PICTURE: SUPPLIED
Fresh from acclaimed performances in London, That Boy Has No Shoes is set to captivate audiences in Cape Town this March.
Created and performed by Lara van Huyssteen, this evocative one-woman show has been lauded as “thought-provoking” and “powerful. ” It offers a deeply moving retrospective on South Africa’s Apartheid past through the eyes of objects that bore witness to its horrors.
A unique narrative approach
This is not a conventional play. Instead of traditional storytelling, That Boy Has No Shoes brings history to life through the voices of artefacts—an axe, an eviction notice, a passbook, and a camera. These inanimate witnesses recount their experiences of Apartheid’s brutality, from the Battle of Andringa Street to the Sharpeville massacre. The result is an immersive theatrical experience that blends verbatim testimony with narrative storytelling, exposing the violence and suffering that shaped South Africa’s history.
Through haunting soundscapes and carefully choreographed movement, Van Huyssteen reconstructs moments of Apartheid-era oppression, using her own silent presence on stage as a vehicle to enhance the weight of each testimony. The effect is visceral, leaving audiences both informed and unsettled.
The impact of a generation born free
Van Huyssteen, part of South Africa’s “born free” generation—those born after the official fall of Apartheid in 1994—was compelled to create That Boy Has No Shoes after realising how little her peers in the UK knew about South Africa’s painful past. “Apartheid isn’t just history; its effects are still deeply felt today,” she explains. Her work serves as a stark reminder that the country’s struggle for equality didn’t end with Nelson Mandela’s presidency—it continues to shape South Africa’s social and economic landscape.
The performance is further elevated by the voices of Stellenbosch University drama students, who lend an eerie realism to the monologues of these forgotten objects. A particularly poignant moment sees Van Huyssteen pruning roses at the feet of the passbook—a quiet yet devastating act of remembrance for the children who lost their lives during Apartheid-era protests.
An unforgettable theatrical experience
Critics have described That Boy Has No Shoes as “an excellent work of art” and “a moving retrospective.” While some have debated whether it fits the definition of theatre, its powerful emotional impact is undeniable. By weaving together testimony, movement, and sound, Van Huyssteen challenges audiences to confront the realities of Apartheid—not just as a historical event but as an enduring trauma that still echoes today.
Don’t miss this thought-provoking and deeply affecting production when it arrives in Cape Town this March.
Show details:
Dates: 20 – 23 March 2025
Times: 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM
Venue: Homecoming Centre, District Six, Cape Town
Tickets: R150 (available via Webtickets)
Age recommendation: 12+ (Content warnings: descriptions of racism, violence, and death)
Prepare to witness a powerful exploration of history, identity, and the ongoing struggle for justice in That Boy Has No Shoes. A story that demands to be heard.
Compiled by: Jade McGee
First published on Woman & Home
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