The Masque Theatre in Muizenberg is gearing up for a unique sensory experience this July. If you’ve ever wanted to close your eyes at the theatre and let your imagination do the heavy lifting, the upcoming double-bill of live-stage audio dramas, ‘To Kill a Hadeda’ and ‘Crows’, is exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
Stripped of traditional sets, this production relies entirely on the raw auditory power of the human voice and live sound effects. Sighted and visually impaired audiences alike will get to watch (and hear) a talented ensemble of local voice actors and a live foley artist conjure up immersive worlds right on stage, while the crowd itself serves as the live laugh-track and atmospheric backdrop.
The brains behind this live-staged radio concept are local producers and directors Matthew Kalil and Stephen “Spling” Aspeling.
“It’s a return to the golden age of radio dramas, but with the electric energy of a live
theatre audience,” says Aspeling. Having written ‘To Kill a Hadeda’ specifically for
this production, Kalil adds, “The crowd’s reactions will become a vital part of the
soundscape.”
Here is what theatre-goers can look forward to across the two distinct 40-minute performances:
Act I: ‘To Kill a Hadeda’ — A Razor-Sharp Gated Estate Satire
Written by: Matthew Kalil (Story by Matthew Kalil & Stephen Aspeling)
Directed by: Matthew Kalil & Stephen Aspeling
Starring: Brett Fish Anderson, Charles Tertiens, Jana Coetzee, and Shirley Johnston
Set against the pristine, manicured lawns of the fictional Avignon Security Estate, ‘To Kill a Hadeda’ is a hilariously dark reflection of modern South African luxury estate living. When a tyrannical body corporate chairperson is found dead with a pair of hedge clippers sticking out of her chest, the high-strung security estate is thrown into total lockdown. Jan, an ex-SANDF officer turned security guard, initiates an informal investigation, forcing the community’s eccentric mix of elite oddballs, celebrities, and nature lovers to root out the killer before the SAPS arrive. As finger-pointing escalates, the neighborhood’s darkest secrets are hilariously evicted.
Act II: ‘Crows’ – A Tense Vlei-Side Thriller
Written by: Ian-Malcolm Rijsdijk
Directed by: Matthew Kalil, Stephen Aspeling, and Ian-Malcolm Rijsdijk
Starring: Shirley Johnston and Charles Tertiens
In stark contrast to the opening comedy, Crows offers a tense, moving, and darkly comic look
into grief and survival on the fringes of Cape Town.
Set in an isolated bird hide within the wetland wilderness of our very own Rondevlei Nature Reserve, the play brings together two strangers trapped in their own personal storms. Daphne Dingle, a grieving widow seeking solace and a glimpse of a rare vagrant bird, finds her peace shattered by the arrival of Dawid, a desperate young man from Pelikan Park running from his own troubles. As their confessions intertwine in this pressure cooker of shared trauma, a dark omen gathers across the vlei – heralded by the arrival of crows and ravens.
Redefining “Theatre for the Mind” & Total Accessibility
By stripping away the visual clutter of traditional theatre, this double-bill prioritises pure storytelling. It’s an approach that makes the production 100% accessible to visually impaired theatre-goers, offering an audio-rich experience that doesn't rely on visual cues.
Meanwhile, sighted audience members are invited to either close their eyes and sink into the story, or keep them wide open to watch the fascinating, real-time mechanics of radio play creation and live foley artistry happening live on stage.
Production Details & Booking Info
● Date: Friday, 3 July 2026
● Time: 19:00
● Venue: The Masque Theatre, 37 Main Road, Muizenberg
● Format: Two 40-minute live-stage audio dramas with an intermission.
● Themes: Murder mystery, dark comedy, South African satire, psychological drama.
● Age Restriction: 13L
● Tickets: Booking is essential. You can book tickets online via Quicket