After a critically acclaimed, five-star run at London’s Riverside Studios, the internationally celebrated stage adaptation of Moffie arrives in Cape Town for a limited season at the Baxter Theatre this September.
Based on André Carl van der Merwe’s semi-autobiographical novel, Moffie is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story set in 1980s apartheid South Africa, where conscription and military service were not just compulsory, but a brutal system of control.
We follow young Nicholas van der Swart, who is conscripted and thrown into the violent machinery of the South African Defence Force (SADF) and the escalating border war.
Adapted for the stage by Philip Rademeyer and directed by Greg Karvellas, the play premiered earlier this year in London to widespread acclaim. Audiences and critics alike praised the powerful and immersive one-person production, calling it:
“…electrifying…” ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – The Reviews Hub
“…a powerful theatrical experience…” ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Lost in Theatreland
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐” – The Guardian
In addition to its glowing reviews, Moffie was nominated for four Off West End Awards, including Best New Play, Best Lead Performance, Best Lighting Design, and Best Sound Design. Hailed as a bold and timely piece of theatre, it speaks not only to South Africa’s past but to urgent global conversations around masculinity, trauma, and queer identity.
Now, South African audiences will finally have the chance to see the show that moved London to its feet. Presented by the Common Humanity Arts Trust and produced by Eric Abraham, Moffie at the Baxter reunites the original creative team on home ground with award-winning and beloved South African actor David Viviers in the role of Nicholas.
Director Greg Karvellas, known for his visceral and emotionally honest work, says:
“So many men who were forced into conscription went through a brutal experience, those who identified as gay even more so. Moffie is a stark reminder of how a system can leave ripples of trauma that stay with us. There are thousands of men still carrying the scars of that experience, both physically and internally.”
Longtime collaborator Charl-Johan Lingenfelder returns as musical supervisor, delivering a haunting minimalist score that underscores the central character’s isolation and inner life. Designer Niall Griffin brings his signature brilliance with a stripped-back set, atmospheric lighting, and evocative AV, allowing the emotional core of the story to take centre stage.
Moffie is an unflinching, intimate, and powerful meditation on memory, fear, silence, and the desperate longing to be seen. With its potent South African story, international acclaim, and a standout solo performance, it is set to be one of the most talked-about productions of the year. It’s more than a play, it’s a reckoning.
Moffie runs at the Baxter Flipside from 2 to 27 September 2025. Tickets (R150 – R240) are available now via Webtickets.
