Zubayr Charles, participant in the Kommadagga workshop in 2020, challenges homophobia in his latest play, Please, don’t call me moffie. The show debuted at this year’s Suidoosterfees and sold out.
His play follows the lives of five coloured, Cape Malay gay men in their late 20s who share their experiences growing up Muslim and queer in Cape Town.
Please, don’t call me moffie opens up some deep questions. What does it mean to grow up queer in Cape Town? What happens when religion, identity and masculinity collide? And how do you hold onto your sense of self when the world keeps trying to erase it? These are just some of the questions explored in this bold one-man show starring Anzio September.
In an interview, Charles said that he is hopeful that his plays, Please, don’t call me moffie, Mercy, The Battered Housewives’ Club, will also be shown in mainstream theaters in 2025. Apart from writing plays, Charles is also currently writing a novel called Haram. A story that focuses on a young man struggling with his sexuality and alcoholism, which he hopes to publish next year.
Congratulations Zubayr! We celebrate with you the successful debut of your play, Please, don’t call me moffie. We look forward to seeing your work in mainstream theaters.
Follow the links below to learn more about Zubayr Charles and his work:
