Celebrating 70 years of Shakespeare under the stars

FOR nearly seven decades, the Maynardville Open-Air Festival has enchanted generations of Capetonians with its signature Shakespeare under the stars.

- TRACY-LYNN RUITERS

Now, as it prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2026, the iconic cultural event is embracing its legacy while stepping confidently into a more inclusive, diverse, and dynamic future.

The 2026 season running from 13 January to 8 March carries the theme: In Full Swing, a tribute to the golden eras of music, blending the classical, the contemporary, and the distinctly local.

This milestone year also marks the debut of jazz at Maynardville, a genre deeply rooted in Cape Town’s cultural identity.

“Jazz is part of the Cape Town soul,” said Jaco van Rensburg, Executive Producer of VR Theatrical, which took over custodianship of the festival in 2023. It’s where so many legends of South African jazz are from, and there is both a traditional and younger jazz following in the city.

Jazz is associated with relaxation, unwinding, reflection and inspiration. Mingled into a summer breeze and harmonised by the sounds of cicadas — it’s going to be a treat.”

Kicking off the season is the Shades of Blue Chamber Concert on 13 January, followed by Jazz in the Park (14-15 January), an open-air celebration of local jazz talent.