| What: Teater op Toer – bringing top tier theatre to venues in the Cape When and where: August 12 – 22, starting at the Drama Factory then going to Paternoster’s Die Koelkamers and elsewhere in the Cape Presented by: The Drama Factory and Leftfoot Productions Language: Primarily Afrikaans, drama, immersive drama, dance and cabaret. There are six shows Bookings: www.thedramafactory.co.za |
Six theatre pieces are touring from Joburg to the Cape: Teater on Tour – will start off at Sue Diepeveen’s The Drama Factory in the Strand and will then transfer to Paternoster’s Die Koelkamers and elsewhere in the Cape. Diepeveen is also performing in Prooi/Prey, an immersive drama (the audience is divided into groups), which received the 2026 Naledi Award for Best Cutting-Edge Production and received lead performance nominations for Diepeveen (Best Lead Performance in a Play: Female) and Ignatius van Heerden (Best Lead Performance in a Play: Male). The language of Teater op Toer is primarily Afrikaans but there is one drama in English and there is dance-theatre and cabaret. Most of the work has been newly hatched – in 2026 and 2025 and has won heaps of awards. So don’t be afraid if you are Afrikaans challenged – use Google translate like we have. Intrigued? Read on for more about this thrilling collaboration between The Drama Factory and Leftfoot Productions. Bravo to Diepeveen and Leftfoot’s Ignatius van Heerden. Info as supplied and as supplied by Google translate:
Teater op Toer – bringing a selection of top-tier theatre to venues in the Cape
A thrilling new collaboration between Leftfoot Theatre Productions and The Drama Factory will bring a selection of top-tier theatre to the Cape.
Teater op Toer kicks off at The Drama Factory from August 12 – 22, 2026 with an offering of six stellar productions, as has come to be expected from top theatre company Leftfoot and theatre / producer The Drama Factory.
The team will then take the productions on tour, reaching people in Paternoster with their performances at Die Koelkamers.
“We are constantly exploring ways to bring more theatre to more people,” says Johan van der Merwe, producer at Leftfoot Theatre Productions. ‘We wanted to create a dynamic platform presenting productions in different areas of the Cape. After the run at The Drama Factory and at Die Koelkamers, we hope to take these and other productions to various venues.”“Leftfoot is renowned for its high calibre of productions and its professionalism as a producer,” says Sue Diepeveen, founder of The Drama Factory. “They are not afraid to address the tough issues through their work, as a starting point to create dialogue about these topics. The Drama Factory is proud to be partnering with them for Teater op Toer.”
The programme for Teater op Toer at The Drama Factory is:
Trans/Vaal
12 August 19h30 & 22 August 15h00
Warning: Geen Onder 12 (Ouerleiding)
Vertolk deur Ignatius van Heerden; Geskryf deur Wim Vorster; geregisseer deur Marie-Heleen Coetzee
Kaartjies R200
Trans/Vaalis ’n aangrypende Afrikaanse dansteaterstuk deur Ignatius van Heerden wat identiteit, selfontdekking en seksuele identiteit in 1980’s Suid-Afrika ondersoek. Dit volg ’n jong Afrikanerseun se reis na selfaanvaarding binne ’n konserwatiewe, landelike konteks agter die “boeregordyn”. Deur beweging en emosionele vertelling word sy innerlike konflik en groei uitgebeeld. Die produksie het ’n Naledi-teatertoekenning vir Beste Eenpersoonstuk gewen, en is benoem vir Beste Koreografie vir Teater en Beste Grensverskuiwende Werk. TRANS/VAAL is nie net ’n produksie nie — dit is ’n rou, asemrowende ontmoeting wat onder jou vel inklim en daar bly sit lank nadat die ligte doof.
Trans/Vaal – English, courtesy Google:
*Trans/Vaal* is a compelling Afrikaans dance-theatre piece by Ignatius van Heerden that explores identity, self-discovery, and sexual identity in 1980s South Africa. It follows a young Afrikaner boy’s journey toward self-acceptance within a conservative, rural setting behind the “Boer curtain.” His inner conflict and personal growth are portrayed through movement and emotional storytelling. The production won a Naledi Theatre Award for Best One-Person Show and was nominated for Best Choreography for Theatre and Best Cutting-Edge Production. *Trans/Vaal* is not merely a production—it is a raw, breathtaking encounter that gets under your skin and stays with you long after the lights go down.
