My Cape Town by Pat Pillai
comedy drama
Written and Performed by Pat PILLAI
PG 9+
My Cape Town by Pat Pillai is nostalgic, yet deeply human and wonderfully revealing for those who did not grow up there.
My Cape Town explores Rylands and wider Athlone’s charming, quirky characters who made life extraordinary – and still do:
Meet the charming Oliver Shakespeare (the artiste negotiator); Auntie Khadijah; Vikram Singh (the passionate mechanic); Mr and Mrs Jansen (who won the sweepstakes); Uncle O’Brien (who lives in a shack); Umesh (who defended his mother); Taxi Bennie; Jimmy Jingles the nervous MC; old Mr Murugadas (the retired waiter); Yongama Bala (the boxer); Little Chubby Singh; Igsaan (the enforcer); Donavan Selveraj (the news editor) – and many more.
The good old days of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s are remembered in this comedy-drama, written and performed by Pat Pillai (Anchor: eTV News and eNews Channel). Classic storytelling, music, laughter and poignant moments that are universally human.
"News reports of life on the other side of Cape Town, the Flats, are often dire, but life is so much more than the bleak. People find a way... they love, build, create, celebrate and dream.” says Pillai.
ARTIST BIO
Pat Pillai was born and raised in Rylands, Athlone, Cape Town. His parents and elders lived in District Six. He went to Silverlea Primary in Silvertown, and then Rylands High School.
He studied at the University of Durban-Westville, living and working in Durban for 10 years. He performed At The Edge by Ronnie Govender to over 600 000 people nationally and around the world, to critical acclaim (Edinburgh Festival, Toronto, London, South Africa).
In Johannesburg, he was a television broadcaster and news anchor for 20 plus years (SABC 3, e News Prime Time, e News Channel).
He retired from television in 2014 to focus on his writing and business interests in South Africa and Europe. In 2024 he played Capulet in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at the Maynardville Open-Air Festival.