PRESS: Bold crime thriller THIS BRA’S A PSYCHO onstage at Artscape’s Women & Humanity Festival

Zubayr Charles

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Artscape Theatre, in conjunction with the Suidoosterfeesand the City of Cape Town, presents this bra’s a psycho– a psychological crime thriller and cat-and-mouse tale tackling the themes of male sexual assault, hook-up culture, and online dating. The production runs from Tuesday, 29 July 2025 to Saturday, 2 August 2025.

Photo Supplied.

Fresh off the success of Please, don’t call me moffie, this gripping two-hander, written and directed by Zubayr Charles, a UCT Master’s in Creative Writing graduate, makes its debut at this year’s Women’s and Humanity Festival – following its resounding pitch and staged reading at the 2024 Artscape New Voices Programme.

The story follows THE BRA, who, after waking up in an unknown warehouse, must face the brutal aftermath of sexual assault. In his search for love and healing through dating apps, things take a dark turn – ending in a chilling killing spree. But someone is watching… and justice is coming.

Cape Town-based actors James Stoffberg and Anzio September, both UCT Theatre and Performance graduates, bring this intense thriller to life.

Stoffberg portrays the unravelling psyche of a serial killer, whilstSeptember seamlessly embodies both the policeman investigating the murders and THE BRA’s victims –amplifying the two-hander’s cat-and-mouse dynamic.

“Initially, I wanted to tackle the classic rape-revenge genre by giving it a unique Capetonian, male, and queer twist,” reveals Charles.

“Despite it being a thriller, the show explores themes and moments that many people will find relatable. Last year, I was hesitant about the subject matter, worried it might be deemed too risqué, especially with the serial killer aspect and the commentary on queer hook-up culture. But I realised that the crime thriller genre is hugely popular on various streaming platforms — so why shouldn’t we invest in telling our own local stories? South Africa has so much talent, and it’s time to showcase it.”

Don’t miss this gripping and thought-provoking theatrical experience that brings voice and visibility to male sexual assault and queer narratives in South Africa.

Performance Dates:

• Tuesday, 29 July 2025 – 7pm

• Wednesday, 30 July 2025 – 7pm

• Thursday, 31 July 2025 – 7pm

• Friday, 1 August 2025 – 7pm

• Saturday, 2 August 2025 – 3pm

• Saturday, 2 August 2025 – 7pm

Venue: Artscape Arena Theatre, Cape Town.  

Tickets: R150pp

Age Restriction: No U/16.

Warning: Contains strong language and violence.

Duration: 70 minutes (No Interval)

Booking: Webtickets