Nothing is quite as it seems in Arthur Schnitzler’s provocative play, La Ronde, directed by Leila Henriques, as it heats up the Baxter Studio stage this winter, from 20 June to 12 July 2025, at 8pm with Saturday matinees at 3pm.
Written in 1897 by Austrian author and dramatist, Schnitzler’s La Ronde is a story of ten recognisable characters from different parts of society, all searching for escape and connection through sex.
Henriques locates the story in 2025 with an all Fleur du Cap award-winning cast and creative team. The dynamic cast comprises The Baxter’s resident Fire’s Burning company, Awethu Hleli, Lyle October, Tamzin Daniels, Nolufefe Ntshuntshe and Carlo Daniels, along with Berenice Barbier and Aidan Scott.
Crystal Finck (Aunty Merle, The Musical trilogy) is the assistant director and choreographer, set design is by Patrick Curtis (Betrayal, Life & Times of Michael K), costume design by Wolf Britz (Metamorphoses, Kiss of the Spider Woman), lighting design by Franky Steyn (Neighbourhood, Metamorphoses) and music curation by Keir Mantzios.
A world where intimacy is currency
In a world obsessed with visibility, image and performance, this modern adaptation of La Ronde probes a world where intimacy is currency, sex is a calculated strategy and everyone is performing for someone.
La Ronde is French for ‘the round’ and refers to a dance performed in circle formation. It also means ‘from one person to another’ and creates the perfect metaphor for Schnitzel’s play, driven by raw physicality, pulsating contemporary music and visceral dance. It takes a funny, provocative look at relationships now, delving into the complexities of power, desire and the relentless pursuit of connection. Through the ten characters and ten intimate encounters, it offers a sharp look at who holds power, who is exploited and who is seen.
Set in contemporary Cape Town, the action is seen through the eyes of a DJ, who finds the perfect track to cover each smooth or clumsy sexual encounter. Far more than an erotic carousel, the play exposes the transactional nature of modern relationships, where the lines between agency, desire and self-worth are constantly blurred.
Playwright Arthur Schnitzler is regarded as one of the most significant representatives of Viennese Modernism. His works, which include psychological dramas and narratives, dissected 19th century bourgeois life in Vienna. The sexual content of his works was considered controversial and were banned at the time.
What: La Ronde
Where and when: Baxter Studio from 20 June to 12 July 2025
Tickets: Webtickets
Pictures: Mark Dobson
WS
