The multi-award winning Royal Arts Town Amphitheatre is proud to announce the line-up for its third annual Summer Season, which opens in November and runs until April 2023. Featured on the menu is plenty of music, including our now traditional annual benefit concert by your favourite Valley musicians, the return of last season’s sold-out-performance opera company, South African popular and cutting edge musical icons as well as drama, a children’s show and new works created through FOR LIFE Centre in Riebeek West, under whose artistic banner RATA now falls.
Book now for the first four productions which are all happening before the end of this year. Book for yourself – and/or buy theatre tickets for your loved ones for Christmas, they make wonderful gifts.
A look at the line-up:
. Derek & Guy in Riebeek
Sunday 13 November
19:00
Tickets: R200
Long-time friends, collaborators and leading exponents of the acoustic guitar, Derek Gripper and Guy Buttery, return to the Valley with an exciting fusion of the written tradition of Western classical music and the oral tradition of the West African griots in a show, which evokes everything positive and beautiful about the place they call home.
Don’t miss this opportunity to catch the musical artistry of two of the finest visionaries to emerge from the tip of the African continent.
. Impendulo benefit concert
Saturday 19 November
18:00
Tickets: R200
All your favourite Valley musicians and entertainers, including the Valley All Stars, Ensemble Tropicale, Willson and the Echoes, Caro 3rd Grey, Azurdee, Valley Roses, Impendulo Dancers, Donker Jonker en Jorik come together for this sunset performance of music, dance and more.
Book your tickets, grab a bottle of wine at the bar and enjoy the show, knowing you are supporting a great initiative. Impendulo (or “the answer’) is exactly what this youth development initiative seeks to provide: an answer to the problem of young people falling into antisocial behaviours through lack of motivation, opportunity and activity.
Their talent shows and sporting events in New Rest Valley, the new extension of Esterhof, are providing the youth with fun and meaningful pastimes, but they are doing this on zero budget and need support to keep going. Become part of the answer by booking your tickets now.
. How to hold the world
Friday 2 December
19:00
Tickets: R70
This production is part of RATA’s Send a child to the theatre programme. At only R70 give a local child a Christmas gift of theatre by sponsoring a ticket for them to attend the performance, followed by the official annual lighting of the tree on the village square where Father Christmas will be handing out treats.
The show features a young boy who is tasked with “holding the world” as he faces the scary prospect of growing up. He learns that being alone doesn’t mean being strong, being helped doesn’t mean being selfish, and bravery is about being open to imagination and friendship.
Children will love dancing with the moon, playing with the stars and big birds before heading to the centre of the village for the rest of the evening’s festivities. Adults, make sure you are also there for the lighting of the Christmas tree – it is spectacular!
. Doep is nie dood nie
Saturday, December 17
20:00
Tickets: R150
Popular singer and composer Jannie du Toit has recorded more than 15 albums, his latest entitled Vintage 2018 featuring his own songs, as well as works by other local and international artists. In 2021, Du Toit celebrated 50 years in music.
Doep is Nie Dood Nie is a reflection on Du Toit’s long-standing, deep friendship with the late Koos du Plessis and features the formidable body of songs and other texts by the artist, dubbed the “Bob Dylan of Afrikaans music” by many. Du Plessis died at a relatively young age more than 30 years ago, leaving a wealth of wisdom in his remarkable oeuvre of songs and other writings. Du Toit’s stage production emphasises just how alive and relevant “Koos Doep’s” take on life and creative output remain – musically, lyrically and on a human level.
All shows take place at the Royal Arts Town Amphitheatre (RATA) at Royal Hotel, 33 Main Street, Riebeek Kasteel. For more, call 082 851 1262 or send email to artoflifecentre@gmail.co.za. To book your tickets call or WhatsApp 082?851 1262 or 082 570 3083.
