For the first time in eight years, the St Benedict’s College Major Production returns to the stage.

Head of marketing, communications and admissions, Mpumi Motsabi, revealed that the production promises to be an unforgettable evening of music, drama and Johannesburg spirit.

This year, St Benedict’s College presents Love, Crime and Johannesburg, in association with their sister schools Assumption Convent School and Holy Rosary School. The production will run from March 17 – 21 at St Benedict’s College.

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Bringing together talented performers from all three schools, Motsabi said the production celebrates collaboration, creativity and the power of storytelling.

A story as bold as the city itself

Set against the pulsing, unruly energy of Johannesburg, Malcolm Purkey’s musical Love, Crime and Johannesburg throws audiences headfirst into the life of Jimmy ‘Long Legs’ Mangane, a struggle poet, street philosopher and unlikely suspect in a headline-grabbing bank heist.

When the accusations land, Jimmy’s world begins to unravel. Old loyalties fracture, hidden secrets emerge, and the people he trusted most reveal unexpected sides of themselves. What unfolds is a gripping story of friendship, betrayal and the search for truth in a city that never stands still.

The show crackles with African jazz rhythms, sharp humour and a colourful cast of characters as vivid and contradictory as Johannesburg itself, hustlers and romantics, suits and dreamers, all chasing something just out of reach.

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Beneath the energy and wit lies a deeper question that resonates powerfully today:

What happened to the promise of a new South Africa, and who was left holding the bill?

Why bother robbing a bank… when you could own one?
Full of memorable songs, energetic choreography, and compelling performances, Love, Crime and Johannesburg invites audiences into a world where truth and ambition collide in unexpected ways, Motsabi described.

She added that it is also a celebration of the performing arts at St Benedict’s College, and a wonderful opportunity for the boys to share the stage with the girls from Assumption Convent and Holy Rosary — continuing a long-standing tradition of partnership between the schools.

“We invite families, friends and members of the wider community to come and support the boys of St Benedict’s College, alongside the girls of Assumption Convent and Holy Rosary, as well as the dedicated cast, crew and production team who have been working tirelessly to bring this vibrant musical to life,” said Motsabi.

Tickets are R80 with bookings available online via Quicket at: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/361633-love-crime-and-johannesburg/#/