Following its critically acclaimed London run, the compelling drama and hit one-man show Moffie returns home for its South African premiere at The Baxter.
The Common Humanity Arts Trust in association with The Baxter is proud to present Moffie which will run for a limited season from 2 to 27 September 2025 at The Baxter Flipside.
Bookings are now open and can be made at Webtickets.
Based on the novel by André Carl van der Merwe, the stage adaptation has been brought to life by a stellar South African team, in a powerful, poignant sharing of this story about love, survival, and identity under apartheid.
The production’s unflinching storytelling and theatrical bravura left London audiences and critics transfixed. It was nominated for four Off West End Awards, with comments about its triumphant London debut including:
“a gripping one-man show that evokes a gay soldier’s torment…Karvellas’s production strips everything away except the pain and beauty of one young man’s survival. It’s theatrical storytelling at its most essential….FIVE STARS” – The Guardian
“a searing, brutal, exposing and highly personal account… simply stunning…first class… FIVE STARS” – The Stage
Directed and produced by Greg Karvellas (Dear Evan Hansen; former Artistic Director of The Fugard Theatre), the book has been reimagined for the stage by award-winningz playwright Philip Rademeyer (Stinkhout; Niggies).
Esteemed, award-winning actor David Viviers (The Tempest; Binnelanders) performs the role of Nicholas van der Swart, the closeted conscript whose harrowing journey lies at the heart of this tale. “These men trying to mould us into something we’re not… They must not be able to touch us…”
Set, Costume and Lighting Design is by Niall Griffin with Sound Design by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder.
“Audiences can expect an intensely immersive theatrical experience. Staged as a gripping solo performance, Moffie places Nicholas alone in a stark, stripped-down set—a mound of military kit bags symbolizing the baggage of war and identity he carries. Every moment is charged with emotion, drawing spectators into a soldier’s internal battle in a way that only live theatre can achieve.” says Director Greg Karvellas.
“Moffie traces Nicholas’s struggle against societal expectations and his internal battle in discovering his own identity amidst the violence of South Africa’s border war.”
Lara Foot, CEO and Artistic Director of The Baxter, expressed enthusiasm about hosting this important production: “We are delighted and honoured to present Moffie at The Baxter. It’s a powerful, deeply affecting piece that speaks to our shared history and resonates profoundly with contemporary audiences. This is exactly the kind of bold, impactful theatre we strive to support and share with our community.”
In 2019, Van der Merwe’s novel was also adapted into a critically acclaimed feature film, though the stage production is based solely on the original literary work.
Moffie is set in 1979 against the backdrop of apartheid South Africa, when the South African government’s main concern is keeping Southern Africa free of communism, to protect the Afrikaner people, Christianity, and the free world. To do this, they need bodies, and seventeen-year-old Nicholas van der Swart is conscripted into the South African Defence Force. He finds himself in the dark heart of a regime that demands absolute conformity, brute masculinity, racism, and bigotry.
Facing the dread of being labelled a ‘moffie’—and the ever-present fear of exposure—Moffie is an exploration of toxic masculinity and trauma, highlighting how, 30 years into South Africa’s democracy, the emotional wounds inflicted during those turbulent times persist, offering a reflection on the lingering scars of the past and their influence on the present and future.
Viviers, a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award-winning actor, says, “It is a huge honour and responsibility to bring Nicholas’ journey to the South African stage. I remember coming across van der Mewe’s book as a schoolboy and being deeply affected by it. I realised then that there was a lot I didn’t know about our country’s past. There were things that weren’t spoken about because it was easier not to. Moffie holds up a mirror to our past in a way that is honest, relentless and also beautifully fragile. I am really excited to share this story with audiences.”
This critically acclaimed, culture-shaking production invites South Africans to witness an extraordinary theatrical event that is as entertaining as it is enlightening—a homecoming for a story that, for too long, remained in the shadows.
Moffie runs at The Baxter Flipside from 2 until 27 September 2025.
Rating Information: PG 16 Mature themes including bigotry, violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and suicide. Run Time: 85 minutes (no interval).
Performances are at 19:30, with a matinee on Saturdays at 15h30 and a special discounted matinee performance every Wednesday at 15h00 from 10 September.
