
VR Theatrical is proud to have been appointed the custodian of the historic Maynardville Open Air Theatre Festival and presented a blockbuster line-up of content between January and March of 2023.
We look forward to continuing our journey with the Maynardville Trust in years to come.
Watch this space for updates on next year's festival.
See archival information about this year's festival below.
MEDIA RELEASE
Bringing in a new season at the Maynardville Open Air Theatre Festival
Cape Town's classical open air theatre experience in Maynardville Park, Wynberg, is back this summer after a three year hiatus and is now under the management of award-winning entertainment production company VR Theatrical (Jaco van Rensburg and Wessel Odendaal).
The Maynardville Open Air Theatre Festival season is always a summer highlight and has in recent years come to include more than just the traditional Shakespeare play, with a full line-up of classics under the stars. VR Theatrical is keeping this expanded seasonal format, blending Shakespeare with classical concerts across the genres.
The 2023 Shakespeare play will be the magical and much-loved A Midsummer Nights' Dream. Directed by Geoffrey Hyland which, after his tremendous successes with Richard the Third (2019) and Twelfth Night (2017), promises to be a new spin on this fantastical classic. The production will star Chi Mhende and Mark Elderkin.
Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra will present a musical A Midsummer Night's Dream by Mendelssohn as the orchestral programme and Cape Town City Ballet will present a programme of two works under the title SummerSnow - contrasting the heat of summer with performances inspired by sharp, icy winter themes. Maynardville Festival's programme will also put Cape Town Opera under the night sky with an unmissable choral performance and soloists singing Songs of Shakespeare in tribute to the great Bard.
The season dates are:
19 - 21 January
The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra
26 - 29 January
Cape Town Opera
2 - 23 February
SHAKESPEARE'S A Midsummer Night's Dream
1 - 5 March
Cape Town City Ballet
The tradition of enjoying a picnic in the park continues to be part of the Maynardville theatre ritual but picnics can now be pre-ordered from the Festival organisers and can be collected on arrival. Patrons can also enjoy a range of food and drinks from the Maynardville Evening Food Market which will be running throughout the Festival and will be open to all to enjoy in the summer evenings.
VR Theatrical's Van Rensburg and Odendaal are experienced producers, having presented blockbuster Broadway plays and musicals, and commissioned and developed original, new theatrical productions.
Says Van Rensburg, “We recently opened a new production office in Cape Town and were absolutely thrilled when the opportunity to present Maynardville came our way. It is a cornerstone of the Cape Town theatre calendar with history dating back to 1956 when two brave and ambitious women, Cecilia Sonnenberg and Rene Ahrenson, staged the first Shakespeare play at Maynardville. It was a bold idea that paid off and has been a tradition for many over the years. We are hoping to honour this legacy by presenting a summer season that delights, entertains and celebrates the return of live theatre that will give us all a few hours of pure magic under the stars.”
VR Theatrical's mandate of theatre education has a strong developmental element and the Maynardville Open Air Theatre Festival will be partnering with the Open Culture Foundation to kickstart a personal development programme focused on the training and upskilling of a new generation of technical theatre producers across sound, light and stage management.
Tickets for the 2023 Maynardville Open Air Theatre Festival season are available via Quicket https://bit.ly/3TAo23l
ENDS
Released for VR Theatrical by
Sascha Polkey
Rabbit in a Hat Communications
083 414 0552

Daniel Mpilo Richards played Richmond in a 2014 production of Richard III at Maynardville. Image by Jesse Kramer

A scene from Swingtime in the Park by Cape Town City Ballet at Maynardville 2019. Image Pat Bromilow-Downing

Cape Town Opera will perform at the 2023 Maynardville Open Air Theatre Festival

Daniel Mpilo Richards played Richmond in a 2014 production of Richard III at Maynardville. Image by Jesse Kramer
2023 PROGRAMME
MUSIC, OPERA, DRAMA, BALLET
January
Thursday 19th:
Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra | 20h15
Friday 20th:
Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra | 20h15
Saturday 21st:
Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra | 20h15
Thursday 26th:
Songs of Shakespeare (CTO) | 20h15
Friday 27th:
Spirituals (CTO) | 20h15
Saturday 28th:
Songs of Shakespeare (CTO) | 20h15
Sunday 29th:
Spirituals (CTO) | 20h15
February
Thursday 2nd:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Friday 3rd:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Saturday 4th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Sunday 5th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Tuesday 7th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Wednesday 8th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Thursday 9th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Friday 10th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Saturday 11th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Sunday 12th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Tuesday 14th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Wednesday 15th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Thursday 16th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Friday 17th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Saturday 18th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Sunday 19th:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Tuesday 21st:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Wednesday 22nd:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
Thursday 23rd:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 20h15
March
Wednesday 1st:
Cape Town City Ballet | 20h15
Thursday 2nd:
Cape Town City Ballet | 20h15
Friday 3rd:
Cape Town City Ballet | 20h15
Saturday 4th:
Cape Town City Ballet | 20h15
Sunday 5th:
Cape Town City Ballet | 20h15

MAYNARDVILLE EVENING FOOD MARKET
brought to you by openair collective
Departing from tradition, Maynardville in association with Open Air Collective brings you
Maynardville Evening Food Market that will run congruently.
On-property food trucks, bars, and coffee stations will be available to patrons
during the Maynardville Theatre Festival. Picnic baskets for one or for two can now
be pre-ordered at very affordable prices upon checking out at Quicket.
As such, all food items will have to be purchased on-property.
We encourage patrons to arrive early, enjoy the natural beauty and support our
food and beverage partners at this year's inaugural Maynardville Evening Food Market.
Picnic basket from R180 per head. Details available on Quicket.
For more info, contact jeff@vrtheatrical.com.

BIG DISCOUNTS ON SCHOOL AND BLOCK BOOKINGS ARE AVAILABLE
For more information or to book, email: jeff@vrtheatrical.com