Aldo Brincat's theatre piece serves memory, identity and a slice of moonlight

The critically-acclaimed solo production The Moon Looks Delicious From Here is set for a limited run at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town from May 20 to 31, following a successful year on the circuit both locally and abroad.

Written and performed by interdisciplinary artist Aldo Brincat, the 70 minute theatrical memoir has already earned top accolades in 2024, including a Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, and the Special Jury Award at the Bitesize Theatre Festival in London.

Described as "a masterclass in writing and performance" by the Bitesize Festival jury, The Moon Looks Delicious From Here is an intimate, character-driven work that explores themes of identity, sexuality, heritage and belonging through the eyes of a first-generation South African.

Brincat, who is of Mauritian, Egyptian and Maltese descent, draws on his own life growing up in apartheid-era South Africa in the 1970s and 80s.

At the heart of the piece is a tender, complex relationship between father and son - two men from different motherlands, navigating their place in a divided and often hostile country.

The play unfolds through a rich tapestry of characters, all portrayed by Brincat - some rooted in Durban's cultural landscape, others shaped by foreign lands.

The backdrop of political unrest, oppressive legislation, and shifting societal norms, form a powerful counterpart to the personal struggles of language, faith, love, ambition and sexual identity.

“Pain is pain. Love is love. Life is delicious," reads the show's tagline - a line that encapsulates the play's emotional range.

Audience members and critics alike have praised Brincat's ability to move seamlessly between humour and heartbreak, bringing each character to life with empathy and nuance.

Directed by poet and performance artist Sjaka Septembir, and underscored with original music by internationally recognised composer Bongeziwe Mabandla, the production is both sparce and immersive, drawing on aesthetic principles of Poor Theatre to place emphasis on storytelling and emotional truth.

Tony Lankester, CEO Edinburgh Festival, called the piece " authentic and endearing and moving in equal measure," while arts critic Billy Suter hailed it as "one of the best things I have seen on stage in some while, … Brincat mesmerises throughout."

Reviewers have also highlighted the work's broader social and historical significance.

In a review from The Critter, Steven Kretzmann noted: " it is also an important play in that it contributes to the tapestry of our shared history and trauma... invites us to reconjure our own memories and confront some difficult truths."

Following this run, the production will travel to the National Arts Festival, Makhanda, then to The Market Theatre, and later to the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees. More details will follow.

Tickets for The Moon Looks Delicious From Here are available via Webtickets.