Bookings can be made at Webtickets online or at Pick n Pay stores.
Prices range from R150 to R240, including special discounts available for seniors and students.
NOTES TO EDITORS
David Viviers (Actor)
David Viviers is a Cape Town based actor and author. In 2016, he won the Brett Goldin Bursary, which allowed him to study with the Royal Shakespeare Company for a month in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Earlier this year he appeared in Sylvaine Strike’s The Tempest at Maynardville. David is the recipient of two Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards for acting and has received several Kanna, Fiësta and Fleur du Cap nominations for his work in both English and Afrikaans theatre.
Directors he has worked with include Jaco Bouwer (Cellist with Rabies; Rage), Christiaan Olwagen (Kanarie), Toni Morkel (Op die Hoek van Styx en River), Nina Swart (Troukoors), Cindy Lee (Desert Rose), Wessel Pretorius (Klara Maas se Hart is Gebreek), Fred Abrahamse (Macbeth), Jenine Collocott (Babbelagtig) and Ari Kruger (Tali’s Baby Diary). For two years he appeared in the popular soap, Binnelanders, where he played Dr Liam Vorster and was nominated for a Kyknet Silwerskerm Award for Best Newcomer in a Soap.
His debut novel, Mirage, was published in 2023 by Penguin Random House South Africa. It received the 2024 Olive Schreiner Prize for Prose and was also shortlisted for the 2024 Sunday Times Literary Award.
Greg Karvellas (Director)
Greg Karvellas is a theatre director and producer with over two decades of experience in the industry. He was the inaugural Artistic Director of The Fugard Theatre in Cape Town, directing numerous acclaimed productions such as Bad Jews, Clybourne Park, Shakespeare in Love, The Road to Mecca, The Father, Oleanna, and Master Harold…and the Boys, amongst others. At The Fugard, Greg also produced several successful large-scale musicals and contributed to developing new scripts and plays during his time there.
Recently, Greg directed the critically celebrated world premiere of Moffie in London and the South African premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen.
He is currently curating an event for the Royal Court Theatre celebrating the life and work of Athol Fugard. Based in Berlin, he continues to collaborate internationally, notably with the Common Humanity Arts Trust. Greg remains passionate about theatre’s power to inspire, challenge, and unite diverse audiences.
Philip Rademeyer (Adaptation for the stage)
Philip Rademeyer is a writer, director and designer working in theatre, film and television. His work has received numerous local and international accolades.
His plays Opdrifsel, Klippe Wat Val and Wild have been published by Protea Boekhuis, and The View and Ashes have been published by Junkets Publishers. Klippe Wat Val / Wild was shortlisted for the Hertzog Prize for Drama (2021) and Opdrifsel was shortlisted for the Hertzog Prize for Drama and the Eugene Marais Prize (2024).
His most recent play Stinkhout won the 2025 kykNET Fiësta award for Best New Script, while Goed Wat Wag Om Te Gebeur (2024), Opdrifsel (2020) and Klippe Wat Val (2019) won the ATKV Woordveertjie for Best Playscript.
As writer-director he is also responsible for the stage adaptations of André Carl van der Merwe’s Moffie, Elsa Joubert’s Spertyd and Zirk van den Berg’s Ek Wens, Ek Wens. He has also directed productions of Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt’s Monsieur Ibrahim en die Blomme van die Koran (translated by Naòmi Morgan) and Jean Genet’s The Maids.
He is cowriter of the kykNET drama series Niggies (2025), writer-director of the kykNET Silwerskermfees short film In Die Verloop Van (2024) and directed the feature film Skemerson (2018).
Furthermore, he has provided mentorship for primary and high school learners via the Curro Create arts programme, directed high school learners for the ATKV Tienertoneel competition, and lectured part-time in the Drama Department of the University of Cape Town. He holds a Masters degree in Theatre & Performance (Directing) from UCT.
