The Cage
Drama
Directed by Timothy SOAL | Written by Bandile Sike Vee MOLOI | Performed by Bandile MOLOI, Saskia Bormans, Krys Igirubuntu
13 +
Set over the course of a single day in a cramped Johannesburg CBD office, The Cage follows Jakes, a young journalist struggling to establish himself in South Africa’s unforgiving media landscape. Now, after his estranged father’s death — a celebrated anti-apartheid playwright and cultural icon — Jakes inherits boxes of manuscripts, banned scripts, photos, and underground archives from the struggle years.
What starts as curiosity becomes an excavation. Inside the paper trail: proof of a secret Black theatre collective that used art and performance to spread coded messages against apartheid, closely linked to MK operations. But the deeper Jakes digs, the darker it gets. Evidence surfaces that the collective was betrayed by an informer from within. As contemporary political figures are implicated and a foreign collector offers millions for the archives, Jakes faces a brutal choice: expose the truth and risk his career, his relationship, and his future, or bury history to survive.
Driven by dialogue, memory, and psychological tension, The Cage explores the commodification of liberation history, the burden of inheritance, interracial intimacy in post-apartheid South Africa, and the dangerous relationship between art and political power.
DIRECTOR
TIMOTHY SOAL
A Johannesburg-based director and choreographer who studied theatre and performance at the University of the Witwatersrand. There, he began his practice of finding indigenous forms of knowledge from the study of the non-human. Drawing from these epistemologies, he generates interdisciplinary works that translate ecological intelligence for contemporary audiences.
His directing credits include Plethora Untold (2024), FORMICARIUM (2025), Isolation in Two Acts (2025), and What Else Have We To Do? (2024). Across his theatre career, Timothy has refined his practice by working in varied capacities with the Pieter Toerien Theatre, VR Theatrical, the 2026 Naledi Awards Evening, and the Joburg Ballet Company.
CAST
BANDILE SIKA MOLOI
A Durban-born, Johannesburg-based choreographer, performer, director, and theatre-maker. Bandile graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with an honours degree in theatre and performance. His work draws on African Indigenous knowledge systems, Afro-fusion aesthetics, and contemporary performance techniques. His directing credits include Emobeni (2025); 1994: The Time, which was showcased at the 2024 National Arts Festival Fringe; and UBhoko (2024). As a performer, he has worked with artists including Kgafela oa Magogodi, Prince Lamla, and Smangaliso Ngwenya, with recent credits including Chilahaebolae (2024), Manyabolo (2025), and The Heynas Tuckshop.
A Durban-born, Johannesburg-based choreographer, performer, director, and theatre-maker. Bandile graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with an honours degree in theatre and performance. His work draws on African Indigenous knowledge systems, Afro-fusion aesthetics, and contemporary performance techniques.
His directing credits include Emobeni (2025); 1994: The Time, which was showcased at the 2024 National Arts Festival Fringe; and UBhoko (2024). As a performer, he has worked with artists including Kgafela oa Magogodi, Prince Lamla, and Smangaliso Ngwenya, with recent credits including Chilahaebolae (2024), Manyabolo (2025), and The Heynas Tuckshop.
Emobeni (2025); 1994: The TimeUBhoko (2024), Chilahaebolae (2024), Manyabolo (2025), The Heynas Tuckshop
SASKIA BORMANS
A Cape Town-based performer and creative who graduated from the Waterfront Theatre School, where she trained in drama, singing, and dance. During her studies, she earned her teaching licentiate from Trinity College London and received the Aviva Pelham Singing Award upon graduation.
Her theatre credits include performing the lead role in Paper and Roses (2026), as well as Heathers (2024) and The Jingle Belles (2024). Alongside performing, Saskia has a passion for scenic design and recently shadowed Greg King during the creation of the set for The Rocky Horror Show.
KRYS IGIRUBUNTU
A Cape Town-based actor, singer, and dancer who graduated from the Waterfront Theatre School. Trained in a variety of acting techniques and dance styles, he also holds a dance teaching qualification.
His recent theatre credits include Putting on the Ritz (2026), Tall Tales (2025), Everybody's Talking About Jamie (2025), and Oklahoma! (2023). In addition to performing, Krys has worked behind the scenes as a stage manager and lighting operator, including on Paper & Roses (2026).
A gifted young up-and-coming talent, Krys is excited to continue creating meaningful work and sharing stories with audiences on stage and screen.