Cape Town’s very own Zubayr Charles is set to make waves with his powerful one-man show, Please, don’t call me moffie, which will debut at a festival this year, tackling identity, and LGBTQIA+ struggles in an unflinching and innovative performance.
Charles, 30, from Bo-Kaap has already made a significant mark on the South African theatre scene as a multi-disciplinary writer, director, and UCT Master’s in Creative Writing cum laude graduate.
His previous works—such as Mercy, The Battered Housewives’ Club, and This Bra’s a Psycho—have been showcased at various festivals and theatres in Cape Town. But it is his latest project, Please, don’t call me moffie, promises to be his most powerful and personal work yet.
The show, which will take the stage at the festival, follows the stories of four Coloured gay men in their late 20s, exploring their struggles with queer identity in the context of growing up in Cape Town.
The narrative is ignited by the viral spread of a disturbing homophobic attack video from an unnamed Arab country, forcing the characters to confront their internalised fears and societal pressures. At its heart, the show is a deep dive into what it means to be queer in a world that often demands conformity.
Why take on such sensitive and personal themes? For Charles, it’s a response to the world around him.
"Almost three years ago, a local influencer started spreading hateful views about queer people online, using religion to justify them. I realised that homophobia was far more prevalent in our society than I had ever thought, especially among people I knew personally," he shares.
"It really hit me hard, and I knew I had to respond. I wanted to create something that would challenge people’s views and raise awareness about what queer individuals face in our society."
As a member of the LGBT community, Charles is acutely aware of the challenges that come with balancing faith and identity.
"It’s a difficult space to navigate. There is often a lack of understanding or acceptance of queer identities. But I wanted to explore that struggle in my work. It’s not about pushing a political or religious agenda, but about highlighting the real pain and complexity that people face when they can’t reconcile these parts of themselves," he explains.
Please, don’t call me moffie was originally conceived as a multi-actor production with five characters.
However, due to financial constraints, Charles and his collaborator, actor Anzio September, decided to reimagine it as a one-man show. Now, September, a seasoned actor with a degree in Theatre and Performance from UCT, will portray all five characters, bringing a fresh and intimate approach to the narrative. "It’s a huge creative challenge for both of us," Charles says.
"Anzio suggested the idea of a one-act. It’s going to be a different experience for the audience, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all comes together."
The title, Please, Don’t Call Me Moffie, is a direct challenge to the derogatory use of the word "moffie"—a term often used to belittle queer people. But Charles explains that the title also holds a deeper meaning, rooted in existential crisis and identity.
"The title is a nod to Raymond Carver’s short story collection Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?, which explores personal turmoil. In our play, all the characters are struggling with their identity and their place in the world. It’s also about reclaiming a harmful word and saying, ‘No, you can’t define me like that.’"
Charles’ primary aim is to create empathy. "I want the audience to leave the theatre with a deeper understanding of what queer men go through, especially in relation to their identity and faith. The play is about starting a conversation and showing people that we all deserve compassion and respect, no matter who we love or how we identify," he explains.
While he acknowledges that conservative views, particularly within the religious community, may lead to some backlash, Charles is confident in the message of his work.
"I didn’t write this to promote any political or religious agenda. The aim is simply to spark awareness and empathy. The play is not trying to preach—it’s about showing the human side of the struggles that queer people face, especially when they don’t conform to society’s expectations."
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus