Becoming Benno
comedy drama
Written and Performed by Ben VOSS | Directed by Michael RICHARD | Dramaturge John VAN DE RUIT
Following success at the Adelaide International Arts Festival in Australia, Fleur du Cap and Best of the Adelaide Fest award winner, Ben Voss, brings his heartfelt comedy Becoming Benno to Cape Town.
In this internationally acclaimed show, Ben is detained by border officials at Sydney Airport due to an issue with his Permanent Residency Visa. Will he be admitted or sent back to South Africa?
Becoming Benno is for anyone who has ever considered making another country home.
With best-selling playwright John van de Ruit (of Spud fame) as dramaturge, and South African Theatre legend Michael Richard directing, Becoming Benno is an absolute gem and not to be missed.
Photos by Val Adamson
CREATIVE TEAM
WRITER / PERFORMER – BEN VOSS
Ben Voss is a multi-award-winning South African actor, comedian, playwright, and satirist, renowned for his fearless social commentary. He is best known for his alter ego Beauty Ramapelepele and stage collaborations with John van de Ruit, including the sketch shows Green Mamba, Black Mamba, Mamba Republic and Mamba Proudly SA. Ben has won the Fleur du Cap, Naledi, Ovation and Adelaide Fringe Theatre Awards. In 2024 he was issued a Star on the Johannesburg Theatre’s Walk of Fame for his contribution to South African theatre. Voss continues to push boundaries and challenge audiences with theatre that’s as intelligent as it is hilarious.
DIRECTOR – MICHAEL RICHARD
Michael Richard is a renowned South African actor and director with a distinguished career spanning over four decades. A powerhouse of the stage, he has starred in and directed numerous acclaimed productions, including Othello, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Miser, Death of a Salesman, and Tuesdays with Morrie. He delivered a standout performance in Kunene and the King, a drama exploring race and reconciliation in South Africa. His commanding presence, rich voice, and masterful interpretation of both classical and contemporary works have earned him many theatre awards. Whether performing or directing, Richard continues to inspire audiences with his talent, passion, and dedication to the performing arts.
DRAMATURGE – JOHN van de RUIT
John van de Ruit is one of South Africa’s most celebrated authors and playwrights. His Spud series took the literary world by storm, topping bestseller lists and winning over readers with its take on life in a 1990s South African boarding school. Adapted into hit films starring John Cleese and Troye Sivan, Spud cemented van de Ruit’s reputation as a master of humor and storytelling. Beyond books, he’s a dynamic theatre creator, co-writing and performing in smash-hit stage productions like Green Mamba and Black Mamba with Ben Voss. Whether on the page or the stage, van de Ruit is a creative powerhouse who keeps audiences captivated and laughing.