There’s lots to tempt you into a dark theatre on Wednesday 28 September… deliciously dark premieres, theatre that examines contentious aspects of South African life, including gang culture and mental illness, a delightful children’s piece, dance and physical theatre, music – and, of course, top-notch comedy.

Young children will love LUKS a puppet who illustrates the tale of good triumphing over evil. It on 27, 28 and 29 September at the Makukhanye Art Room and returns to the same venue just in time for the school holidays from 2, 3 and 6 October.

Guilty or Not Guilty tackles the cleansing of generational curses at Zolani Centre on 27, 28 and 29 September.

Catch Worst of Both Worlds on 27 and 30 September only at Makukhanye Art Room. In a whirlwind of physical theatre, the play unpacks the horrors of human trafficking.

Stones, winner of the 2017 Gauteng Ishashalazi Competition is on for one show at Zolani on 27 September.

The last performance of Ndendile is on at Makukhanye on Wednesday 27 September. The play examines the experience of two men who return to their traditional village to tell them that they are in love.

Rose Red premieres today and remains at UCT P4 Theatre for performances on Saturday 30 and Sunday 1 October only. The story of Snow White is reinvented against a backdrop of contemporary music covers.

Jax & Gina premieres today at the Fringe Club and remains there for performances on 28 September, 2, 4 and 5 October. This comedy show is performed by gay and lesbian comedians.

Phefumla/To Breathe explores gang culture through the tales of four young men whose lives have been touched by it. Only two more performances at The Little Theatre, on 27 and 29 September only.

Sleeping with the Enemy will end soon. This complex play about the ideals versus the realities of township life is on at Zolani on 26, 27 and 28 September before it closes.

Winner at the Zwakala Festival at The Market, captivating comedy piece The Playroom explores mental illness. On at Makukhanye on 27 September, then off to Theatre Arts Admin from 30 September till 2 October daily. Then at Makukhanye on Wednesday 4 October.

(w)asem premieres on 27 September and stays at P4 Studio on 29/30 September and 1 October. The play by Terence Makapan looks at the experience of being queer in an oppressive society.

Crazy Country Comedy with Justin-ray Stoffels will be keeping it light at The Jolly Carp on 27 and 28 September.

Described by the Sunday Times as “the best South African singer you’ve probably never heard of�?, catch Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award winner Samthing Soweto at the Alma Café from Wednesday 27 till Friday 29 September.

Vukallective returns to the Cape Town Fringe with their brand-new production, Let’s Eat Hair. A contemporary rework of the absurdist Carl Laszlo play, it is on at the Little Theatre on 27, 28 and 30 September.

Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award winning Tats Nkonzo is Privileged comes to the Fringe Club on 27, 28 and 29 September only.

Butlers and Bloopers, the latest in the Butlers series, starts on 27 and 28 September at UCT’s P4 Studio and moves to the Bindery Lab, also on the Hiddingh Campus, for 30 September and 1 October.