All you need to know about Maynardville Open-Air Festival

All you need to know, from programme to picnic & parking

Last updated: 14 January 2025

Cape Town’s beloved annual summertime tradition, which has been running for over 60 years, returns on 22 January. The Maynardville Open-Air Festival’s summer lineup includes their flagship Shakespeare production, performances of contemporary songbook classics, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (sold out), and Cape Town Opera (sold out). Here’s everything you need to know about the Maynardville Open-Air Festival 2025 season.

The open-air festival has everything, from captivating musical performances to timeless theatrical masterpieces. Image: Maynardville Open-Air Festival

MAYNARDVILLE OPEN-AIR FESTIVAL

One of the most enchanting aspects of the festival is the experience of watching theatre and music beneath the stars. Maynardville Park in Wynberg was first transformed into an open-air theatre for ballet in 1956. 

The enchanting wooded amphitheatre has been the festival’s home since then, and every year it transforms into a lively stage for outdoor theatre - and more recently, it's not just Shakespeare in the park. There’s also opera, orchestras and tribute shows with live music. 

Get a taste of what to expect below:

THE FLAGSHIP PRODUCTION IS... 

This year’s theme, Waves of Wonder, is a tribute to the festival’s flagship Shakespeare production, The Tempest, which runs from 31 January to 8 March 2025.  

This play about love, revenge, and redemption takes place on an enchanted island and the rough sea surrounding it. And it’s got a modern twist: The main character is Prospera (not Prospero), a powerful sorceress and banished Duchess, played by the indomitable Antoinette Kellermann. 

The 2025 rendition has been conceptualised by the formidably talented director Sylvaine Strike (she recently directed an adaption of Damn Galgut’s Booker Prize-winning novel The Promise).

The festival is known for their immersive Shakespeare productions. Image: Maynardville Open-Air Festival

CLASSICAL MUSIC & ICONIC BROADWAY HITS

The Maynardville summer season starts with the Tour de Tchaikovsky, performed by young musicians Gerhard Joubert and Ethan Lawson, with Elna van der Merwe. It’s on for two nights only. 

A must for lovers of iconic Broadway classics is Sunday in the Park with Sondheim on 16 and 23 February 2025. It’ll feature an unparalleled lineup of over 130 artists, including Jonathan Roxmouth (back in SA on a break from his Phantom of the Opera world tour), Kate Normington (Sunset Boulevard, West End), Lynelle Kenned (West Side Story and The Sound of Music) and André Terblanché (David Kramer’s Ver in die Wêreld Kittie). 

Every year there are enchanting performances from the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and Cape Town Opera, and for 2025, they are already sold out.

The smaller concerts sold out quickly in 2024 so audiences are advised to book their tickets soon. Image: Maynardville Open-Air Festival

FOOD AND DRINKS SORTED

The Maynardville Evening Food Market serves a range of food, with this year’s menu enhanced by the addition of Sushiya, Peter Templehoff and Shin Takagi’s sushi collab.

It focuses only on local fish and shellfish as well as premium sushi ingredients (like aged Japanese rice) in their sushi. Platters can be ordered with or without Jumnai sake, produced by one of Japan's oldest breweries, Fukumitsuya, and made with Japanese mountain water and premium sake rice.

Also expect a coffee stall and two full bars selling wine, beer and spirits. 

The Food Market is open from 5pm, so you can arrive early and have dinner at the long tables underneath twinkling strings of lights. Or, following a half-century of tradition, by picnicking on the park lawns overlooking the lake. 

Get there early to enjoy all Maynardville has to offer. Image: Maynardville Open-Air Festival

MAYNARDVILLE FESTIVAL TICKETS

Prices range from R220 to R380. Pensioners and students get 15% off all shows. 

BEST PLACE TO PARK

Maynardville Park is easily accessible via the front gates on the corner of Church and Wolfe Street, with parking options. There’s secure parking at Simon Van Der Stel Primary School Sports Field.  

There’s also street parking, which is manned by car guards. See Google Maps locations for Wolfe Street, Young Lane, Standard Lane or Roos Lane. 

Note: Get there early to secure a good parking spot.

EXPERIENCE MAYNARDVILLE OPEN-AIR FESTIVAL

Maynardville Open-Air Festival is on: 22 January to 8 March 2025
Find it: 27 Piers Road, Wynberg
Cost: From R220
Book: Via Quicket
Contact on: 082 773 5397, boxoffice@maynardville.co.za, @maynardville

By Khadeeja Adams

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