Yasmina Reza’s contemporary comedy, Art, comes to the Baxter Flipside for a limited season, from 1 to 12 September 2026, at 7.30pm with Saturday matinees at 3pm.
This internationally acclaimed comedy theatre hit, translated into English by Christopher Hampton, follows the success of the Afrikaans adaptation, Kuns, which made its debut at the KKNK (Klein Karoo National Arts Festival) in 2025, continuing its success at the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees later that year.
The English South African production is directed and designed by Marthinus Basson, and featuresperformances by Wilhelm van der Walt, Wessel Pretorius and Ludwig Binge.
Written by French playwright Yasmina Reza and translated by Academy Award-winning writer Christopher Hampton, Art is a contemporary comedy. At its heart is a deceptively simple premise: Serge buys an expensive artwork, consisting entirely of white lines on a white canvas. His friend Marc is appalled. Their mutual friend Yvan is caught in the middle. What begins as a disagreement about art, soon unravels into a hilarious, razor-sharp examination of friendship, loyalty, identity, taste and the fragile bonds that hold relationships together. Original international productions of the play received Tony and Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Play, while the French premiere received the Molière Award for Best Commercial Production.
Gem of contemporary playwriting
Following its KKNK debut, Kuns received nine Kanna Award nominations and won five, including Best Theatre Production, Best Debut Production, Best Ensemble, Best Literary Contribution and Wilhelm van der Walt for Best Actor. The production later received the Woordtrofee for Best Ensemble at the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees,and earned five kykNET Fiësta Award nominations, including Best Ensemble and performance nominations for all three performers.
“Art is as close to a perfect play as one can hope for,” says director Marthinus Basson. “The recent outbreak of productions right across the world proves its value as a gem of contemporary playwriting and the extraordinary opportunity it provides three actors to shine at their craft.”
He continues “The play’s refined, almost musical structure and crisp, witty dialogue belie a deep analysis of friendship, the limits of loyalty and the glue that binds three very different people – friends for 15 years – in a titanic battle over their personal taste and preference in art. All due to the acquisition of a painting.”
What: Art
Where and when: Baxter Flipside from 1 to 12 September 2026
Tickets: Webtickets
WS
