The Fugard Theatre

19/09/2025

MOFFIE, adapted from André Carl van der Merwe’s novel and directed by former Fugard Theatre Artistic Director Greg Karvellas, is now running at the Baxter Flipside.

The production has received an overwhelming response, and tickets are selling fast as we head into this weekend — with just one more week to go after that. Don’t miss it!

Booking at WWebtickets

11/08/2025

Opening in just a few weeks.

Greg Karvellas has written about bringing MOFFIE home — after its five-star London debut — for The South African.

The article explores the story of a young gay conscript in the SADF of the 1980s, fighting to survive a system built to erase him, and why this production is so personal to him.

Read the full piece here:
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/the-quiet-hurt-of-being-different-moffie-comes-home-to-sa/

📅 2–27 September 2025 | The Baxter, Cape Town

MOFFIE returns home to SA after a five star London theatre debut, a powerful story of love, shame, and survival under apartheid conscription.

15/07/2025

There are still men in South Africa today carrying the silent weight of the army and the border war.

MOFFIE is more than a play — it’s a reckoning. A powerful exploration of masculinity, identity, and the long shadow of state-enforced trauma.

Join us as this story finally comes home.

📍 MOFFIE – South African Premiere
📅 2–27 September
🎭 Baxter Flipside Theatre
🎟 Book now via Webtickets

11/06/2025

🎭 Today would have been Athol Fugard’s 93rd birthday.

Though we are still mourning his passing earlier this year on March 8th, we take this moment to celebrate his extraordinary life, legacy, and the profound impact he had on theatre — both in South Africa and around the world.

His words gave voice to the unheard, his stories brought truth to the stage, and his spirit continues to guide us.

Happy Birthday, Athol. We honour you today and always. 💔🎂

03/06/2025

Following its critically acclaimed world premiere and London stage debut, the powerful adaptation of André Carl van der Merwe’s novel MOFFIE returns home for its South African premiere at The Baxter Theatre Flipside, running from:

2 to 27 September 2025

Directed by Greg Karvellas (former Artistic Director of The Fugard Theatre) and adapted by award-winning playwright Philip Rademeyer, this gripping one-man show stars David Viviers as Nicholas van der Swart — a young conscript navigating identity and survival within the brutal confines of the 1979 South African Defence Force.

This is a story that dives deep into themes of masculinity, conformity, and resilience — brought to life through the bold design of Niall Griffin and an immersive soundscape by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder.

🎟️ Tickets now available via Webtickets:
👉 https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1568693912

Don’t miss this poignant exploration of love, identity, and resistance.

19/05/2025

On 11 May 2025, the life and work of Athol Fugard was honoured in a special tribute at the Royal Court Theatre in London.

Hosted by David Byrne, Artistic Director of the Royal Court, and curated by Greg Karvellas, former Artistic Director of The Fugard Theatre, the evening featured reflections, live performance, and appearances by Dr John Kani OBE, Dame Janet Suzman, filmmaker Tony Palmer, and other key speakers — along with moving scenes from Tony Palmer’s documentary Falls the Shadow.

The event also included rare photographs of Athol Fugard directing at The Space Theatre in the 1970s, taken by Paul Alberts and generously supplied by Gallery F in Cape Town.

🎥 Watch the full recording of the event here:
👉 https://vimeo.com/1084174050

📚 For more on Fugard’s legacy and The Fugard Theatre, visit:
👉 www.thefugard.com

A special evening honouring the life and legacy of Athol Fugard (11 June 1932 – 8 March 2025), South Africa’s Lifetime Achievement Tony Award-winning…

28/04/2025

Celebrating the Life and Work of Athol Fugard

Join us for a special evening honouring the life and legacy of Athol Fugard (11 June 1932 – 8 March 2025), South Africa’s Lifetime Achievement Tony Award-winning playwright and a towering figure in world theatre.

🗓 Sunday, 11 May at 19:30
📍 Royal Court Theatre, London

The Royal Court’s relationship with Athol Fugard began over half a century ago, in the early 1970s, when the theatre proudly presented the international premieres of his groundbreaking anti-apartheid plays — Boesman and Lena (1971), Sizwe Banzi is Dead (1973), The Island (1973), and Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act (1974).

