Remember playing musical chairs as a kid? That quick scramble for a seat is coming to Cape Town with a massive twist.
From 19 to 23 August 2026, Cape Town’s Magnet Theatre hosts Musical Chairs, a two-time Naledi Theatre Awards-nominated production. Led by actor and director Hungani Ndlovu alongside co-creators Genesis Shirindza and Sipho Didiza, the show blends street dance genres like Amapiano, Hip Hop, House, and Campbellocking with classical music and physical theatre to flip a simple childhood game into a sharp reflection on competition, identity, and modern social media life.
In an exclusive conversation with PopPulse, the creative trio behind the hit production broke down how the show came together, what it means to lead from behind the scenes, and what Cape Town audiences can expect when the music stops.
A Story Born Out of Social Media Isolation
The concept for Musical Chairs started back in 2020 during the peak of COVID lockdowns, when digital spaces were our primary way to connect.
“The story was written in 2020 during COVID, where social media was the only place we could gather trying to fill our community tanks, but funny enough we were getting more and more depleted,” writer and choreographer Genesis Shirindza tells PopPulse. “I was writing about how we all want to be heard, how we all want a seat at the table, but this specific table isn’t meant for that.”
To bring this message across, the team didn’t overthink the artistic mix. Instead, they relied on movement as a universal dialect.
“Dance in itself is a language which almost everyone can understand. No translations needed,” Genesis shares. “The different combinations are just using what we have in our inventory to hold up a mirror to the people.”
Stepping Behind the Lens and onto the Stage
For Hungani Ndlovu, known widely for his standout acting roles, Musical Chairs marks his official directorial debut.
“Stepping behind the scenes taught me to appreciate the craft even more,” Hungani explains to PopPulse. “I love the process of collaboration and creating with fellow performers. The journey of seeing a performer find their footing within a character is so rewarding. Personally, this has been a very affirming journey.”
When it comes to telling a story without heavy dialogue, choreography carries all the weight. Genesis describes choreography as the dialogue to a world already built by sound and light.
“To capture and relay the message, I needed to understand the intention of what we are trying to say in each moment,” Genesis notes. “Then we painted the pictures: four people huddled, one person trying to get in. We all know what that looks and feels like.”
Bringing the Magic to Cape Town
Co-creative director Sipho Didiza focused on threading physical movement into emotional language, ensuring that the high-level street dance styles felt deeply personal to everyone in the audience.
“Our bodies tell amazing stories if we let them,” Sipho tells PopPulse. “What makes Musical Chairs relate to an audience both young and old is the storytelling ability of the dancers. The plot is everyday interactions that a group of people experience. The movement is what I’d say is the magic because it feels modern, current, and connected. It makes it feel like something that is home.”
As for what the team hopes viewers walk away with after the final bow? It goes far beyond just enjoying the performance.
“Pensive,” Genesis says. “We hope that the Cape Town audience is left with a thought about themselves and the world we function in. Beyond how good the show is, a question of: where do I fit in, in this whole game I participate in daily?”
Catch Musical Chairs live at the Magnet Theatre in Cape Town from 19 to 23 August 2026.