These Are Not My Shoes at The Baxter

These Are Not My Shoes, written by Mxolisi Masilela and directed by Mthobisi Mphandle, explores the profound impacts of fatherlessness on young men as they navigate their turbulent lives. Set against a backdrop of anger and despair, the story follows brothers Themba and Xolani as they grapple with the absence of their father and the emotional scars it leaves behind. Combining elements of both English and isiXhosa, the play delves into themes of identity, masculinity, and the struggles of growing up in a fractured family dynamic. The production is part of the Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival.