HANOVER STREET LIVES ON - Kaapse stars ready for sold-out show to celebrate District Six’s legacy

SIXTY years after the forced removals from District Six, the stories of Hanover Street continue to live on - in memory, in music, and in the shared history of a community whose spirit was never displaced.

From 10 to 15 February 2026, From Hanover Street comes to the Artscape Theatre Centre, offering sold-out audiences a musical concert that reflects on loss, strength and the enduring cultural legacy of District Six. 

This commemoration marks six decades since the forced removals - a moment to pause, reflect and honour the lives, voices and histories that shaped this city.

At the heart of this production is a historic creative collaboration. For the first time, the Broetjies and The Bra unite in the producer’s chair. 

David Kramer is joined by Jody Abrahams, Alistair Izobell, Emo Adams and Loukmaan Adams - artists whose journeys are inseparable from the story being told.

Each of the Broetjies began their professional careers as nine-year-old boys in District Six: The Musical decades ago, when they were given the opportunity to become part of a production that would define South African theatre. 

Today, they return not as children finding their way, but as seasoned artists and custodians of memory, collaborating with David Kramer to create new magic - grounded in lived experience, shared beginnings and deep respect for the story of District Six.

From Hanover Street carries audiences through moments that are tender and tearful, joyful and uplifting. There are moments of quiet reflection, bursts of laughter, music that stirs the heart, and rhythms that invite movement and celebration. It is a work that honours pain without being weighed down by it, and celebrates life in all its complexity.

Artscape Theatre provides a fitting home for From Hanover Street. This year, Artscape celebrates a milestone of 55 years, making it especially meaningful for this production to be staged in a venue so closely linked to the city’s cultural memory. 

Dr Marlene le Roux, Chief Executive Officer of Artscape Theatre, welcomes this production, recognising the significance of bringing a District Six story to life in a space that has long been at the heart of Cape Town’s artistic and cultural heritage.

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis added: “We are so excited for this production to hit the stage at our beautiful Artscape theatre. As we reflect on the sixty-year commemoration of forced removals in District Six, I can think of no better way to honour and preserve those stories.

"Having just awarded David Kramer and the late Taliep Petersen the City’s highest possible honour, the Freedom of the City, it is truly wonderful to see David back in the producer’s chair, telling authentic Cape Town stories together with an incredible cast of music collaborators. I have no doubt that From Hanover Street is going to be one of the theatre highlights of the year.”

David Kramer said: “What makes this moment so special is that these artists began their journeys as children in District Six: The Musical. 

“Decades later, to sit together and shape a new work - drawing from where we started, what we’ve lived through, and what still needs to be remembered - feels deeply meaningful. There is a shared history here, and a shared responsibility to tell this story with honesty and heart.”