Photo Credits: JP Veaudry

WÊLA KAPELA PRODUCTIONS BRINGS ACCLAIMED BRAND-NEW POCKET MUSICAL THE TRAMP TO ARTSCAPE!

1 – 11 October 2025 @ Artscape Arena

Cape Town – September 4^th, 2025

From the creators of the multi-award winning “Vincent – His Quest To Love and Be Loved”, comes a brand-new musical about the life of comedic genius, Charlie Chaplin. 

Producers Wela Kapela Productions are proud to announce that, following rave reviews during its debut season in Johannesburg in July, The Tramp now heads to Cape Town to delight audiences at Artscape Arena from 1 – 11 October 2025.

The Tramp, Charlie Chaplin’s alter ego: 
He’s a gentleman, a poet, a dreamer, a lonely fellow, always hopeful of romance and adventure. He would have you believe he is a scientist, a musician, a duke, a polo-player. However, he is not above picking up cigarette-butts or robbing a baby of its candy. And, of course, if the occasion warrants it, he will kick a lady in the rear—but only in extreme anger!’

The Tramp is a charming new musical that tells the story of Charlie Chaplin through the perspective of his old friend. the beloved Tramp character.  

The Tramp explores the complicated bond between an artist and the character they create, blending comedy and tragedy in a heartfelt reflection on fame, identity, and betrayal. Through the use of innovation audio-visual design, physical comedy and reimagined versions of pop, rock, jazz and musical theatre songs, The Tramp explores a different side to the comedic genius, Charlie Chaplin. 

The show follows The Tramp as he reflects on Chaplin’s rise to fame.  He ponders on their symbiotic relationship, and the eventual betrayal of their friendship that led to Chaplin’s exile from America for communist sympathies.

“Life is tragedy in close-up, but comedy in long-shot”. 

The retelling of Charlie’s story through popular music and silent film gives a fresh view on the life of the iconic, yet controversial comedic genius. The Tramp was everyman’s champion shielding a shy, moody, fastidious Chaplin. 

With the arrival of the talking movies, the Tramp was sidelined, and Chaplin himself stepped into the limelight. With this newfound voice, Charlie tarnishes his image with naïve political speeches and scandalous love affairs. 

Without the Tramp in his corner, he became an easy target for the cross-dressing J Edgar Hoover and his handmaiden, the gossipmonger Hedda Hopper.

A SELECTION OF REVIEWS FROM JOHANNESBURG

“A ten-out-of-ten production. See it and it will touch you forever” 
– Robyn Sassen, MYVIEW

“Daniel Anderson’s stunning one-man cabaret doesn’t just resurrect Charlie, it excavates the heart-breaking human cost behind the world’s beloved silent clown. 
A fantastic show… it is theatre that reminds us why live performance matters”. 
– Barry Morisse, STAGEDOOR

“THE TRAMP is an absolutely captivating, brilliant and superlative production in every sense of the work – unlike anything you have ever seen before this season. See it. You will never forget it” – Leon Van Nierop

Daniel Anderson masterfully brings the story to life as he weaves humour, tragedy, love and heartache into a piece of pure theatrical magic – through superb storytelling and an unforgettable song book. Don’t miss is! – Sam Nupen, SAM SAYS

“Soos met die bejaarded Chaplin se verering in 1972 tydens die Oscars, verdien THE TRAMP applous wat nie end kry nie! Daniel Anderson is a rare talent”. 
– Kobus Burger, Media24

“Daniel Anderson is sensational, accompanied by the talented Paul Ferreira. 
The audio-visuals added brilliance to the story.” – Alan Ford, ALAN FORD PRODUCTIONS

Writer/Director/Producer Amanda Bothma explains; The Tramp is our most ambitious project to date. We bring audiences face to face with the many sides of Charlie Chaplin—the poor boy, the comic genius, the scandal-ridden public figure, and the old exile looking back. It struck me that he was inseparable from the Tramp, that silent double carrying both his dreams and his sorrows, but for me, the real challenge was not to be dazzled by the myth, but to uncover the silences…the loneliness between the laughter.”

Daniel Anderson concludes; “After such a warm and exciting sold-out season of ‘Vincent’ in the Cape, I feel excited to share a very new story about another complex, fascinating and ultimately brilliant man – Charlie Chaplin. Cape Town audiences have stood with Wêla Kapela since our very first cabaret seasons all the way back in COVID! These are the very audiences who carried us through that terrible time and thus, have given us the wings to rise up: to continue creating and to give life to new projects like ‘The Tramp’ I can’t wait to perform for the Cape Town audiences!

After a critically acclaimed premiere season in Johannesburg, The Tramp will be staged at Artscape Arena from 1-11 October 2025.  

Performances are Wednesdays – Fridays at 19h00 and Saturdays at 16h00 & 19h00. 

Tickets are R220 with discounted prices for pensioners and scholars.

Bookings are via Webtickets or Artscape Dial-A-Seat: 021 421 7695

The show is 85 minutes in duration with no interval. 

Please note: Latecomers will not be admitted.

For more information visit www.welakapela.co.za

THE TRAMP Credits:
Cast: Daniel Anderson & Paul Ferreira 
Writer/Director: Amanda Bothma        
Choreography: Sonwa Sakuba
Lighting and Set Design: Wilhelm Disbergen 
AV Design: Andrew Timm & Adino Trapani
Additional Musical Arrangements: Dale Ray & Bryan Schimmel 
Publicity: Collett Dawson of The CoLab Network

Follow Wela Kapela Productions on Social Media:
Instagram        https://www.instagram.com/welakapelaproductions/
Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/welakapelaproductions

Follow Daniel Anderson on Social Media:
Instagram:       https://www.instagram.com/danielanderson110/