Magnet Theatre welcomes the 2-time Naledi award nominated Musical Chairs from 19 August – 23 August, for a short but powerful season! The extremely talented and versatile cast will be taking Cape Town on a rollercoaster of emotions using a familiar game to all of us.
The Locksmiths Collective uses this simple game of musical chairs: a game where you try get a chair when the music stops and if left standing you are out of the game, to tell the complex story of our modern-day experiences with social media.
Whether you want to or not, some sort of social media app finds you; could be for work or for leisure but somewhere along the lines we find ourselves feeling as though we are bound to these things, as if we are in need.
Every day we are faced with the emotions of trying to impress or fit in to some aesthetic, we are performing for a hall full of other performers in hopes to find kindred spirits to fill our innate desire for community. Sometimes we succeed, we find friendship, business and even love but sometimes we don’t and when we close our phones, that world closes as well.
We don’t talk about this journey often but our wellbeing usually is very telling and that’s what this show aims to do.
Musical Chairs is social commentary piece which puts up a mirror to the audience using dance styles that are from our very soil – IsPantsula and IsBhujwa mixing it with American street styles – Hip Hop, Campbellocking, Popping and more within the musical score of classical and not-so classical music. Blending traditional theatre, physical theatre and dance to fully encompass the definition of contemporary.
The show is produced by The Locksmiths Collective and Rush Productions; a multi-disciplined creative team made up of Genesis Shirindza, Hungani Ndlovu and Sipho Didiza. And stars a cast of local talent: Yemimah Jacobs and Jamie-Lee Jansen as well as international talent: Alain “Hurrikane” Lauture and Angela “Angyil” McNeal. Ndlovu and Shirindza also make their appearance as cast.
Musical Chairs was Hungani Ndlovu’s directorial debut, taking some time off the TV screen and showing off his directing chops. Choreographed by Genesis Shirindza and co-creatively directed with Sipho Didiza.
Show Information
Date: 19 – 23 August 2026 (Wednesday – Sunday)
Location: Magnet Theatre, 1 St Michaels Rd, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925
Time: 19h30 – 20h30
Tickets: R199.95
Available on Webtickets
