Cape Town theatre explores human emotion through dance and drama

Far Gone

Written and performed by Ugandan-born actor and writer John Rwothomack, "Far Gone" is a gripping one-man play that explores the harrowing transformation of a young boy from innocence to child soldier in Northern Uganda.

Speaking to "Independent Media Lifestyle," Rwothomack revealed that the idea for the play was born from a personal place, his own near-abduction as a child.

“That experience has stayed with me my whole life, not just the fear of it, but the confusion around how that could have been my path,” he shared.

“When I finally decided to make a show, it wasn’t because I wanted to talk about myself, but because I realised how many children never got the chance to walk away like I did.”

That honesty gives "Far Gone" its raw edge. “I’m not trying to dramatise anything, I’m simply telling it the way it felt, from the inside,” he said, explaining that his goal is not to shock but to help audiences understand the emotional reality behind those headlines about child soldiers.

Despite the heavy subject matter, Rwothomack manages to balance tragedy with moments of humour and hope. “In the place I come from, humour and poetry are part of how people survive,” he said.

“Even in the hardest moments, we laugh, we joke, we dance, because that’s how you keep your spirit from collapsing.” For him, this combination allows audiences to breathe while confronting difficult truths.

“The humour brings them closer, the poetry gives the emotions space, and the physical theatre carries the tension,” he added.

Performing solo each night isn’t easy.

“I play so many characters, and they each carry different versions of pain, innocence, or anger. Going to those places every night can be draining,” he admitted. “But when audiences respond, it reminds me why the story is worth telling.”

As "Far Gone" reaches South African stages, Rwothomack hopes audiences connect with it on a deeper level. “South African audiences understand complex histories,” he said. “They know what it means to carry trauma in a community, and what it means to rebuild.”

Through Roots Mbili Theatre, Rwothomack continues his mission to reclaim African narratives. “Our stories deserve to be told by us,” he emphasised. “Giving African and diaspora voices a platform allows the world to meet us without the stereotypes.”

Where: The Baxter Studio.

When: From Wednesday, November 12, to Saturday, November 15, at 8pm.

Giselle

"Giselle," choreographed by the acclaimed Maina Gielgud, is a timeless romantic ballet of love, betrayal and redemption.

It follows Giselle, a peasant girl betrayed by her noble lover, whose spirit joins the vengeful Wilies in a hauntingly beautiful tale that blends heartbreak, forgiveness, and ethereal dance in the moonlit afterlife.

Where: The Baxter Theatre. 

When: From Thursday, November 13, to Saturday, November 22, at 7.30pm.