Alan Committie is returning to the stage with his 28th solo show.
Image: Claude Bernado
Alan Committie's fans have reason to cheer, as the comedian is set to bring his 28th solo show, a new one-hander titled “AV-A-LAUGH-TA” to Johannesburg later this month.
Directed by Christopher Weare, the 90-minute production is both written and performed by Committie.
Known for his keen observational comedy, the show delves into relatable questions about modern life. These include whether everything feels completely alien, and how often we are tempted to scream, "Stop the world, I wanna get off" or "Nothing on earth makes sense".
Alan Committie is back with 'AV-A-LAUGH-TA'.
Image: Claude Bernado
The comedian is set to delight theatregoers with his trademark blend of quick-fire jokes, clever linguistic dexterity, and energetic physical comedy.
The side-splitting humour weaves together a tapestry of relatable chaos: the ordeal of passport photos, the highs and lows of weddings and funerals, audiobook mishaps, the sanctuary of musical theatre, adventures on Italian buses and the universal stress of managing passwords.
Committie has also included a 12-minute recreation of the 1997 blockbuster, “Titanic”, in the show. I can just picture the audience rolling in the aisles.
“Right now, we need to be gathering in groups of giggles, guffaws and belly laughs. It’s the perfect way to remind us of our humanity and connection.”
Where: Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre.
When: March 25 to April 5, 7.30pm. Weekend times differ. No under-12s allowed.
If you are yearning for a poignant offering, though, then “The Opera Singer” is worth checking out at the Theatre on the Square.
The production features the inimitable Fiona Ramsay alongside the honey-voiced Owain Rhys-Davies. Janna Ramos-Violante serves as both the writer and the director.
The play focuses on the captivating, singular personality of an opera singer, whose initial encounter with a journalist compels him to seek an interview.
Through this exchange, the production delves into her wit, guarded secrets, and deep trauma. She is revealed as a highly intriguing, enigmatic figure living with a persona she created to cope with a profound lack of self-worth, desperate loneliness and immense talent.
The script explores the themes of celebrity, commitment and personal choices, and how these factors emotionally shape an artist's life.
Where: Theatre on the Square.
When: From March 12 to 26, 7.30pm. Weekend times differ.
This semi-autobiographical, award-winning theatre piece chronicles the experience of four South African teenagers attending an exclusive all-girls boarding school. A single act of rule-breaking on their part starkly exposes the deeply unequal application of discipline, power and morality within the institution.
The play serves as an archive of the struggles, resistance, and inner lives of the”'girlchild”, interweaving original text with passages from literary figures such as Sylvia Plath, Kurt Cobain, and Allen Ginsberg.
It offers a critical examination of complex adolescent themes, including structural racism, classism, sexism, high school pregnancy, queerness, peer pressure, religion, family dynamics, loyalty, freedom and identity.
Ultimately, it reveals the strategies young women employ to navigate and resist systems designed to shape and silence them.
Written and directed by Qondiswa James, the production stars Ketsia Velaphi, Alice Findlay, Oratile Manamela, Nicola Shapiro and Linda Shabangu.
Where: space.com at Joburg Theatre.
When: Runs until March 5, 7pm. No under-16s allowed.