Theatre preview: Covid Moons, directed by Clare Stopford premieres at RATA (Royal Arts Town Amphitheatre), Riebeek Kasteel November 2020

What: Covid Moons When: Tuesday November 17, with four full price performances from Wednesday 18 until Saturday November 21, 2020 Where: RATA, Royal Arts Town Amphitheatre on the grounds of The Royal Hotel Address: 33 Main St, Riebeek Kasteel, 7307 Tickets: R120. Seating is unreserved Booking:  https://artstown.co.za/book-now/ Website: https://artstown.co.za/Time: 8.15pm – 9.30 pm CAT (Central African Time) Arrival time: At least 15 mins before–Covid protocols – temp checks etc Info: royalartstownamphitheatre@gmail.com Theatre and accommodation packages:  Shawn at Riebeek Valley Tours 082 528 6785 or e-mail goodintentconnections@gmail.com Distance from Cape Town: 80km

Covid Moons, the launch production of the Royal Arts Town Amphitheatre (RATA) summer season 2020/21, was delayed by Covid. The launch was scheduled for Friday November 13- the ‘lucky number’ of RATA’s artistic director, Mark Graham-Wilson. Covid interuptus and the play was put on pause but now it is all happening with this new two-hander, directed by Clare Stopford and starring Sipumziwe Licwaba and Nicol Steyn.

During rehearsals, Licwaba was tested positive. In-person rehearsals were brought to a halt as he went into isolation but work continued over Zoom. Stopford and Steyn tested negative. Now, all is well and the show will go on to the stage of the Royal Arts Town Amphitheatre (RATA). The preview is tomorrow -Tuesday November 17. There are four full price performances from Wednesday 18 until Saturday November 21, 2020. Yes, this is 2020- the year of the pandemic. and live performance is a reality in Riebeek Kasteel. The performance on Saturday November 20 is sold out. Sold out is sold out and under Covid regulations, that is a fixed number.

RATA is on the grounds of The Royal Hotel and is an ideal venue for the age of Covid when we are doing our best to stay well and not surrender to this awful virus. Outdoor theatre ticks all the boxes- being as about safe as one can get under the circumstances. The setting is spectacular. The town of Riebeek Kasteel is charming and filled with wonderful shops and eateries. In addition to The Royal Hotel, there are many accommodation options. This is very much destination theatre – the beautiful setting of RATA in Riebeek Kasteel and a play, with a renowned director at the helm, during a time when many of us thought that there would be no live performance.

Enjoy theatre in the Cape Town summer at RATA. By the way, excellent weather is predicted for the weekend- in the 30s- summer is here. Get to RATA.

Nicol Steyn and Sipumziwe Licwaba perform in Covid Moons, directed by Clare Stopford, premiering November 2020, at RATA (Royal Arts Town Amphitheatre), Riebeek Kasteel, South Africa

❇ Image credit- featured image: Rehearsals of Covid Moons in the Royal Arts Town Amphitheatre (RATA), Riebeek Kasteel. Photo supplied.