Double Edinburgh treat at Baxter

Cape audiences are in for a double treat when two hit shows from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Sewing Machine, starring Sandra Prinsloo, and Normality with Pedro Kruger, will be staged in South Africa for the first time. These pieces will run at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio from 16 October.

Tailor made: Critics have been praising Sandra Prinsloo for her performance in The Sewing Machine, while Pedro Kruger has received similar plaudits for his work in Normality.

Presented by Hennie van Greunen of Wordsmith's Theatre Factory, one of the most successful Afrikaans theatre companies in South Africa, the two productions will run in repertoire, with performances on alternate nights. There are nine performances of Normality, which closes on 31 October, as well as for The Sewing Machine, which ends on 10 November.

Both productions start at 19h00, with selected matinees at 15h00.

Fresh from its recent success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival's South African season, the English version of Rachelle Greef's mega hit Die Naaimasjien (originally written in Afrikaans, and the winner of four major theatre awards), comes home to have its national debut in English. Translated and directed by Hennie van Greunen, it has received rave reviews (with five-star nods), and played to sold-out audiences at the prestigious festival in Scotland in August.

Normality is Van Greunen's inspiring one-hander that stars the acclaimed Kruger, and is directed by Shirley Ellis. In 2000 van Greunen wrote the musical theatre show Lyf, which made its debut at the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, or KKNK. Almost a decade later, after many accolades and more than 400 performances, he has translated the play into English.

Normality was taken to the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it received five five-star reviews as well as the fringereview.com Hidden Gem award.

Normality is a simple love story between Alex, whose body has been ravaged by Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Lisa, a reporter who refuses to fall for Alex's scathing, self-deprecating humour and looks past the skewed body to see the man hiding there.

Booking for The Sewing Machine and Normality is through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. Ticket prices are R95 and R160 for both productions. For discounted corporate, block or schools bookings contact Sharon on 021 680 3962 or email Sharon Ward; or Carmen on 021 680 3993 or email Carmen Kearns.