While at the SA College of Music, McGregor studied composition with Stanley Glasser, who later wrote the music for "Mr Paljas" – a musical that played at the Labia Theatre in Cape Town around 1962 – Chris McGregor was band leader and pianist in the theatre band, which consisted of Dudu Pukwana and Nick Peterson on alto saxes, Cornelius Kumalo on baritone sax and clarinet, Denis Mpali on trumpet, Blyth Mbityana on trombone, Joe Mal on bass, and Columbus Joya on drums. An LP of the show, "Mr Paljas", was released by Gallotone Records (GALP 1207).