Sizwe Banzi is Dead and The Island later transferred to Broadway, where John Kani OBE and Winston Ntshona won Tony Awards for Best Actor.

Hosted by David Byrne, Artistic Director of the Royal Court, and curated by Greg Karvellas, former Artistic Director of The Fugard Theatre. This one-night-only event will feature John Kani OBE, Dame Janet Suzman, and others, with live performance extracts, reflections, and recorded excerpts of Athol Fugard.

🎟️ Tickets are just £5, including a post-show toast with a glass of South African wine.

Athol’s plays and spirit shaped the heart of The Fugard Theatre, and now, in the city where much of his work first found an international stage, we gather to celebrate a true giant of storytelling and humanity.

👉 Tickets and more info here:

https://royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/a-london-theatre-celebration-of-the-life-and-work-of-athol-fugard/



Supported by the Common Humanity Arts Trust (CHAT)

Join us for a special evening honouring the life and legacy of Athol Fugard (11 June 1932 – 8 March 2025), South Africa’s Lifetime Achievement Tony Award-winning playwright and a towering figure in world theatre.

21/03/2025

Today we celebrate the life of Athol Fugard.

A towering figure in theatre, a courageous truth-teller, and a playwright who changed the world with his words.

We’re sharing the link below to the livestream of today’s celebration — a chance to honour the legacy of this remarkable man.

https://m.youtube.com/live/nvhfduviw18?si=9klBO5i4dRCeWAbK

11/03/2025

In Appreciation of Athol Fugard

Athol Fugard’s words and stories shaped generations, offering an unflinching look at injustice while reminding us of our shared humanity. His legacy will continue to inspire theatre makers and audiences alike.

Below, Roslyn Sulcas’ tribute in The New York Times reflects on Fugard’s extraordinary life and impact.

In “Sizwe Banzi Is Dead” and other works, bearing witness to forgotten lives and to the moral blindness and blinkered vision of the realities of apartheid South Africa.

10/03/2025

ATHOL FUGARD | 1932 - 2025

We mark the passing of Athol Fugard at the age of 92 with deep sadness and profound respect.

Described as "the greatest active playwright in the English-speaking world" by TIME Magazine, Athol was indeed "a man of magnitude," whose life and work transcended the stage. He became the voice and conscience of a nation, tirelessly confronting the darkness of apartheid with courage, honesty, and compassion.

From his groundbreaking works like "Sizwe Banzi is Dead," "The Island," and "Master Harold... and the Boys," Athol's plays did not merely entertain—they challenged, provoked, and inspired generations across the globe to confront the injustice and oppression of apartheid. His stories illuminated the harsh realities while reminding us of our common humanity and shared struggle for dignity and equality.

Athol’s relentless pursuit of justice and unwavering commitment to truth made him not only a theatrical giant but also a moral compass. His bravery in speaking truth to power earned him international acclaim and served as a beacon of hope during South Africa's darkest hours.

Though today the lights may feel dimmer, Athol Fugard's legacy will shine eternally.

The Fugard Theatre, named in his honor, stood proudly as a testament to his influence and legacy, running for a remarkable 10 years before it closed during the pandemic. In its place, The Fugard Archive remains a dedicated space preserving his life, work, and enduring impact, offering future generations an ongoing opportunity to explore and honor Athol Fugard's profound legacy.

Through his powerful words, we remain forever reminded of our duty to confront injustice and celebrate the common humanity that unites us.

We honor his memory by continuing the fight he so passionately embodied.

11/06/2024

🌟 Celebrating the legendary playwright Athol Fugard on his 92nd birthday! 🎉

Born on this day in 1932, Fugard's profound works have illuminated the struggles and triumphs of South Africa, capturing the human spirit's resilience.

Athol Fugard’s plays have left an indelible mark on the world of theatre.

Join us in honoring a true icon whose words continue to inspire and challenge us.

Happy Birthday, Athol Fugard!

30/04/2024

World Premiere of the stage adaptation of André Carl van der Merwe's novel starring Kai Luke Brümmer opens in London this June - Interested? Read the article below!

"MOFFIE" delves into toxic masculinity and trauma in post-apartheid South Africa, reflecting on past scars shaping present and future.