Review: Aldo Brincat’s ‘The Moon Looks Delicious From Here’ – A Dazzling Triumph in Storytelling
There are performances that entertain, and then there are performances that linger—etched into your memory long after the curtain falls. The Moon Looks Delicious From Here, currently showing at The Market Theatre until 27 July 2025, is undeniably the latter. Written and performed by Aldo Brincat, and directed with finesse by Sjaka Septembir, this production is a breathtaking theatrical experience that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Hailed as a masterclass in writing and performance, Brincat’s solo show is a semi-autobiographical tale that navigates the complicated terrain of immigration, identity, sexuality, and heritage. What makes this production so powerful is its raw honesty paired with Brincat’s magnetic stage presence and chameleonic ability to shift between characters—each one fully embodied and emotionally layered.
Brincat takes us on a captivating journey as a first-generation South African, born into a fragile, postcolonial household marked by cultural displacement and evolving political tides. In the span of 80 minutes, we meet a vivid cast of characters—some tender, some tough, all unforgettable—representing a global diaspora of personalities who shape, disrupt, and enrich his path to self-discovery.
The storytelling is deeply vulnerable, yet it avoids self-indulgence. Instead, Brincat’s openness invites empathy, allowing the audience to see their own stories reflected in his. He masterfully balances humor and heartbreak, often switching between emotional highs and devastating truths with precision and nuance. His transitions are so seamless and commanding that the audience is transported effortlessly between timelines, accents, and emotional states.
Adding depth to the performance is the evocative musical score by Bongeziwe Mabandla, whose haunting melodies and atmospheric soundscape elevate the show into an otherworldly realm. The music doesn’t just underscore scenes—it breathes with them, echoing the emotional pulse of Brincat’s journey and enriching the play’s sensory landscape.
Director Sjaka Septembir ensures that the production never loses pace or focus. The minimalist staging, combined with bold lighting and fluid direction, allows Brincat’s words and movement to take center stage. There is no excess—only purpose. Every detail is intentional, every silence pregnant with meaning.
It’s no surprise that The Moon Looks Delicious From Here earned a Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award at the 2024 National Arts Festival and the Special Jury Award at London’s Bitesize Theatre Festival. The acclaim is well deserved. This is theatre at its most essential: intimate, courageous, and transformative.
In a time when global displacement, identity politics, and cultural preservation are at the forefront of public discourse, Brincat’s performance couldn’t be more timely. But beyond its political relevance, the production triumphs as a deeply human story—one that affirms the enduring power of art to heal, connect, and provoke thought.
The Moon Looks Delicious From Here is a must-see. If you are a lover of bold, intelligent, and emotionally resonant theatre, get to The Market Theatre before this gem completes its run. Brincat doesn’t just perform his story—he lives it on stage, and in doing so, allows us to reflect on our own.
Rating: 4,5/5 stars
Venue: The Market Theatre, Johannesburg
Dates: 9 – 27 July 2025
Written & Performed by: Aldo Brincat
Directed by: Sjaka Septembir
Original Music by: Bongeziwe Mabandla