Review: SCOTT at Masambe At The Baxter

SCOTT, written and directed by two-time Fleur du Cap Award winner Morapeleng Molekoa and performed by Sbuja Dywili, is an extraordinary piece of theatre that leaves a lasting emotional impact. Currently playing at the Baxter Theatre’s Masambe Theatre for a limited season, the play follows Sizwe, a gardener from Nyanga who works for a white woman in Constantia, caring for her beloved dog, Scott. When tragedy strikes, the complicated dynamics of their relationship begin to unravel.

What a moving play! Molekoa has created an incredibly strong script, carefully building the story towards a powerful and devastating conclusion. The writing is intelligent and purposeful, gradually drawing us deeper into Sizwe’s world until we are completely invested in his experiences. It is a story that takes the audience on an emotional roller coaster, allowing us to experience its highs and lows alongside him.

The theatrical skill with which this story is brought to life is remarkable. Sbuja Dywili carries the entire production, using his voice, facial expressions and physicality to create an array of characters, establish different settings and even bring the dog, Scott, vividly to life. There is something wonderfully theatrical about watching one performer transform the stage through his body and voice alone. His performance is energetic, expressive and deeply engaging.

The play’s origins make its subject matter all the more disturbing. Molekoa was inspired by a real-life 2018 Cape Town incident in which a white woman and her dog survived a head-on collision while her black employee, travelling in the back of the bakkie, was killed. The incident prompted the question of how this man’s death affected his family and whether he might have survived had he been allowed to sit in the front with the dog.

That question sits at the heart of SCOTT, which becomes much more than a story about one tragic event. It confronts the uncomfortable reality of how easily poor and marginalised people can be overlooked, their humanity and their needs regarded as less important than those of others.

This is incredible theatre: a strong script, exceptional storytelling and great acting combining to create a production that is both entertaining and deeply thought-provoking. SCOTT is a powerful reminder that every person has a story, a family, a life and a right to be regarded as fully human.

Highly recommended — this is theatre that deserves to be seen.

Showing at the Baxter Masambe Theatre from 22 to 29 August 2026.

Tickets on Webtickets online or at Pick n Pay stores.

BOOK HERE: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1575159019

Photos:  Honeykomb Media

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