Show goes on as Cape Town actors record books, plays and set-works

Top actors in Cape Town are recording school set-works and other books and plays as a service to schoolchildren and arts lovers during the lockdown.

The Baxter Theatre Centre in Rondebosch, which, like other theatres nationwide has “gone dark” during the Covid-19 pandemic, is making the recordings available to supporters and radio stations under the Baxter Radio banner.

Contributors include comedian Marc Lottering, who has recorded Yusuf Daniel’s award-winning book Living Coloured (Because Black and White Were Already Taken), short stories about growing up on the Cape Flats.

“However, the old and trusted medium of radio asks the audience to listen and engage, which is comparable to the form of theatre.

“When I listened to the first editions of Baxter Radio, I was delighted and moved, and fondly remembered my childhood obsession of listening to stories on the radio.”

The recordings include award-winning books, classics and new plays written for Baxter Radio.

A statement from the theatre on Thursday said recordings would be available to “Baxter Coffee Angels”, who commit to “Buy The Baxter a cup of coffee every month” for R30 or more.

“Donating to this campaign is simple and will enable the iconic theatre to continue creating cutting-edge and new South African works and support talented artists,” said the statement.