| What: Please, don’t call me moffie Writer/director: Zubayr Charles Performer: Anzio September Where: Artscape Arena Theatre When: June 2-6, 2026 (seven performances) Age restriction: No under 16s Content warning: Language, violence, and nudity Duration: 50 minutes, no interval Performance dates and times: Tuesday, June 2, 2026 — 19:00 Wednesday, June 3, 2026 — 19:00 Thursday, June 4, 2026 — 19:00 Friday June 2026 5— 15:00 and 19:00 Saturday, June 2026, 6— 14:00 and 18:00 |
Please, don’t call me moffie, written and directed by Zubayr Charles, premiered in Cape Town at Artscape ATKV Rep Theatre as part of the 2025 Suidoosterfees. Exciting news is that the acclaimed play, starring Anzio September, will be on at Artscape in its Arena, from June 2-6, 2026 (seven performances). Recently, it was announced that another play by Charles, this bra’s a psycho has been nominated for two Cape Town Theatre Awards (formerly The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards), for Best New Director (Charles) and Best Supporting Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play (September). Hopefully, this bra’s a psycho will return soon but in the meanwhile, it is a wonderful opportunity to see Please, don’t call me moffie, after several festival runs, on stage again. Plays always need time to gel, to be tweaked with staging and team Please, don’t call me moffie is excited to share the play with audiences. When I reviewed the play in May 2025, I wrote that it is a “brave and important play”. https://thecaperobyn.co.za/review-please-dont-call-me-moffie-brave-and-important-play. Scroll down for a list of the rave reviews. Read on for more about the play:
Artscape Theatre presents Please, don’t call me moffie, a thought-provoking and powerful one-man performance exploring toxic masculinity, mental health, and queerphobia, showcasing this June 2026.
Written and directed by Zubayr Charles, a UCT Master’s in Creative Writing graduate, the one-man show returns to Artscape following its critical and commercial success at the 2025 Suidoosterfees, the 2025 Artscape Women’s and Humanity Festival, and the 2026 KKNK.
The narrative explores the lives of five Cape Coloured men in their late 20s as they reflect on identity and belonging in Cape Town, South Africa. After a viral video of a brutal homophobic attack in an unnamed country shocks them, they are forced to confront their pasts and present realities.
Starring Cape Town-based actor Anzio September, a UCT Theatre and Performance graduate, the play sees him seamlessly embody five distinct characters in a performance that is as emotionally raw as it is captivating.
“My dream is for our show to create a space where queer individuals can see themselves represented on stage, specifically those who have been ostracised from their communities. Many young boys, girls, and gender non-conforming individuals are still being bullied and experiencing queerphobia because of the hate that continues to spread in society. I sincerely hope our play can create much-needed awareness for those struggling to understand their sexuality and their place in this world,” says writer and director Zubayr Charles.
Don’t miss this gripping theatrical experience that brings voice and visibility to marginalised narratives in South Africa.
Please, don’t call me moffie – Articles:
Title: Anzio is maestro op stage
Date: April 3, 2025
Publication: Die Son
Hyperlink: https://www.son.co.za/nuus/anzio-is-maestro-op-stage-20260402-0409
Title: Please, don’t call me moffie by die KKNK
Date: March 30, 2026
Publication: LitNet
Hyperlink: https://www.litnet.co.za/please-dont-call-me-moffie-by-die-kknk/
Title: Vereenselwing in die werk van Zubayr Charles
Date: October 5, 2025
Publication: Klyntji
Hyperlink: https://klyntji.com/joernaal/2025/10/5/zubayr-charles
Title: Gay, Kaaps én Moslem op die planke: ’n resensie van Please, don’t call me moffie
Date: 19 August 2025
Publication: LitNet
Hyperlink: https://www.litnet.co.za/gay-kaaps-en-moslem-op-die-planke-n-resensie-van-please-dont-call-me-moffie/
Title: Zubayr Charles’ “Please, don’t call me moffie” receives standing ovations
Date: Monday, June 30, 2025 Publication: Verve Magazine
Hyperlink: https://www.vervemagcpt.com/culture/dontcallmemoffie
Title: Theatre Review: Please, don’t call me moffie (dir. Zubayr Charles)
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Publication: Stoep Collective
Hyperlink: https://www.stoepcollective.com/news/theatre-review-niamh-ahern-please-dont-call-me-moffie
Title: Of Prayer and Pride: Zubayr Charles’ ‘Please, don’t call me moffie’
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025 Publication: Low Altitude Magazine
Hyperlink: http://lowaltitudemag.com/post/of-prayer-and-pride-zubayr-charles-please-don-t-call-me-moffie
Title: Standing ovation for Bo-Kaap author’s play
Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Publication: Atlantic Sun
Hyperlink: http://atlanticsun.co.za/atlantic-sun/news/2025-05-06-standing-ovation-for-bo-kaap-authors-play/
Title: Review: Please, don’t call me moffie, brave and important play review by Robyn Cohen
Date: Tuesday, 6 May 2025 Publication: The Cape Robyn
Hyperlink: https://thecaperobyn.co.za/review-please-dont-call-me-moffie-brave-and-important-play/
Title: 5 gesigte aan een pynlike waarheid in ‘Please, don’t call me moffie’ review by Kelly-Lee Ohlson
Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025 Publication: Die Burger
Title: 10and5 interviews Zubayr Charles on storytelling, survival and self-definition – interview by Annel Malan
Date: Friday, April 25, 2025 Publication: Between 10 and 5
Hyperlink: https://10and5.com/10and5-interviews-zubayr-charles-on-storytelling-survival-and-self-definition/
Title: Zubayr doen iets unieks – article by Chrislynn Sias-Louw
Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025 Publication: Die Son
Hyperlink: https://www.son.co.za/nuus/zubayr-doen-iets-unieks-20250409-0923
Title: Interview: Please, don’t call me moffie, a gaze on the difficulties faced by queer Coloured men in Cape Town – interview by Robyn Cohen
Date: Monday, April 7 2025 Publication: The Cape Robyn
Title: Annual Suidoorsterfees Festival and Artscape Theatre presents Please, don’t call me moffie – podcast by Clarence Ford and Zubayr Charles
Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
Publication: Cape Talk Radio
Hyperlink: https://omny.fm/shows/mid-morning/annual-suidoorsterfees-festival-and-artscape-theatre-presents-please-don-t-call-me-moffie
Title: Please, don’t call me moffie: Zubayr Charles’ bold exploration of queer identity article by – Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
Date: Saturday, 29 March 2025
Publication: Weekend Argus
Hyperlink: https://www.iol.co.za/weekend-argus/news/please-dont-call-me-moffie-zubayr-charles-bold-exploration-of-queer-identity
Title: Stage: Please, don’t call me moffie by Zubayr Charles debuts at Suidoosterfees 2025 – article by Robyn Cohen
Date: Thursday, 27 March 2025 Publication: The Cape Robyn
Hyperlink: https://thecaperobyn.co.za/stage-please-dont-call-me-moffie-by-zubayr-charles-debuts-at-suidoosterfees-2025/
Title: Toneelstuk daag homofobie uit – article by Kelly-Lee Ohlson
Date: Saturday, 15 March 2025 Publication: Netwerk 24
❇ Sponsored content. Featured image: Anzio September in Please, don’t call me moffie by Zubayr Charles.
