On Stage: The Drama Factory, Cape Town, archive of live shows for 2020, during the global pandemic and lockdown in South Africa

The Drama Factory in The Strand, Cape Town opened on February 19, 2017 in a business park on the Strand. Shortly before lockdown, Sue Diepeveen, The Drama Factory’s proprietor moved the theatre another unit in the park. She set up on the new site with a full on professional sound and lighting system. The concept – a ready to move in theatre – geared to stage shows. The new venue for The Drama Theatre opened on January 30, 2020, with The Bee Gees Tribute, presented by The 1925 Band. Then came Covid and lockdown. When lockdown regulations allowed for theatre attendance , shows were staged – strictly according to safety protocols – masks, social distancing and reduced seating. Diepeveen: “We take the health of our staff, patrons and artists very seriously and all protocols are in place including letting all parties know if there is a confirmed Covid case.” Considering that live performance largely came to a halt during 2020, The Drama Factory chalked up an impressive runs on the boards.  For more about how The Drama Factory operates and its tactical approach during Covid, see: https://thecaperobyn.co.za/theatre-for-hire-the-drama-factory-cape-town/

The Drama Factory, Cape Town- performance history 2020- the 1st year of Covid  

Sue Diepeveen looks back on a very busy Jan/Feb 2020:  

Before Covid and lockdown – January to March 2020  

We opened on January 30, 2020 with The Bee Gees Tribute, presented by The 1925 Band. In February/March, we had The Dark Side of the Moon, presented by Mel Botes. Improguise presented The Style High Club. Emma van Hayn presented a solo show of own compositions. Also in February was The Eva Cassidy Story presented by Tanja Storm and then Family Therapy – a comedy presented by Aaron McIllory and Lisa Bobbert from Durban and then The Latin Affair– presented by Ernesto Latino and then Toxic Masculinity, presented by Winston Gelderblom. That was followed by Egoli, presented by Bongani Titana, Vaslav – Godfrey Johnson’s solo show and then Dassie’s Tale by The Jungle Theatre. That was followed by another run of Latin Affair and Song Sung Blue. Our mission is to stage a lot. That adds up to 11 shows and two additional runs so 13 runs all up.  

During 2020- when lockdown regulations allowed for theatre attendance  

We were closed by March 15, 2020 and we opened again on September 11 with Song Sung Blue, presented by Johan Liebenberg. On September 27, we had The 70s vs 80s show, with James Marais and Monique Kassels. In October, we had The Bob Marley Tribute presented by The Rivertones. Also in October we had So You Want To Be. A Trophy Wife?, presented by F Creations. Duck Chowles presented a Simon & Garfunkel Tribute. In November, we staged Dirt & Stone presented by Peter Faura; Grace Newton & Friends – a variety music show; then we had The Curse– a dark comedy cabaret, presented by Kimberly Buckle and then Schalk Bezuidenhout’s solo show Krismas Bonanza. On December 11, we had Duck Chowles back with Simon & Garfunkel. We closed off with Old School Legends with Monique Kassels and James Marais- that was on December 13- 2020.