O meno O pouse
13 August 18h00; 15 August 10h00; 22 August 12h00
Warning: Geen onder 13
Met: Arina de Witt; Teks en lirieke: P.G du Plessis; Musiek: Dewald Riegger; Regie: Ignatius van Heerden en Johan van der Merwe
Kaartjies R200
n Rou, eerlike en skreeusnaakse kabaret wat reguit uit die hart praat: O meno o pouse volg Bets, ’n pas-afgetrede vrou wat uiteindelik ophou wag—vir liefde, vir toestemming, vir môre. Met skerp humor, brose eerlikheid en kragtige musiek, ontvou ’n verhaal van gemiste kanse en herontdekte drome. Hierdie intieme produksie neem gehore op ’n emosionele reis van verlies na bevryding, waar menopouse nie ’n einde is nie, maar ’n nuwe begin. Dis herkenbaar, raak en verrassend bevrydend—’n viering van stem, self en tweede kanse wat lank ná die laaste noot bly eggo.
O meno O pouse – English, courtesy Google:
A raw, honest and hilarious cabaret that speaks straight from the heart: O meno o pouse follows Bets, a newly retired woman who finally stops waiting—for love, for permission, for tomorrow. With sharp humour, fragile honesty and powerful music, a story of missed opportunities and rediscovered dreams unfolds. This intimate production takes audiences on an emotional journey from loss to liberation, where menopause is not an end, but a new beginning. It is relatable, touching and surprisingly liberating—a celebration of voice, self and second chances that continues to echo long after the last note.
Prooi/Prey
13 August 20h00; 15 August 15h00; 16 August 14h00; 22 August 19h00
Warning: SNLV – GBV No Under 18s/ Geen onder 18s / full nudity
Ignatius van Heerden, Sue Diepeveen Ryan Rossouw en Penny Wolhuter
Kaartjies R250
Prooi/Prey is ’n bekroonde, grensverskuiwende teaterervaring wat jou nie net laat kyk nie—maar laat deel word. Met aankoms word gehore in twee groepe verdeel en deur drie verweefde stories geneem: ’n jong meisie geteiken vir mensehandel, ’n seun bestem vir orgaanhandel, en die meedoënlose leier van ’n sindikaat. Hierdie roterende, meesleurende formaat plaas jou binne-in die aksie en dwing jou om te kyk waar jy dalk sou wegkyk. Met topklas vertolkings en skerpsinnige regie is dit rou, ontstellend en onvergeetlik. Wenner van ’n Naledi vir Beste Grensverskuiwende Produksieen veelvuldige Vryskitter-toekennings—’n moet-sien wat gehore regoor die land aangegryp het.
Prooi/Prey -English, courtesy Google:
*Prooi/Prey* is an award-winning, ground breaking theatrical experience that doesn’t just let you watch—it makes you a participant. Upon arrival, audiences are divided into two groups and guided through three interwoven stories: a young girl targeted for human trafficking, a boy destined for the organ trade, and the ruthless leader of a syndicate. This rotating, immersive format places you right in the middle of the action, compelling you to look at what you might otherwise turn away from. Featuring superb performances and astute direction, it is raw, unsettling, and unforgettable. A winner of a Naledi Award for Best Cutting-Edge Production and multiple Vryskitter Awards, it is a must-see that has captivated audiences across the country.
Dubbelspel
14 & 21 August 19h30
Warning: Geen 0nder 13
Met: Arina de Witt en Ignatius van Heerden; Regie: Johan van der Merwe en Marie-Heleen Coetzee; Teks: Braam van der Vyver
Kaartjies R200
In Dubbelspel bots verlede en hede in ’n skerp, emosiebelaaide kragmeting tussen twee voormalige minnaars. Wanneer die suksesvolle, maar genadelose Prof. Mara Brandt onverwags gekonfronteer word deur Blaise Breytenbach—haar eks-student en eens geliefde—ontvou ’n spanningsvolle spel van skuld, mag en manipulasie. Met geheime wat dreig om alles te vernietig, en afpersing wat stadig die oorhand kry, word die gehoor ingetrek in ’n wêreld waar niks is soos dit lyk nie. Hierdie 80-minute drama lewer rou eerlikheid, intrige en briljante spel deur Arina de Witt en Ignatius van Heerden.
