What's on stage at the 2019 Maynardville Open-Air Festival

Says producer Brian Heydenrych: “Last year’s maiden Maynardville Open-Air Festival was really well received and we have been encouraged to bring back our wonderful partners to perform an exciting season of classical works with a contemporary edge. We look forward to welcoming audiences new and old to the 2019 festival.”

© Bronwyn Lloyd

The Maynardville Open-Air Festival brings an opportunity to turn a theatre night out into an experience. Patrons may pack a picnic and bring along their blankets to spread out on the park lawns before the show as per the Maynardville tradition. There is also the option of pre-ordering a gourmet takeaway from a special menu that the festival is offering in partnership with the local restaurants. Dress up, get a crowd together, mark a special occasion or anniversary or make it a first date.

For many, Maynardville is where Shakespeare’s works are brought to life on stage for the first time. The festival will again allocate block bookings to schools at a reduced price.

Here’s a look at what will be staged during the 2019 season:

Alan Committie in Richard the Third

The 2019 Shakespeare is one of the Bard’s greatest tales, Richard the Third. In this production, the infamous hunchback will be played by award-winning actor/comedian Alan Committie and takes the audience on a journey through palace politics, coruscating corruption, and macabre machinations in order to become the new king of England.

Award-winning Shakespeare director Geoffrey Hyland also returns to Maynardville after the triumph of Twelfth Night to direct this comic-tragedy. With a cast of 14 and costumes by the talented Leigh Bishop, this production promises an action-packed, theatrical rollercoaster romp as it depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of King Richard III.

Catch the season from 6 February-9 March 2019.

Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s Famously Incidental

The season will open with Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s Famously Incidental, a selection of well-loved famous plays. Expect to be transported into the world of Grieg, Beethoven, and Bizet in this exploration of light and lovely classical works conducted by Brandon Phillips and narrated by Rodney Trudgeon.

There are only three of these concerts from 17-19 January 2019.

Cape Town City Ballet

The Cape Town City Ballet is bringing their popular Swingtime into the outdoor setting for Swingtime in the Park; Sean Bovim’s ballet performed to the music of the ’30s. The Cape Town City Ballet dancers will be interpreting nostalgic hit tunes such as It Had to be You, Unforgettable, and Fly me to the Moon.

Catch the ballet from 23-27 January 2019.

Jesters in the Park – Season 2

Audiences who caught last year’s riot of wit will be first in line to get tickets to this year’s comedy under the stars. Kurt Schoonraad’s Cape Town Comedy Club will bring a lineup of top names to the stage under the hilarious host Rob van Vuuren for Jesters in the Park – Season 2. This chance to laugh at the stars, the world and ourselves is not to be missed and best enjoyed with friends and family.

Catch the Jesters from 31 January-2 February 2019.

Sunday night sessions

A series of one-off Sunday evening concerts take place throughout the 2019 Maynardville Open-Air Festival.

Catch Derek Gripper once again with his unique infusion of classical traditions, avant-garde Brazilian music, Malian kora, Cape Town folk, and even Indian classical music has which has carried him to the world’s stages including his Carnegie Hall debut in 2015. A special concert from Cape Town Opera, the much-loved Graham Weir bringing his special breed of madness to the park and finishing up with the gospel voices for Vumani Choral Projects to close the season.

Keep an eye on Computicket’s Maynardville page as bookings for these will open soon.

Lower priced early bird tickets have opened for each of the shows in the season so audiences are encouraged to visit to get the best prices on tickets. All tickets can be booked via Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695.

Visit maynardville.co.za for more information about the Maynardville Open Air Festival.