WÊLA KAPELA PRODUCTIONS PREMIERES BRAND-NEW POCKET MUSICAL “THE TRAMP” – A Musical Love Letter to Charlie Chaplin – Told by His Most Famous Creation
From the creators of the multi-award-winning Vincent – His Quest to Love and Be Loved, Wêla Kapela Productions returns with a bold and captivating new pocket musical: “The Tramp”, premiering at Theatre on the Square in Sandton from 10 to 26 July 2025.
“The Tramp” is a theatrical gem that reimagines the life of Charlie Chaplin through the eyes of his beloved alter ego—The Tramp—that endearing, bowler-hatted gentleman who captured hearts around the globe. This 85-minute two-hander, featuring Daniel Anderson and Paul Ferreira, is helmed by acclaimed director Amanda Bothma, and promises a whirlwind ride of laughter, heartbreak, and revelation.
“He’s a gentleman, a poet, a dreamer… a lonely fellow, always hopeful of romance and adventure.”
Through a unique blend of popular music, silent film aesthetics, and Chaplinesque charm, The Tramp reflects on a bittersweet relationship between creator and creation—an exploration of how the iconic character shielded the deeply complex man behind the mustache.
As The Tramp looks back on Chaplin’s meteoric rise and eventual fall from grace, audiences are taken behind the curtain of fame: through Chaplin’s creative triumphs, political controversies, and tragic exile from America. From playful comedy to cutting political satire, the show digs deep into the fractured bond between man and myth—revealing how the advent of talking pictures silenced The Tramp and left Chaplin vulnerable to scandal and persecution.
“Life is tragedy in close-up, but comedy in long-shot.”
“The Tramp” is not just a story about Charlie Chaplin. It’s about the duality of the artist, the pain of being misunderstood, and the price of being both adored and abandoned. It’s a story of love, loss, betrayal—and the enduring magic of the silver screen.
AV Design by Andrew Timm and Adino Trapani.
Additional musical arrangement by Bryan Schimmel.
TICKETS available at https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1569875405
VENUE: Theatre on the Square, Sandton
DATES: 10 – 26 July 2025
INFO: www.theatreonthesquare.co.za
Special group and school block booking discounts are available. Please contact Daphne at 083 377 4969.