Dubbelspel is ’n fyn uitgewerkte toneelstuk wat die psigologiese nagevolge van ambisie, afhanklikheid en onopgeloste begeerte ondersoek.
Dubbelspel – English, courtesy Google:
Dubbelspeel, exploring “the psychological consequences of ambition, dependency, and unresolved desire was first staged in early 2026, with a preview at the Centurion Teater in February 2026.
In *Dubbelspel*, past and present collide in a sharp, emotionally charged confrontation between two former lovers. When the successful yet ruthless Prof. Mara Brandt is unexpectedly confronted by Blaise Breytenbach—her former student and one-time lover—a tense game of guilt, power, and manipulation unfolds. With secrets threatening to destroy everything and blackmail slowly gaining the upper hand, the audience is drawn into a world where nothing is as it seems. This 80-minute drama delivers raw honesty, intrigue, and brilliant performances by Arina de Witt and Ignatius van Heerden.
*Dubbelspel* is a finely crafted play that explores the psychological consequences of ambition, dependency, and unresolved desire.
Immortal
15 August 19h00; 19 August 19h30
Starring Penny Wolhuter / Written by Peter Terry, / Directed by Sharon Spiegel
Drama
Warning: No under 12s
Tickets R200
Immortal is a powerful one-woman production that blends history, resilience, and deeply human storytelling in a spellbinding theatrical experience. This remarkable play is written by Peter Terry, directed by Sharon Spiegel-Wagner, and stars the compelling Penny Wolhuter.
Suitable for audiences aged 12 and up, it tells the true story of a young South African girl who survived one of the country’s worst train disasters – the 1911 Blaaukrantz river bridge collapse – and the haunting, heroic path she walked in the aftermath.
A historical drama grounded in fact and fuelled by heart, Immortal offers an unforgettable encounter with courage, loss, and survival against all odds. It is, at its core, a tribute to the endurance of the human spirit – and a story that speaks to everyone.
Seun
23 August 16h00
Met: Wilhelm van der Walt / Regie: Nico Scheepers /Teks: Johann Smith / Boek: Dana Snyman
Drama
Warning: Geen Onder 13
Kaartjies R250
Ná groot sukses, vyf Momentum Aardklop-toekennings en ’n Woordtrofee keer Seun op gewilde aanvraag terug. Die produksie volg Dana Snyman se reis terwyl hy die uitdagings van mondigwording te midde van onrus navigeer. Sy ervarings tydens diensplig vorm sy wêreldbeskouing en lei hom om manlikheid, eer en identiteit te bevraagteken. Deur terugflitse en deurslaggewende oomblikke vind Dana liefde en konneksie, wat sy perspektief verander.
Vir baie mense was die 1980’s net ’n dekade soos al die ander – die een van braaivleis, rugby, sonskyn en Chevrolet. Vir hulle was die lewe goed. Vir baie ander was die 1980’s ’n bitter moeilike en gevaarlike tydperk. ’n Tyd van omwenteling. En ’n tyd wat vrae laat ontstaan het. Dit is die tyd van PW Botha se vuis, van die Voëlvry-toer, AWB-saamtrekke, onderhandelinge en die laaste dae van diensplig. Dana word oneervol uit die Weermag ontslaan, maar hy bring eers ’n besoek aan Saal 24. Werkloos en doelloos beland hy in ’n voormalige bediende se kamer in Pretoria. Hierdie rou, selfopenbarende memoires vra: Hoe word ’n seun ’n man? ’n Seun wat nie ’n meisie se aandag kan trek nie? ’n Seun wat nie goed genoeg vir die Weermag is nie? Dana Snyman deel in Seun die deel van sy storie waaroor hy nog nooit gepraat het nie: sy ervarings in die 1980’s. Dit is die tyd van P.W. Botha se vinger, die Voëlvry- toer, AWB-saamtrekke, onderhandelings en die laaste dae van diensplig. Dana word oneervol ontslaan uit die weermag, maar eers maak hy ’n draai in Saal 24. Dié rou, selfonthullende memoires vra: Hoe word ’n seun ’n man? ’n Seun wat nie ’n meisie se aandag kan trek nie? ’n Seun wat nie goed genoeg is vir die weermag nie? Seun is ’n aangrypende relaas oor grootword tydens die doodsnikke van ’n poli tieke stelsel, oor manlikheid en oor eer, en oor die liefde wat uiteindelik alles oorkom.
