Comedy, chaos and coming-of-age: what to watch on Joburg's theatre scene right now
Image: Supplied
Whenever I hear Nik Rabinowitz's name, I know theatregoers are in for a riotous time.
The longtime comedian is synonymous with turning regular everyday situations into side-splitting jokes.
I recall interviewing him a year ago for 'Pension Killer'.
At the time, I asked him how he's managed to pivot in this woke landscape.
He said: 'Comedy is always evolving with the times, so that naturally occurs and you kind of review maybe things that you said 10 years ago with how you would say it now. You have to stay in touch with what's happening.'
He added, with a chuckle, that he hired a young team to ensure he remained woke and wouldn't be cancelled.
I'm bringing this up because being a stand-up comedian is no easy feat.
Throughout the years, Rabinowitz has made a concerted effort to keep his ear to the ground to ensure his punchlines don't miss the mark.
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His latest show, 'Geriatric Millennial', is indicative of this.
True to form, he delivers comedy gold with his observations on a generation that is set in its ways. He pokes fun at their obstinacy is admitting to having issues with their eye and their determination to play padel despite their knee screaming for mercy.
The humour is relatable but not for the entire family, so leave your kids under 16 at home.
Where: Theatre on the Square.
When: Runs until August 9, 7.30pm from Tuesday to Thursday and at 5pm and 8pm on Saturday.
Selinah The Musical
Musicals are one of the most sought-after ways to destress.
As such, theatregoers will enjoy this show, which revisits the mayhem triggered by the national lockdown several years ago.
Set in the squatter camps of Senthumule (Koster), where a respected preacher finds his life upended by the laws at the time, leaving his business in shambles.
As such, he takes out his frustration on his wife, MmaMoruti.
Amid his violent behaviour, his wife tries her best to make ends meet, which includes being unfaithful.
The story is helmed by Sello Sebotsane in the lead role.
The powerful and layered storytelling is underpinned by original musical scores.
Where: Roodeport Theatre.
When: Runs until July 31, 10am and 7pm, respectively.
Fatherhood
For those who enjoy poignant drama, this production doesn't disappoint.
Centred on four young boys growing up in a township without a father. Coming from a broken home, they find themselves navigating life-changing issues from bullying, crime, poverty to shame and an identity crisis.
If you enjoy out-of-the-box thinking that lends itself to debate, you will enjoy this.
Where: Joburg Theatre
When: Runs until August 2, 7pm.
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IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Comedy, chaos and coming-of-age: what to watch on Joburg's theatre scene right now
Nik Rabinowitz is back to tickle the funnybone in 'Geriatric Millennial'. Image: Supplied Whenever I hear Nik Rabinowitz's name, I know theatregoers are in for a riotous time. The longtime comedian is synonymous with turning regular everyday situations into side-splitting jokes. I recall interviewing him a year ago for 'Pension Killer'. At the time, I asked him how he's managed to pivot in this woke landscape. He said: 'Comedy is always evolving with the times, so that naturally occurs and you kind of review maybe things that you said 10 years ago with how you would say it now. You have to stay in touch with what's happening.' He added, with a chuckle, that he hired a young team to ensure he remained woke and wouldn't be cancelled. I'm bringing this up because being a stand-up comedian is no easy feat. Throughout the years, Rabinowitz has made a concerted effort to keep his ear to the ground to ensure his punchlines don't miss the mark. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading His latest show, 'Geriatric Millennial', is indicative of this. True to form, he delivers comedy gold with his observations on a generation that is set in its ways. He pokes fun at their obstinacy is admitting to having issues with their eye and their determination to play padel despite their knee screaming for mercy. The humour is relatable but not for the entire family, so leave your kids under 16 at home. Where: Theatre on the Square. When: Runs until August 9, 7.30pm from Tuesday to Thursday and at 5pm and 8pm on Saturday. Selinah The Musical Musicals are one of the most sought-after ways to destress. As such, theatregoers will enjoy this show, which revisits the mayhem triggered by the national lockdown several years ago. Set in the squatter camps of Senthumule (Koster), where a respected preacher finds his life upended by the laws at the time, leaving his business in shambles. As such, he takes out his frustration on his wife, MmaMoruti. Amid his violent behaviour, his wife tries her best to make ends meet, which includes being unfaithful. The story is helmed by Sello Sebotsane in the lead role. The powerful and layered storytelling is underpinned by original musical scores. Where: Roodeport Theatre. When: Runs until July 31, 10am and 7pm, respectively. Fatherhood For those who enjoy poignant drama, this production doesn't disappoint. Centred on four young boys growing up in a township without a father. Coming from a broken home, they find themselves navigating life-changing issues from bullying, crime, poverty to shame and an identity crisis. If you enjoy out-of-the-box thinking that lends itself to debate, you will enjoy this. Where: Joburg Theatre When: Runs until August 2, 7pm.
