Jo'burg theatre picks: November 25 2011

You might remember Siyabonga Radebe from his role in the runaway film success District 9.

If you don’t, you might have seen him in television shows such as A Place Called Home, Intersections, Home Affairs and Rhythm City.

He comes to the Market Theatre as a stand-up comic in the production Smiles & Cries.

The solo comedy traces the story of a young boy growing up in a township in KwaZulu-Natal and his journey to the mythical city of gold. It’s a journey lined with tears and sweat, mucus and blood. The Bildungsroman makes reference to family dynamics, culture, religion and, of course, race.

Barney Simon Theatre, Market Theatre Complex, Newtown, from November 24 to December 4. Book at Computicket.

■ Kwela Bafana+ is a medley of songs from South Africa’s jazz scene of the 1950s. It features music by Blues Ntaka, Victor Ndlazilwana, Allen Silinga and others. Pianist Themba Mkhize is the musical director. In Gwen Ansell’s review of the show she argued that South Africa had “long lacked a South African analogue for Ain’t Misbehavin”, and that Mkhize’s ­production “begins to fill that gap”. She raved: “You’re unlikely to see any better performances of this material today anywhere in South Africa.” Mdu Mkhetsi, Dumisani Mhlanga, Siphiwe Nkabinde, Andries Mbali, Nkosana Xulu and Velephi Khumalo play leading roles.

Kwela Bafana+ runs at the Victory Theatre, Louis Botha Avenue, Houghton Estate, until December 10.