What: Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story by Stephen Dolginoff
Where: Theatre on the Bay, Cape Town and then Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino
When: February 21 until 15 March, 2025 at Theatre on the Bay and then transfers to Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino, Johannesburg, March 21 until April 13, 2025
Bookings: Webtickets
Director: Chris Weare
Performers: Gianluca Gironi and John Conrad
Piano: Jaco Griessel
Set design: Ande Arthur Gibson
Lighting design: Luke Ellenbogen
Costumes and props: Cape Town Opera wardrobe  

I was surprised and thrilled by Thrill Me, The Leopold and Loeb Story. Stephen Dolginoff’s musical thriller is on in Cape Town at Theatre On The Bay until March 15 and then transfers to Joburg, to Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino, Johannesburg March 21 until April 13, 2025.

I had read the synopsis online and thought – oy – this is a lot – how will I follow this musical, “exploring” a true story. In 1924, Chicago, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb murdered a young boy.  This was a gratuitous ‘thrill’ murder – driven by obsession, lust, narcissism – and powered by the desire to manipulate and be in control.  It is a strange and twisted relationship we see on stage. These are not nice people. They are not “sorry”. They were two young people of privilege (one was more privileged than the other). As they say truth is stranger than fiction. However, this is not a doco-drama or a TedTalk on the perils of being bad. It is dark, dark creepy fabulously awful.

Extraordinary performances by Gianluca Gironi (Leopold) and John Conrad (Loeb) with brilliant direction by Chris Weare. I haven’t seen any other productions but in my view, Weare has created highly intense theatre with music, rather than a “musical”.  It is a psychological thriller drama with music. The brilliant Jaco Griessel is at the piano, accompanying the actors.


I loved the score, lyrics – gripping book – easy to follow – contrary to my expectations after reading the synopsis.

Superb voices and acting of the young actors. Design (Ande Arthur Gibson) – a stark caged prison like enclosure with a platform (rostrum) and stylish dapper clothes evoking the period of (1924 Chicago). The wardrobe and props are courtesy of Cape Town Opera. Luke Ellenbogen’s striking lighting design illuminates the protagonists in their bubbles and when they come together, wrapped around each other.


I have been raving about Thrill Me and when people counter that it isn’t “something” that they want to see, because of the subject matter, I tell them to reconsider. It is as I say a production which thrilled me. It is very dark and edgy. But I like dark and I particularly like that the story has not been sanitised. Weare’s theatrical treatment, together with the stripped down minimal set, foregrounds the drama of this story. There is no mawkishness We are repelled by real life horror but we are also fascinated. Thrill Me is hugely entertaining. We shake ourselves because we are enjoying it and having a good time and we know that we shouldn’t be having a good time and yet we are hyper aware of the horror and the utter depraved indifference of these individuals.  I left the theatre – reeling – in a good way. Gripping theatre.

John Conrad (Loeb) and Gianluca Gironi (Leopold) in Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story by Stephen Dolginoff. The murder-musical is on in South Africa, February 21 until March 15, 2025 at Theatre on the Bay and then transfers to Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino, Johannesburg, March 21 until April 13, 2025. Pic supplied.

✳ Gianluca Gironi (Leopold) and John Conrad (Loeb) in Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story by Stephen Dolginoff. The murder-musical is on in South Africa, February 21 until March 15, 2025 at Theatre on the Bay and then transfers to Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino, Johannesburg, March 21 until April 13, 2025.