| What: Scott Writer/director: Morapeleng Molekoa Performer: Sbuja Dywili Where: Baxter Masambe Theatre When: August 22 – 29, 2026 Bookings: Webtickets |
Morapeleng Molekoa’s award winning play, Scott is a tragedy laced with comedy (laugh out loud) and clowning. It leaves one with a deep ache and sadness but it also leaves an imprint as a beautiful piece of theatre – emotional, poignant and moving.
Sbuja Dywili gives a tour-de-force performance as Scott, the Dog and his successor Dog II; Sizwe who is the gardener, from Nyanga who cares for Scott plus a menagerie of characters. There is an accident and Scott dies. Sizwe who was sitting in the back seat, survives and tells his story. The play was inspired by a real life incident, involving a white woman, her dog and the gardener. The dog survived and the gardener died. This sparked Molekoa to wonder about the messed up, tragic situation and for his play, Scott dies and Sizwe survives. Watch pop up interview with Molekoa and Dywili at the Baxter Masambe, August 25, 2026. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JEMyrCEeQ/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dcelc5Ft0SF/
The production received three Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards in 2020 [now called The Cape Town Theatre Awards) – Best New South African Script, Best New Director, and Best Solo Performance for Tafara Nyatsanza, who was in the launch production in 2019 at Theatre Arts (it was called Theatre Arts Admin at the time). The play was also nominated for Best Director and Best Production.
Let’s circle back to the FDC award for Best New South African Script – it is a cracker of a script – constructed with a delicacy and tenderness – which operates as a dramatic foil to the horrific subject matter. And circling back to Molekoa’s FDC for Best New Director: The direction is seamless – morphing from character and situation – through physical theatre, mime, clowning and the use of a chair as a prop – which becomes everything: The van that Sizwe sits in – at the back – while Scott the Dog – preens in the front seat – dressed in his bespoke leather jacket and Gucci glasses – purchased by the white Madam – his boss – at Cavendish. It is hilarious in a dark and uncomfortable way.
The Covid Pandemic put a halt on further planned productions and here we are in 2026 with a new production, also directed by Morapeleng Molekoa, performed by the brilliant Sbuja Dywili.
Molekoa is 32. Sbuja is 26. Young and talented, yes.
This is an important play; a cautionary tale, a howl for everyone to be able to be seated in the front, to be seen and valued.
It is protest theatre at its best – raw, urgent, gripping. It’s Theatre of the Absurd and utterly heart-breaking. And yet, as I mentioned, it is beautiful piece of theatre. It is entertaining – despite the grief that runs through like a river of tears without an end.
Please, do not miss.
✳ Sbuja Dywili in Morapeleng Molekoa’s award winning play, Scott, August 22 – 29, 2026, Baxter Masambe Theatre.
