Purple Apple’s Romeo and Juliet at the Joburg Theatre (from 30 April) and Abrahamse & Meyer back at Artscape with Julius Caesar (from 22 May).

Having previously run at the Soweto Theatre in August 2024, Romeo and Juliet (directed by Mandla Gaduka) opens at the Lesedi at Joburg Theatre later this month. This schools-friendly production stars Hlobisile Mahlangu as Juliet and runs from 30 April to 11 May.

Bookings via Webtickets.

Abrahamse & Meyer Productions’ innovative Hamlet has toured internationally over the past two years and returns to Cape Town with new cast members for a short run at Artscape (11-17 April). The company then goes straight into rehearsal for Julius Caesar, which will open at the Artscape Arena on 22 May (until 31 May).

South African theatre veteran Fiona Ramsay, having previously appeared in Abrahamse & Meyer’s productions of the Tennessee Williams plays A Streetcar Named Desire and Sweet Bird of Youth - and fresh from the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards in March, where she received the award for Best Performance in a One-Person show for Blonde Poison - will play Caesar.

Bookings via Webtickets.