The internationally celebrated stage production Far Gone is set to make its South African debut this November, delivering its gripping and emotionally charged story to Cape Town and Johannesburg audiences.
Known for its raw storytelling and powerful one-man performance, Far Gone has left a deep impression on audiences around the world, and now South Africans will get to experience it first-hand.
Written and performed by Ugandan-born actor and writer John Rwothomack, the play follows a young boy’s harrowing journey from childhood innocence to life as a forcibly recruited child soldier in Northern Uganda.
Produced by Roots Mbili Theatre from Sheffield, England, the piece forms part of a global tour spanning four continents. South African audiences can catch it at The Baxter Theatre in Cape Town from 11 to 15 November, and at Joburg Theatre in Johannesburg from 19 to 22 November.
“To tour your own work globally feels incredibly special. I hope this heartbreaking story will resonate with South African audiences and those around the world,” said Rwothomack.
Directed by Nigerian theatre-maker Mojisola Kareem and originally co-produced with Sheffield Theatres, Far Gone blends humour, poetry, and physical theatre to explore the devastating impact of child abductions by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a militia responsible for recruiting tens of thousands of children across Central and East Africa.
Rwothomack drew from his own experience of nearly being kidnapped by the LRA at age eight. The result is a performance that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Following its 2022 UK tour, the production earned five-star reviews and international acclaim. The current tour began in September with performances in the UK and Taiwan and will conclude in London and Kansas City next year.
Founded in 2021 by John Rwothomack, Sam Holland, and Smart Banda(pictured), Roots Mbili Theatre amplifies African and diaspora voices often overlooked on international stages.
“These stories still exist around the world; we have to show them truthfully,” said Rwothomack. “If the theatre was not built to represent our voices, we will build spaces that do.”
Event Details
Cape Town
Venue: The Baxter Theatre Centre – The Lessor
Dates: 11–15 November 2025
Time: 20:00
Price: R150–R200
Direct booking link: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1564776573
Johannesburg
Venue: The Lesedi Theatre, Joburg Theatre
Dates: 19–22 November 2025
Time: 19:30
Price: R150
Direct booking link: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1574483304
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