Cape Town’s immersive theatre scene is about to get louder, darker and more participatory. Paper + Roses, the newest production from The Outlore, opens this month at The Outlore Base, marking the company’s boldest step yet into musical theatre, and a dystopian one at that.
Developed in partnership with the Department of Sports, Arts & Culture, Paper + Roses is an original jukebox musical that reimagines Beauty & the Beast through a grungy, rebellious lens, soundtracked by a slate of iconic ’90s hits. Written by Outlore co-founder Kimberley Buckle, the show runs through Jan. 31, 2026, inviting audiences into a world where unrest simmers beneath the surface and every decision comes with a cost.
The production introduces a dynamic new creative team alongside familiar Outlore names. Bianca Rasmussen (The Kreative Foundation), Nkosinathi Mazwai (The Addams Family Musical) and Liné Jordaan (LAMTA Academy) join Buckle and longtime collaborator Liam Tamejen Gillespie (The Cardinal) to push the boundaries of what a musical can look, and feel, like in Cape Town.
True to The Outlore’s reputation, Paper + Roses is less about passive viewing and more about total immersion. Audiences don’t just watch the story unfold; they’re pulled directly into it. Even before the curtain rises, ticket buyers are required to choose a side — a choice that shapes how they experience the narrative inside the venue.
The Outlore Base, located on Hout Street, has once again been completely transformed, this time into a raw, dystopian environment layered with interactive storytelling, shifting perspectives and unexpected vantage points. The result is an experience designed to blur the line between performer and audience, theatre and world-building.
“Paper + Roses is an exciting new territory for The Outlore — we’re looking forward to putting our immersive stamp on the musical theatre industry,” says Buckle.
The cast features Saskia Bormans, Thulani Nzonzo, Azande Dube, Rendani Mufamadi, Claudia House, Kate Wallace, Lee Miller, Jayden Ockhuis, Lathi Mgwebi and Tara Singh, bringing the show’s high-energy performances and emotional stakes to life.
Paper + Roses runs from Jan. 8 through Jan. 31, 2026, with performances Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets range from R120 to R250 and are available via Quicket. The production carries a 16 LV age restriction, and patrons should note that The Outlore Base is not wheelchair accessible.
Since opening, The Outlore Base has established itself as a hub for fringe and underground performance in Cape Town, hosting everything from immersive theatre and drag to burlesque, Shakespeare and experimental works. With Paper + Roses, the space once again cements its place at the forefront of the city’s most unconventional live experiences.
Event Details
Venue: The Outlore Base, 80 Hout Street, Cape Town
Dates: 8 January – 31 January 2026
Times: 20:00 (Thursday – Saturday)
Tickets: R120 – R250 (Available on Quicket)
Age Restriction: 16 LV
Ticket link: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/350183-paper-roses/
Accessibility: Please note that The Outlore Base is unfortunately not wheelchair-friendl
