The South African State Theatre proudly presents The Unlikely Secret Agent, a gripping and politically explosive drama running from 05 to 21 June 2026.

A nation under siege. A woman under interrogation. A secret capable of shaking the foundations of apartheid power.

The South African State Theatre proudly presents The Unlikely Secret Agent, a gripping and politically explosive drama running from 05 to 21 June 2026 at the Arena Theatre in Pretoria.

Set in 1963 during one of the most volatile and dangerous periods in South African history, the production plunges audiences into a country consumed by political unrest, sabotage, violence, and state repression under the apartheid government of Hendrik Verwoerd. Under the brutal State of Emergency, the feared Special Branch arrests, detains, and tortures anyone suspected of resistance activity.

At the centre of this haunting and deeply human story is Eleanor, an unassuming young single mother working at Griggs Bookstore in Durban. Her ordinary life is violently disrupted when she is arrested and interrogated by the police, who are hunting for her lover, the notorious anti-apartheid activist and underground operative, Red Ronnie Kasrils.

The authorities believe they already know everything.

But Eleanor is hiding a dangerous truth.

Unknown to the apartheid police, she is a clandestine operative for the Underground ANC, carrying secrets capable of protecting comrades, networks, and the liberation movement itself. Faced with brutal interrogation, psychological torture, and the terrifying threat of the 90 Day Detention Act, Eleanor must navigate fear, survival, loyalty, and resistance under impossible circumstances.

What unfolds is a breathtaking journey of courage and defiance as Eleanor makes the daring decision to fake a nervous breakdown in order to secure a transfer to a psychiatric institution, where she begins plotting an extraordinary escape.

The Unlikely Secret Agent is more than a historical drama. It is a powerful theatrical excavation of memory, resistance, sacrifice, and the hidden lives of those who risked everything for freedom. The production confronts the machinery of apartheid violence while shining a necessary spotlight on the often-overlooked role of women within the liberation struggle.

Directed by Paul du Toit, the production combines emotional realism, political urgency, and cinematic theatrical storytelling to create a tense and unforgettable stage experience. Featuring a compelling cast led by Erika Breytenbach as Eleanor Kasrils alongside Ashley Dowds, Carlo Daniels, Ntlanhla Kutu, and Paul du Toit, the production promises audiences theatre that is emotionally devastating, intellectually gripping, and profoundly relevant.

At a time when the world continues to grapple with questions of justice, resistance, human rights, and historical memory, The Unlikely Secret Agent arrives as a fearless reminder of the cost of freedom and the extraordinary bravery of ordinary people forced into extraordinary acts of resistance.

This is theatre that remembers. Theatre that resists. Theatre that refuses silence.

Production Details:

Production: The Unlikely Secret Agent
Dates: 05 – 21 June 2026
Venue: Arena Theatre, South African State Theatre,
320 Pretorius Street, Pretoria Central, Gauteng
Tickets: R150
Genre: Drama
Age Restriction: 14+
Watch on SAST TV https://www.statetheatre.co.za/tvchannel/

SAST TV is the South African State Theatre’s digital platform showcasing performances, festivals, artist conversations, and behind the scenes cultural storytelling.

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Media Enquiries:
Bongani Nicholas Ngomane
South African State Theatre
E-mail: bongani@statetheatre.co.za

Nkhensani Mafuyeka
Nkhensani@statetheatre.co.za
079 296 3871
South African State Theatre
http://www.statetheatre.co.za