Seun – English, courtesy Google
Following immense success, five Momentum Aardklop Awards, and a Woordtrofee, *Seun* returns by popular demand. The production follows Dana Snyman’s journey as he navigates the challenges of coming of age amidst a time of unrest. His experiences during military service shape his worldview and lead him to question masculinity, honour, and identity. Through flashbacks and pivotal moments, Dana finds love and connection, shifting his perspective.
For many people, the 1980s were just a decade like any other—a time of *braaivleis*, rugby, sunshine, and Chevrolets. For them, life was good. For many others, the 1980s were a bitterly difficult and dangerous period. A time of upheaval. And a time that raised questions. It was the era of P.W. Botha’s fist, the *Voëlvry* tour, AWB rallies, negotiations, and the final days of military conscription. Dana is dishonourably discharged from the army, but not before a stint in Ward 24. Unemployed and aimless, he ends up living in a former servant’s room in Pretoria. These raw, revealing memoirs ask: How does a boy become a man? A boy who cannot catch a girl’s eye? A boy who isn’t good enough for the army? In *Seun*, Dana Snyman shares the part of his story he has never spoken about before: his experiences during the 1980s. It was the era of P.W. Botha’s wagging finger, the *Voëlvry* tour, AWB rallies, negotiations, and the final days of military conscription. Dana is dishonourably discharged from the army, but first, he spends time in Ward 24. These raw, revealing memoirs ask: How does a boy become a man? A boy who cannot catch a girl’s eye? A boy who isn’t good enough for the army? *Seun* is a poignant account of growing up during the death throes of a political system, of masculinity and honour, and of the love that ultimately triumphs over everything.
Bookings for all shows can be made at www.thedramafactory.co.za
With its fully licensed bar and cosy, welcoming atmosphere, The Drama Factory is the perfect venue to enjoy top-quality entertainment with a group of friends or family. The solar-powered invertor ensures the show will always go on, even when there is load-shedding!
Make a staycation of a visit to The Drama Factory, booking in with one of their wonderful accommodation partners. Spend the night at The Views Guesthouse, 185 on Beach or Majorca House to enjoy the beauty and many other activities on offer in the surrounding Helderberg region. Visit the website for further details.
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Leftfoot Theatre Productions
Leftfoot Theatre Productions is ‘n produksiehuis wat opwindende nuwe teaterwerk op die planke bring.
The Company produces new theatre works for stages and festivals alike.Its multiple award-winning productions include Prooi / Prey; Pampelmoesmampoer; Tronk Met ‘n D.; Bacchus Tot Bekker; Die Reuk van Appels and The Lighthouse Keepers Wife among many others.
The Drama Factory
Established in 2017, The Drama Factory has become renowned as a prime destination for patrons to enjoy quality entertainment across a range of genres in a relaxed and welcoming environment. As well as showcasing mainstream productions, The Drama Factory offers creatives a venue to workshop performances, providing an affordable space for artists to bring their creative ideas to life.
The Drama Factory hosts a number of training initiatives, including a theatre lighting training programme. Through its relationship with organisations such as the Anna Foundation and Masikhule, The Drama Factory enables opportunities for young theatre goers to attend performances and workshops, assisting to build audiences and artists for tomorrow.
Committed to providing a platform to nurture original South African theatre productions, The Drama Factory also co-produces new work, such as the What Did The Fox Say? series, which was sponsored by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.
❇ Sponsored feature. Images supplied.