Niall Griffin (Set, Costume and Lighting Design)
Niall Griffin’s South African Design credits include; Shirley Valentine, Romeo and Juliet, Pygmalion, Neil LaBute’s Some Girls, Kurt Weill’s Lost In The Stars, Tuesdays With Morrie, The Last Five Years, the critically acclaimed Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (National and International tour – Pieter Toerien Productions and Lunchbox Theatrical), the South African premier of Hedwig and The Angry Inch, The Line for the Market Theatre, I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change, costume design for African Passion and African Angels for Cape Town Opera which toured both Holland and Germany, Immortal a site-specific immersive production, Mephisto directed by Christopher Weare, Louis Viljoen’s The Hucksters, the South African premier of Adam Rapp’s Nocturne, Louis Viljoen’s The Outlaw Muckridge directed by Alan Committee and starring John Mayhem, Your Song for Deviant Theatrical, Dinner With The 42’s at The Baxter Theatre, directed by Greg Karvallas, which was nominated for two Fleur du Cap Awards for Set and Costume Design, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story for Pieter Toerien Productions, Same Time, Next Year directed by Christopher Weare, Spring Awakening directed by Sylvaine Strike and A Streetcar Named Desire, but to name a few.
International Credits include costume design for all three seasons of Ultimate Broadway, a musical spectacular originally conceived for the opening of The Shanghai Culture Square Theatre starring Lea Salonga, Eden Espinosa, Ria Jones, Kerry Ellis and many more (GWB Entertainment London), and Avenue Q in Seoul, South Korea (GWB Entertainment London). In the UK, Niall’s design credits include Little Women – The Musical, A Man Of No Importance and most recently the critically acclaimed world premiere of MOFFIE, directed by Greg Karvellas.
Award nominations include nominations for his costume and set design on the South African premiere of Hedwig and The Angry Inch, three Naledi nominations for his Set, Costume and Lighting design for The Line produced by The Market Theatre. Niall is the recipient of the prestigious Fleur Du Cap Theatre Award for Best Costume Design for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, as well as nominations for his set and costume designs for Dinner With The 42’s. Most recent international award nominations include ‘Best Lighting Design’ for MOFFIE at the 2024 Off West End Awards in London..
Most recently, Niall designed the critically acclaimed South African premiere of Dear Evan Hansen and also designed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for Pieter Toerien Productions and LAMTA.
Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (Sound Design)
Charl-Johan Lingenfelder is a South African composer, musical director, arranger, conductor, sound designer, writer, and performer with a celebrated career spanning theatre, film, television, dance, and podcasts. He is known for his innovative use of technology in storytelling, blending soundscapes with narrative to evoke profound emotional and visual impact. Lingenfelder’s work has been showcased in major productions across South Africa and internationally, earning him critical acclaim and numerous accolades. He has been involved with more than 300 musicals, movies, and plays during his career.
Recent Career Highlights:
The Promise: Lingenfelder’s collaboration with Sylvaine Strike and Damon Galgut brought the Booker Prize-winning novel to life on stage. His work as composer and sound designer earned him multiple awards, including the Fleur du Cap and Naledi, cementing the production as a landmark in South African theatre.
King Kong: This revival of Todd Matshikiza’s iconic musical earned Lingenfelder both Naledi and Fleur du Cap Awards, showcasing his ability to breathe new life into cultural classics.
MOFFIE: Charl was composer and sound designer for the 5-star play version based on the acclaimed book which opened in London in 2024.
Kanarie: A deeply personal project co-written with Christiaan Olwagen, this feature film draws on Lingenfelder’s military experiences in apartheid South Africa. With over 30 international awards, including a SAFTA for Best Screenplay, Kanarie was the first Afrikaans film to achieve a theatrical release in the United States.
White Lies: Lingenfelder co-composed the score for this acclaimed 2024 series starring Natalie Dormer. The music received critical praise, with a double album release adding to its success.
My Only Story: As composer for this investigative podcast, Lingenfelder won international recognition, including a Gold Medal at the 2022 New York Festivals Radio Awards. Most recently, Charl was the Music Designer of the critically acclaimed South African premiere of Dear Evan Hansen, and is the Musical Supervisor of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Lingenfelder’s artistry is defined by his boundary-pushing approach to music and sound design, merging traditional techniques with modern technology to elevate both local and international productions. His work continues to inspire, with upcoming tours and projects poised to leave a lasting impact on the global arts scene.
