An Unromantic Comedy at The Baxter

An Unromantic Comedy

During the month of Valentine, relationship mayhem is hilariously explored in An Unromantic Comedy, at the Baxter Studio in early February 2025.

An Unromantic Comedy, written by Rosalind Butler and directed by Craig Freimond, is a hilarious romantic three-hander about early 30s relationship mayhem, in the Baxter Studio, for a limited season, from 4 to 15 February 2025 at 20:00, with Saturday matinees at 15:00.

The dynamic duo once again team up to bring Cape Town audiences this witty 2014 Naledi Theatre Awards Best New Script-nominated play, featuring Awethu Hleli, Lyle October and Tamzin Williams, from the Baxter’s Fires Burning company. They were recently seen in productions such as Metamorphoses, Neighbourhood, Trouble in Mind and Othello. Design (set and costumes) is by Kieran McGregor and lighting by Franky Steyn.

When An Unromantic Comedy premiered in 2014, the media and audiences raved: Lesley Stones from Daily Maverick described it as, “A little gem. Lovely from the start. Excellence of comic writing”, while Christina Kennedy from Business Day wrote, “Tart, smart and savagely funny. One of the most delightful comedy outings of the year.” Bruce Denill for The Citizen was equally impressed saying, “Terrific writing … trim, acute script … makes you giggle and guffaw … laugh and lament. Belly achingly funny dialogue … Curiously real.”

Funny, painful and contemporary, the play explores relationship mayhem. Set in a Cape Town loft apartment, the action takes place over one night. Through a text message mix up Robin (played by Tamzin Williams), Jason’s (Lyle October) ex fiancée, arrives for dinner unexpectedly. An awkward evening ensues. Jason slept with Nonhle (Awethu Hleli), Robin’s best friend. Robin is still angry. Jason is still guilty and a casebook commitment phobe, Robin’s biological clock is ticking. Nonhle, Jason’s intended guest, arrives. They are forced to confront their dreams and disappointments. Is fidelity possible in a long-term relationship? Does the sisterhood code actually exist? Is love enough?

Rosalind Butler’s quirky and complex writing style is well known to South African audiences. Last year her latest play, Expelled, directed by Freimond, premiered at The Baxter to huge success. Her television work includes being scriptwriter for Emmy-nominated series, Home Affairs.

Craig is an award-winning South African writer and director in theatre, film and television. His plays as a writer include The King of Laughter, Jump Ralph, Gums & Noses and A Vegan Killed My Marriage. He has directed more than 15 plays, including The Great Gatsby, Macbeth, Talk Radio, Sweet Phoebe, Gums & Noses and Death of a Colonialist. For the Baxter, he recently directed A Vegan Killed My Marriage.

He has written and directed five feature films: Gums & Noses, Jozi, Material, Beyond the River and New Material. New film projects include the South African political satire, Weekend Special and the human drama, The Road to Broad 4 to Bay, a SA/ NZ co-production. Craig also wrote the hit Nigerian film Oloture and the sequel, Oloture – The Journey, for Netflix.

An Unromantic Comedy runs for two weeks in the Baxter Studio from 4 to 15 February 2025 at 20:00 with Saturday matinees at 15:00. Booking is through Webtickets online or at Pick n Pay stores.


For further media enquiries or interview requests please contact Fahiem Stellenboom on fahiem.stellenboom@uct.ac.za or call 021 680 3971.


Fahiem Stellenboom
fahiem.stellenboom@uct.ac.za
072 2656 023
Baxter Theatre Centre
https://baxter.uct.ac.za/