Jozi Journeys

LAMTA’s Noises Off Brings Backstage Chaos and Comedy to Joburg

Published

2 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Chiraag

A lively theatre performance of Noises Off in Johannesburg, actors on stage at Montecasino, comedic farce with sardines and slamming doors, South African theatre students in full costume, LAMTA production directed by Chris Weare, audience enjoying slapstick chaos, Joburg ETC

If you think the theatre world is all velvet curtains and polished footlights, buckle in. LAMTA’s upcoming run of Noises Off flips the script, literally, inviting Joburg audiences backstage into the beautiful chaos that unfolds when a play unravels before your eyes.

From Cape Town to Fourways: The Journey of a Farce

Earlier this season, LAMTA launched Noises Off at Theatre on the Bay in Cape Town. From 27 August to 14 September, locals got a taste of what critics called “side-splittingly funny chaos.” The production earned praise for its nimble timing, strong ensemble, intricate set work and sharp comic energy.

Now, from 3 to 12 October 2025, the show lands at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Main Theatre in Fourways, Johannesburg. Evening performances run Wednesday through Friday at 19h30, Saturdays offer a double dose (15h00 & 19h30), and Sundays wrap up with a mid-afternoon show (15h00). Tickets range from R150 to R300 per person.

Montecasino lists the show’s duration at about 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one interval. The theatre accommodates wheelchair seating (via prior arrangement at 011 511 1988) but warns that the balcony is only accessible via stairs.

**Why Noises Off? Because Theatre Should Be Ugly (Sometimes)**

Written by Michael Frayn, Noises Off is a farce in three acts, a play within a play, where everything that can go wrong does. There’s a problematic plate of sardines, doors that refuse to stay shut, caught trysts, backstage tantrums, and a chorus of miscommunication that escalates into glorious pandemonium.

LAMTA’s iteration features direction by Chris Weare, with veteran theatre actors Aidan Scott (as Lloyd, the beleaguered director) and Natalie Robbie (as Dotty) anchoring a cast largely composed of LAMTA students. Their show balances hyper-fast pacing, physical comedy, and tight ensemble work, a serious ask for any troupe, but one that the Cape Town audiences say they nailed.

Set and lighting design is credited to Kieran McGregor, while costume work comes from Frankie van Straten. The set itself plays double duty: in act one, it’s the staged “bedroom farce,” then act two reveals the backstage mechanics, before the final act lets everything collapse into comedic entropy.

What You Should Know Before You Book

Age advisory: Best suited for audiences aged 12 and up. Expect bawdy humour, mild language, and slapstick antics.
Access constraints: Wheelchair seating is available, but only on the main floor. No balcony access for those unable to use stairs.
Ticket choices: As of the seating map, you’ll find options from R150 for barstools to R300 for premium stalls and balcony seating.
Cultural flavour: In bringing a British farce to Joburg, LAMTA mixes global theatre tradition with local theatrical ambition. It’s a chance to see emerging South African talent flex comedic muscles in a high-stakes, precision-driven genre.

**A Fresh Lens: Why Noises Off Matters in Joburg Now**

Farce is a brutal test of timing, trust and ensemble chemistry. In a theatre scene that often leans musical, dramatic or political, producing a well-oiled farce is a bold move. That LAMTA has committed to it signals ambition: to stretch audiences, nurture actors, and remind us that theatre can be messy, uncomfortable, and absolutely hilarious.

For Joburg theatre-goers craving something lively, risky and wildly entertaining, this is your moment. It’s not just about watching a play; it’s about witnessing the theatre beast as it breathes, fumbles, and laughs itself to the finish.

So take a breath, book your seat, and let the sardines fly.