The Junction Avenue Theatre Company masterpiece – Sophiatown – has been re-staged and comes to the Catalina Theatre for a short season with daytime shows for learners and evening performances for public. Direction is by Daisy Spencer and design is by Kevin Ellis.

Until its destruction by government decree in the mid-1950’s, Sophiatown was the ‘Chicago of South Africa’, a vibrant community that produced not only gangsters and shebeen queens but leading journalists, writers, musicians and politicians and gave urban African culture its rhythm and style. Sophiatown shows family life in Mamariti’s house as a conduit for the forces of history. All the characters of Mamariti’s house are fully-rounded convincing human beings.

‘Memory is a weapon, and some things can never be forgotten because they remind us too much of the importance of being human!’ - Peter Machen Independent on Saturday

Sophiatown runs from July 21 to August 3 with shows nightly at 20h00 from Tuesday to Saturday (Sunday at 18h00) and no show on Monday. There are special 11h00 performances for schools. For more information or to book, contact the Catalina Theatre on 031 305 6889.