Women’s Month on stage: powerful performances, bold voices and big laughs with these Joburg shows

There is a diverse slate of offerings in theatre this August. So whether you are looking for a hearty laugh or to be mesmerised by some phenomenal burlesque and aerial acts, you won’t be disappointed. 

FUNNY SIDE UP

The title of Kurt Schoonraad’s latest offering says it all. 

In this one-man show, he unpacks the absurdities of modern life, using humour to balance the unfolding chaos and change.

After all, you can either just wallow in despair or simply laugh off the frustrations.

Schoonraad said: “‘Funny Side Up is just a metaphor for keeping your sense of humour intact. Things have been tough for a lot of us in recent years, but laughter really is one of the best tools we have to get through it.”

His skills of observation, combined with his energetic stage performance and razor-sharp delivery, are guaranteed to leave audiences in stitches as he flits from parenting fails, pop culture and cosmetic surgery to queue hopping. 

He said, “This show isn’t just punchlines, it’s therapy with a twist.”

Where: Montecasino Studio Theatre. 

When: Runs until August 17, 7.30pm. 

La Bella

If you're looking to make a night out of it with your girlfriends or loved ones, you won’t go wrong with this show. 

It will dazzle, astound and entertain you. 

Also, it celebrates womanhood by showcasing the beauty and power of women through burlesque and aerial performances.

The show is underpinned by passion, betrayal and drama. 

“Women’s Month is a time to honour everything we are - our strength, our softness, our courage, our vulnerability. ‘La Bella’ is more than a show; it’s a love letter to womanhood. Each woman on that stage gives a piece of her heart, her story, her body - to move us, to stir something deep within us. It’s raw, it’s beautiful, it’s unforgettable,” director Nataniel Pires said. 

He added, “Being part of this journey, watching these women support and uplift each other, reminds me how powerful we are when we stand together.

"This is what we’re celebrating - not just performance, but the spirit of women holding space for one another. That’s something we all need more of in the world.”

Where: The Cirk, Cresta. 

When: August 22 to 27, 7pm. No under-16s allowed.

Peter Pan Jr.

A sprinkle of something whimsical to keep your little ones spellbound for a short while. 

Based on J.M. Barrie's enchanting play, this is a modern-day interpretation of the timeless tale about the adventures of a mischievous boy.

Wendy, Michael and John Darling meet and befriend Peter Pan when the mysterious boy and a fairy named Tinker Bell enter their nursery in search of Peter’s lost shadow.

Peter invites his new friends to Neverland, an island where the adventures never end and, in so doing, introduces the Darling children to the Lost Boys, like himself, who never grow up. 

Those adventures hit a few snags after encountering the dreaded Captain Hook. 

It’s a colourful and delightful production that’s fun for the entire family. 

Where: Main Theatre at Roodepoort Theatre.

When: Tomorrow until Saturday, times vary on the day.