| What: The Royal Countess Zingara, La Dolce Royal When: On in Cape Town until May 17, 2026 – Tuesdays to Sundays. Tours to Joburg, Melrose Arch, end of June 2026 Where: In the Spiegeltent – Mirrored Tent by Het Spiegel, constructed on site at Century City by Rik Klessens and team from Belgium Tickets: From R1,260 and include a welcome drink, a four-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, is on in Cape Town at Century City, until May 17, 2026. And then she tours to Joburg, to Melrose Arch, around the end of June, 2026, just in time for the winter in Jozi, a balm to the cold, to be immersed in the whimsical and magical show, La Dolce Royal. I say “show” but it is more than a “show”. It is an experience – beautiful and enchanting.
In regard to “experience”, The Royal Countess Zingara team recently received the accolade as Top Experience Journey at the Restaurant Association of South Africa (RASA) Awards, which took place in Johannesburg (March 2026). Read on and you will get a sense of “Experience Journey” and the immersion of theatre, food and sideshow.
The show, La Dolce Royal, features acts from South Africa and out of Africa. We saw the show in October 2025, shortly after The Royal Countess arrived in the Mother City. A few changes have been made to the programme. I know that I am objectifying them but there are two delicious men, Jonny Grundy (UK) and Manuel Artino (Sicily) doing an act in a bath, which includes aerial, so if you are given an umbrella, you will know why. There is a PG under 10 age restriction – for good reason. Lunga Buthelezi is there with her stunning contortionist act. We saw her in October and what a treat to see her again. A mother of three, Buthelezi hails from Joburg. It is awe inspiring to watch her execute unimaginable feats, with a lyricism and grace.
La Dolce Royal is more than a bricolage of cirque type acts and is underpinned by a poignant conceptual arc which resonates in terms of the current zeitgeist. As I wrote in October 2025, “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”. It starts with The Weeping Woman – Prayer to the World. Sadly, the world is even more of a mess – with hatred, war, grief and loss.
As a prelude to The Weeping Woman, there is The Descent of Cupid. Cupid comes into our orbit but is whisked away. Cupid is serenaded by the Opera Singer/Prima Donna (aka Fleur du Cap nominated musical theatre star, Megan Spencer) and by The Showman (Kevin Ellis). The Opera Singer gives a stirring rendition of the Flower Duet (Dôme épais le jasmin) from the tragic opera, Lakmé. This is your sign to give your attention to the show – from the start – I missed the descent of Cupid last time. I think that I was focussed on the divine food – four course meal – starting with meze platter – which included artichokes when we dined, ravioli, mains and dessert.
The experience starts when one is welcomed at the tent entrance by Front of House dynamo, Penny Ndimande. She has been with the Zingara family, since 2007. Kevin Ellis – aka The Greatest Showman – is at the entrance – dispensing hugs – posing for pics in front of the Zingara heart (get there in time for sunset pics). He is the reigning champion of the World Dance Masters Championships. He changes 11 times in the course of the evening and is one of the costumiers of the show. Another integral part of the welcoming team is Lilian Khumalo. As with Ndimande, she has been with Richard Griffin, Papa Zingara, from the start, before 2007, where Zingara transfigured herself in a restaurant in Cape Town. The restaurant burnt down in a fire and from the ashes, was born the Tent of Dreams. Khumalo is from Jozi and she first came to Griffin’s attention when she was singing in a club in Cape Town. Watch here for more: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AcWQ5eAWB/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWZwyynjQQ1/
Sideshow as in the genre of Circus Sideshow is integral to the Zingara experience, so keep your eyes peeled for sleight of hand magicians and pickpockets who rove between tables, entertaining between sets, and food. They are also in the foyer and you may find trickster, jesters and imps in other spaces. One of the most loved and dynamic creatives on the floor is Rory Avenstrüp. In the La Dolce Royal, the multi-talented actress and puppeteer, is operating as The Priest in a confession booth: “Confess your mess”. Don’t worry about the old adage that confession is good for the soul and bad for the reputation but this Priest is taking a shtum powder. Interesting to note that The Priest evolved out of Avenstrüp’s festive season gig. As Mother Christmas, married to Santa. People phoned on a little play telephone. She was in the booth, listening to their wishes which she could pass on to Santa? She was amazed how people were over-sharing their wishes and desires. After the festive season ended, she thought – “what now?” That led her to create the Priest in his confession booth. She says: “And Richard (Griffin –Zingara producer) built me a confession booth. The Priest also features in the show – schlepping her trolley – of sins? As I say, keep your eyes peeled at all times. The confession booth operates during the mains service – so get there for a quickie – before the final acts and the serving of the sublime trio of desserts.
A signature component of the Zingara experience in is the celebratory parade at the end of the evening, when all those involved get to circle around those who in attendance. The parade features the whole Zingara family – and includes a rousing roll-call of front-of-house staff, food servers, artists on stage, side-show artists, stage hands, make-up artists, bar staff, (waitrons), kitchen staff and chefs.
The Zingara parade is an acknowledgement and celebration of those in the limelight and those behind the scenes, particularly the food and the staff, which is so integral to the Zingara experience. Servers and staff dress up – or assume personas – and they are very much part of – and an extension of the show.
As we stood applauding and acknowledging everyone, the procession reminded me of the Parade of Nations which has become core to the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Nations march, with their flags, unified as one, irrespective of their size as nations. It is emblematic of global cohesion and unity. The Zingara parade is all of that – an acknowledgement and celebration of those in the limelight and those behind the scenes, particularly the food contingent which is so integral to the Zingara experience.
The servers become theatre in their own right. They are food fairies, wizards as they get the plated food out to around 380 guests per night. The aim, explained Exec chef, Emile Goliath, is to get everyone served within 8-10 minutes – per course. Maybe six minutes. Yup, that is getting out plates to around 380 people in the tent. Goliath started out as sous chef, working under Gretel Ferreira. That was about 2010. She is now Operations Manager and he is Exec Chef. Watch the parade of servers here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BGt7nbMLw/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWcBmeRjXoG/
Circling back to theatre of food, I must add that within that, there is an extraordinary precision and attention to detail and service. We dropped a fork and our server Dixie promptly brought us another – remarkable service in such a crowd. I asked her surname, but I was a bit slow on the uptake, much to the amusement of Dixie and my husband. This was after downing my welcome drink (Vodka and something, there was also a non-alcoholic choice with cranberry juice – complimentary welcome drinks). And yes, dietary choices are catered for. Kudos to Chef Emile for his exceptional attention to detail. I had Norwegian salmon for my mains– seared to perfection. The bread rolls are soft and delish. The meal is a mélange of flavours and textures. How do they achieve this; catering for almost 400 people at a time?
Bravo to the Zingara family and to producer and originator, Richard Griffin for his vision in creating Zingara. Emerging out of the grief with the Weeping Woman – Prayer to the World, the evening ends with a fabulous party on the floor; a celebration of joy, love and hope, with The Clorettes, the resident quartet, getting the party going. It is huge fun, infectious to get transported into the Tent of Dreams. Face painting (lots of glitter, of course) and accessories are available to purchase in the foyer.
✳The Clorettes, a quartet of singers entertain in between sets, at The Royal Countess Zingara: La Dolce Royal. Pic: Supplied
