From the creators of the multi-award winning Vincent – His Quest To Love and Be Loved, comes a new musical about the life of comedic genius Charlie Chaplin.
Producers Wela Kapela Productions are proud to announce that, following rave reviews during its debut season in Johannesburg in July, The Tramp now heads to Cape Town to delight audiences at Artscape Arena from 1 – 11 October, 2025.
The Tramp, Charlie Chaplin’s alter ego
He’s a gentleman, a poet, a dreamer, a lonely fellow, always hopeful of romance and adventure. He would have you believe he is a scientist, a musician, a duke, a polo-player. However, he is not above picking up cigarette-butts or robbing a baby of its candy. And, of course, if the occasion warrants it, he will kick a lady in the rear—but only in extreme anger!’
The Tramp is a charming new musical that tells the story of Chaplin through the perspective of his old friend, the beloved Tramp character.
The Tramp explores the complicated bond between an artist and the character they create, blending comedy and tragedy in a heartfelt reflection on fame, identity, and betrayal. Through the use of innovation audio-visual design, physical comedy and reimagined versions of pop, rock, jazz and musical theatre songs, The Tramp explores a different side to the comedic genius, Charlie Chaplin.
The show follows The Tramp as he reflects on Chaplin’s rise to fame. He ponders on their symbiotic relationship, and the eventual betrayal of their friendship that led to Chaplin’s exile from America for communist sympathies.
“Life is tragedy in close-up, but comedy in long-shot”.
Silent film
The retelling of Charlie’s story through popular music and silent film gives a fresh view on the life of the iconic, yet controversial comedic genius. The Tramp was everyman’s champion shielding a shy, moody, fastidious Chaplin.
With the arrival of the talking movies, the Tramp was sidelined, and Chaplin himself stepped into the limelight. With this newfound voice, Charlie tarnishes his image with naïve political speeches and scandalous love affairs.
Without the Tramp in his corner, he became an easy target for the cross-dressing J Edgar Hoover and his handmaiden, the gossipmonger Hedda Hopper.
Writer/Director/Producer Amanda Bothma explains: “The Tramp is our most ambitious project to date. We bring audiences face to face with the many sides of Charlie Chaplin—the poor boy, the comic genius, the scandal-ridden public figure, and the old exile looking back. It struck me that he was inseparable from the Tramp, that silent double carrying both his dreams and his sorrows, but for me, the real challenge was not to be dazzled by the myth, but to uncover the silences…the loneliness between the laughter.”
Daniel Anderson concludes; “After such a warm and exciting sold-out season of ‘Vincent’ in the Cape, I feel excited to share a very new story about another complex, fascinating and ultimately brilliant man.”
The show is 85 minutes in duration with no interval.
Note: Latecomers will not be admitted.
What: The Tramp
Where: Artscape Arena, Cape Town
When: 1-11 October 2025
Performances: Wednesdays – Fridays at 19h00 and Saturdays at 16h00 & 19h00
Tramp Tickets: R220 with discounted prices for pensioners and scholars, Webtickets or Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421 7695
WS
