Comedian Marc Lottering stars as the fabulous Aunty Merle Abrahams in this hit musical-comedy full of hijinks and laughs. Set in Athlone, a (so-called) 'coloured' community in Cape Town's Cape Flats area, the story follows Lottering's titular character Aunty Merle through the high-drama engagement of her daughter Abigail, who has announced she is marrying her white boyfriend Alan. Of course it's never straightforward in the world of musicals and Abigail has a bitter and corrupt ex-boyfriend who is also on the chase, determined to get her back and tear the two lovers apart.

The script and lyrics for the musical's 22 original numbers are written by Marc Lottering while the outstanding direction comes from acclaimed local director Lara Foot. Since its debut in 2018 the show has picked up four prestigious Fleur du Cap theatre award nominations (three for the music and sound and one for Tarryn Lamb's performance as Abigail) and has proven to be an all-time hit on the Cape Town stage where it had two sell-out runs in 2018.

Lottering says Aunty Merle was inspired by his mom and her friends and it's not difficult to see why this gloriously feel-good and utterly South African musical comedy has captivated audiences. The acting, singing and dancing is stellar, the script and comic character acting is genuinely belly-achingly funny and the plot a quintessentially South African one that brings together the everyday South African complexities of race, gender, politics, inequality and cultural difference with plenty of love and laughter. A must-see.