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Nik Rabinowitz's best holiday ever? His entire life before kids
Hi, I'm Nik. I'm a hunter-gatherer, Xhosa-light, forest-farm boy, raised on the mean, green streets of Constantia, Cape Town. I went to a Waldorf school, where I learnt to sew felt elephants and crochet my own underwear. My new show Geriatric Millennial is very funny. How do I know that? I checked with multiple audiences that didn't include my mother. Describing yourself as 'a traveller' in 2025 is like putting 'photographer' in your LinkedIn bio after you bought an iPhone, although I've been to six continents, so maybe I can. Come to think of it, I'm one continent away from the full box set. Hopefully my friend Riaan Manser invites me to Antarctica because I'm not willingly paying 200k to freeze my arse off. Three words that describe my travel personality: adventurey, outdoorsy, off-the-beaten-tracky. I grew up on a farm in Cape Town and for the holidays we'd often camp on the farm Boontjieskloof (subsequently gentrified to Bushmanskloof) in the Agter-Pakuis Cederberg mountains. I remember campfires, condensed milk, moerkoffie, pothole swimming, rock-art hunting, sleeping under 500-million-year-old rock overhangs, watching sparks float up towards stars ... and the time my dad dropped the matza balls. My first trip abroad was to Sea Point. From Constantia. To see my Great Aunt Sarah. My mom packed me a little suitcase full of matchbox cars, my parents loaded the car full of supplies and padkos and off we went. My first overseas trip was to the UK on a school cricket tour. I remember my teammate 'Festicles' buying a magazine full of images unlike anything we'd seen in Scope. Our coach Christoffel arrived looking like he'd wrestled a brewery and lost. And we drank Bristol Exhibition cider like it was apple juice — until Dovvi vomited all over our host family's house. 'Cultural exchange' sometimes just means learning how to apologise in a foreign language while your parents work out whether travel insurance covers diplomatic embarrassment caused by fermented fruit products. My most remote destination was Cordillera Blanca in Peru. I learnt that sharing a tent with Jon-Jon-Keegan at 5,000m while one of you has violent vomiting and diarrhoea is a real test — especially with only Spanish-speaking donkeys for moral support. My most difficult was Kilimanjaro at -10°C, with acute pulmonary oedema. And there's nothing cute about it. I'm not an adventurous eater on holiday. Though I did eat flambéed pigeon shin in Peru, followed by Arequipan guinea pig. It was either that or Alpaca testicles. Best place for a night out? Upington. There's a club called Plan B; 60% of the town enjoys being tied up. They don't have a Plan A. Also Amsterdam — bikes, dykes and Hollandse Nieuwe Haring [young herring, a traditional Dutch delicacy]. One thing I always do on holiday is try to disappear in the morning to 'explore' — that is have a midlife crisis. Then attempt the 'Great Holiday Seduction' on my wife, usually met with the enthusiasm of someone who's been applying sunscreen to toddlers all day. When travelling, I am a sucker for malaria. Got it in Malawi. Didn't die, so that was a good outcome. Also, I once dug my boss a long drop in Mozambique. That's the day you become a man. Best holiday ever? A mokoro safari in the Okavango. Also backpacking through Mozambique before it was cleared of landmines. I once survived a cyclone and clubbed a fish like Tom Hanks in Cast Away, except with more guilt. Most relaxing destination? Churchhaven, on Langebaan Lagoon in the West Coast National Park. You rent a house for the price of a small European nation, but it reminds you what 'free' feels like. Tourist attractions that surprised me? Bredasdorp: window view of a brick wall. Malindi, Kenya: too Italian — rather just go to Italy. Must-see before you die? West Point, Liberia. Because you probably will. Kandahar, Afghanistan — terrifying but beautiful mountains. Favourite museum? Cradle of Humankind. Nothing makes you feel more evolved than seeing your ancient grandmother in a glass box while someone explains evolution like it's Survivor. Favourite hotel? The Drake, Toronto. Cool vibe. Theatre. And every room has a book titled God is Very Disappointed in You. Inspirational. What I think when I see South Africans abroad? 'I hope they talk smack about me in Afrikaans.' Bucket-list destinations? North Korea; Lithuania (grandfather's expropriated house, ideally with EFF support); the NG Kerk in Comodoro Rivadavia, Patagonia; the Great Wall of China — for my 50th, with my favourite chinas. Places I'd return to? Lamu Island, Kenya; Hydra Island, Greece; Delta Camp, Okavango; Joshua Tree, California; the Transkei's Wild Coast — it's mystical and has a wall with a hole in it. Never again? Holocaust memorial in Riga, Latvia. Cathartic, but not for the faint-hearted. Also, Europe. So many languages. €8 sandwiches. You won't like it. Trust me. Best holiday ever? My entire life before I had kids. Worst hotel? Formula 3 in Nairobi. They gave us flip-flops for the bathroom.
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- The Citizen
Comedy with a cause: Support education at Kids Haven
Comedy with a cause: Support education at Kids Haven Kids Haven in Benoni is teaming up with comedian Nik Rabinowitz to raise funds to ensure the children in their care receive quality education. Join the team on July 31 at the Theatre on the Square, Sandton, as Rabinowitz brings you his latest stand-up special, Geriatric Millennial. The show takes you down memory lane, with the soundtrack of dial-up internet in the background. It follows Rabinowitz as he navigates life as a middle-aged millennial, defiantly refusing to buy reading glasses or admit to a rocky relationship with lactose. Tickets are R350 per person. To book your seats, make a payment to Kids Haven: Nedbank account: 1948063824 Reference: 'Theatre' and your surname Proof of payment can be sent to: [email protected] At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
