| What: Madame Zingara – the Royal Countess Zingara: La Dolce Royal When: Scheduled to run until May 2026 – Tuesdays to Sundays Where: Tent by Het Spiegelpaleis, constructed on site at Century City by Rik Klessens and team Tickets: Tickets – from R1150 per person include a welcome drink, a five-course dinner and the performance Bookings: www.zingara.co.za Artistic directors: Craig Leo and Valentina Leo Musical direction, vocal coach song arrangements: Glenn Swart Lighting design: Joshua Cutts, assisted by Mannie Manim Choreography: Sam Kotze |
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐙𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐚 – 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐙𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐚 – 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 – 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲
What a night. Love. Love. Loved. It was brilliant to be immersed again in the wonder of Madame Zingara – The Royal Countess Zingara. The show: La Dolce Royal. We need royals like this – regal, kind, brave, sassy and sexy – in a good way.
Artistic directors Craig Leo and Valentina Leo have conjured up a show which is intimately and sensitively tuned into the world right now, wrapped in grief; seeking better days, through love, empathy, compassion, kindness and peace.
Art – theatre – is the medium, the mediator of that at Zingara. It starts with darkness and grief with the Weeping Woman – Prayer to the World (Jenny le Roux) and ends with a lightness and celebration. Yes, signature Zingara cirque is there. The artists are sensational. Their acts draw gasps. But the acts have been woven into a compelling theatrical arc by Craig and Valentina Leo, with beautiful music direction by Glenn Swart; gorgeous lighting by Joshua Cutts, assisted by Mannie Manim; choreography by Sam Kotze.
The wow of the lift is there but to quote Leonard Cohen, it is a “broken hallelujah” or maybe a “holy hallelujah”? At Zingara, we stand before the Countess of dreams. The Timekeeper (host – Andile Magxaki) invites us to be “present in the moment that is unfolding” and muses that we don’t just dream, we live our dreams. Well, we can do that at in the embrace of Zingara, where peace and love is keeping the beat.
The company of international and South African artists, is exceptional. As of writing, October 28, 2025, the lineup includes: Jenny le Roux – multicord rope act (SA), hand balance act and strap acts – twins Mykola and Andrii Pysiura (Ukraine), contortionist Lunga Buthelezi (SA), feather on palm balance act – Tatiana Babiy (Ukraine), Rola Bola – Axel Perez (Mexico/LA), juggling – Jason Barnard and Jacobus Claassen from Zip Zap Circus (SA) and aerial cradle act – Juan Pablo Palacios and Victoria Perez Iacono (Argentina)
A special shout-out to South African musical theatre stars, Megan Spencer and Edith Plaatjies who are part of the Clorette singing troupe at Zingara. Plaatjies won a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for her role as Joyce in King Kong at The Fugard Theatre (now the Homecoming Centre). That award was in 2018, in pre-pandemic days. Recently she blew me away in Aladdin at Canal Walk Shopping Centre Children’s Theatre, staged by Abrahamse and Meyer Productions. Spencer is a brilliant actress and singer and has captivated us in productions like My Fair Lady as the housekeeper. And here they are, with their glorious voices, at Zingara, along with the wow acrobats, the contortionist, Lunga Buthelezi (she is beyond), juggling, aerial, strength, cradle and other acts, in this beautiful theatre experience.
Zingara is also a lot of fun – huge fun. So, yes, the show is layered, deep, reflective but the experience is fun and fabulous. It is an amazing party, led by The Clorettes singers: Plaatjies, Andrea Anthony, Brandon Jonathan and Nazneen Abrahams. Dance music includes a medley of Abba. There is Sérgio Mendes’ Mas que nada.
Get your face painted – glittering and gorgeous. Buy merch and dress up. May I just say – I love my Birkenstocks but seriously Zingara is a place to step out, beyond the birkies. Dress up!
Zingara is the ultimate immersive theatre-dinner experience. The dinner is part of the body of theatre, with the food, dished up performatively by Zingara servers. The food – five course – OhMy – mezze, butternut ravioli, various mains choices – vegetarian, pescatarian (delish Norwegian salmon on the night we were there) two meat options (includes the iconic Zingara chocolate chilli fillet) and trio of desserts. Part of the magic of Zingara, is witnessing the marvel of the servers delivering food to the tables. They are dressed up as characters and are very much part of the experience – taking food theatre to way beyond the ether of what is termed as ‘food theatre’.
Bravo to maestro Richard Griffin and his team for a stunning return of Zingara, after a decade away, getting her beauty sleep. The Spiegeltent (mirrored tent), Magic Crystal is grand, alluring, seductive – in a good way. The tent, from Belgium was put up on site at Century City, by Rik Klessens and team. This Spiegeltent is 22 metres and has the capacity to seat 400 people. Light peeks through the stained glass windows – even when it is dark. One is sitting, bathed in the glow of the mirrored tent.
Such a fabulous evening. By the way, they have Royal Boxes (as in theatre boxes – spaces) – to host the ultimate “private” party at Zingara – two boxes. 16 per box. How cool is that. If you cannot get a ticket over the festive season (heavily booked) for Zingara, go on the waiting list.
✳ Featured image: The Twins Mykola and Andrii Pysiura from Ukraine, at The Royal Countess Zingara: La Dolce Royal, Century City, Cape Town, October 2025. Pic: Daniel R. Manners. Supplied.
