One-Act Play Festival 2026

The Masque is proud to present the 2026 One-Act Play Festival! Featuring four original one-act plays by local playwrights, this year's festival offers an exciting programme of brand-new local theatre. Across comedy, drama, suspense and mystery, audiences will encounter compelling stories, memorable characters and fresh perspectives from new and established writers. More than just a performance, each festival session concludes with a hosted discussion featuring the playwrights, directors and casts of the two plays just presented. Audience members are invited to join the conversation, share their thoughts and gain insight into the creative choices behind the work. Whether you're passionate about theatre or simply enjoy discovering new stories, the One-Act Play Festival offers a rare opportunity to experience new writing while helping shape its future. The schedule:Thursday 20 August 7:30pm - The Black Bird and Bottle ServiceFriday 21 August 7:30pm - An Unexpected Guest and Lady MarmaladeSaturday 22 August 2:30pm - An Unexpected Guest and Lady Marmalade Saturday 22 August 7:30pm - The Black Bird and Bottle Service FESTIVAL PASS AVAILABLE - get a R50 discount if you book to see all four plays - email programming@themasque.co.za to claim your pass The line up:The Black Bird - written by Clive Myburgh and directed by Kerith CoulsonLooking for somewhere to be alone, a young couple retreat to a remote bird hide deep in the forest. There, they find an elderly birdwatcher enjoying a peaceful morning. What begins as an unlikely encounter takes a dark turn when the old man becomes convinced a terrible creature is hunting them from the skies above.As fear, suspicion and uncertainty take hold, the line between reality and imagination begins to blur, and the young couple must find a way to escape the threats both inside and outside the hide.Suspenseful and deeply moving, The Black Bird is a haunting exploration of the things we fear losing most. Bottle Service - written by Savannah Steyn and directed by Andrea GrantA Mommy and Me class. Two babies. Two overwhelmed men. What could possibly go wrong?When successful businessman Michael and easy-going Caleb find themselves stranded together in a room full of seasoned parents, survival quickly becomes a team effort. Between disastrous sing-alongs, parenting mishaps and the ever-present threat of public embarrassment, the pair form an unexpected bond while trying to keep their tiny companions alive, happy and relatively clean.Funny, warm and unexpectedly moving, Bottle Service is a heartfelt comedy about modern fatherhood, chosen family and the small moments that can change a life. An Unexpected Guest - written by Lindy Wilson and directed by Kaulana WilliamsSet against the backdrop of 1965 America, An Unexpected Guest follows three young South Africans whose lives have been shaped by the struggle against apartheid.When a troubled former activist arrives unannounced at the Virginia cottage of newlyweds Mark and Justine Rutherford, their fragile sanctuary begins to unravel. As the Civil Rights Movement gathers momentum around them and the Vietnam War looms ever closer, memories of home intrude and painful truths emerge.Moving between the personal and the political, this thoughtful and deeply human drama explores loyalty, identity and responsibility, asking what happens when ideals collide with reality—and whether friendship can survive the burden of betrayal. Lady Marmalade - written by Kudzai Mhangwa and directed by Tanya SmithEvery year, on the anniversary of her death, the legendary dancer Lady Marmalade is said to return to the graveyard where she is buried to perform one final dance.When rumours of the famous dancer's return draw aspiring ghost hunter Elisa and her deeply sceptical mother to a lonely graveyard, an unusual cast of ghost hunters, sceptics and family members soon find themselves caught up in a mystery that refuses to stay buried.Filled with sharp humour, eccentric characters…