This Week & Beyond

May 19-25: South Africans make beautiful things

South African-born Marlene Dumas, who we will always claim as our own even if she has lived in Holland for decades, is now the living female artist with the most impressive price tag on one of her works.

Miss January, a painting she made in 1997, sold for $13.6 million (the equivalent of just over R245 million as I write this but who knows how many times that will have changed by the time you read it). It was sold to an anonymous buyer during a Christie’s auction in New York last week. Cape Town-born Dumas grew up in Kuils River. Read more

But it is not all big bucks and world records in Cape Town’s art scene …

And since we are on the subject of pictures (worth a thousand words and etc), I don’t believe that any words can do more justice to these two shows currently playing in Cape Town than a picture or four:

Intermezzo, Cape Ballet Africa’s new programme of short works is on at the Drama Factory in Somerset West until May 25. (Photos by Joan Ward)

Part 1: Desiderata, the prose poem by Max Ehrmann, is the inspiration for a collection of works by South African choreographers, with actor Marcel Meyer narrating the evocative text. Part 2: Celebrating Tchaikovsky features the composer’s most loved works for ballet including The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. More info and tickets

We have heard amazing things about Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which is currently playing at Theatre on the Bay. This is apparently one that we absolutely cannot miss. (#TicketsBooked)

While we are not convinced that all the classics need reworking, one look at the pictures suggests this “fresh and exhilarating interpretation of this classic, timeless musical” is well worth it. Watch this space or just book your tickets

The 🎶🎵Prince Albert Jazz Festival🎵🎶 is a gem of South African artistry wrapped in the country's breathtaking beauty that continues to sit high on our bucket list. For now, we content ourselves with living vicariously through the lucky/more organised ones …

🥶❄️🥶Winter is finally here 🥶❄️🥶but that won’t stop Cape town’s obsessive swimmers, whether it is for a cold-water plunge at Clifton or something a bit warmer at Long Street Baths.

Good news than that newly refurbished Long Street Baths have reopened to the public after undergoing upgrades since February.

The last time we swam there was at the beginning of the year just before the renovations began and … let’s just say … the renovations didn’t come a moment too soon. That said, the famous baths at the top of Long Street are not just for fussy suburbanites in their caps and goggles. We have been told that the baths provide a very important service to local children who don’t benefit from having a pool at school or at home. The Long Street Baths is where the less privileged can learn to swim!

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