this bra's a psycho to debut at Artscape Theatre

Image supplied

Fresh off the success of Please, don’t call me moffie, this bra's a psycho is written and directed by Zubayr Charles, a UCT Master’s in Creative Writing graduate.

The psychological crime thriller makes its debut at this year’s Women’s Humanity Festival – following its resounding pitch and staged reading at the 2024 Artscape New Voices Programme.

The narrative 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 him becoming a serial killer and partaking 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 thriller to life.

L to R: Anzio September, Zubayr Charles (writer and director) and James Stoffberg. Image supplied

Stoffberg portrays the unravelling psyche of a serial killer, whilst September embodies both the policeman investigating the murders and The Bra's various 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 universal 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 and depiction of 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. I hope we will get to see more local crime and thriller narratives on our stages and tv screens.”

this bra's a psycho runs from 29 July-2 August 2025 at The Artscape Theatre.

Duration: 70min; no interval
Age Restriction: No under 16s

Tickets are available at Webtickets.