Theatre lovers are in for a rare treat as UNRULY, the immersive and thought-provoking production from Empatheatre, returns to The Baxter Studio for a limited season from 17 July to 2 August.
UNRULY returns
At the heart of this bold theatrical experience is the spellbinding interplay between theatre legend Andrew Buckland and award-winning double bassist and composer Chantal Willie-Petersen, whose live double bass performance brings a rich, emotive layer to the storytelling.
A Story of Nature and Conflict
UNRULY isn’t just a play – it’s an atmosphere. The deep, resonant tones of Willie-Petersen’s double bass, composed in collaboration with renowned musician Braam du Toit, flow alongside Buckland’s dynamic physical theatre performance. Together, they create a hauntingly beautiful jazz-infused soundscape that grounds the story in rhythm, feeling, and complexity.
Directed by Neil Coppen, UNRULY invites audiences into the fictional coastal town of Skemer Baai. Humans and baboons live in uneasy proximity in this town. When a matriarch baboon mysteriously disappears, tensions erupt. This sparks fierce debates about coexistence, conservation, and the wild within us all. The production is co-written by Coppen, Buckland and Empatheatre co-founder Dr. Dylan McGarry. It’s supported by The Baxter, the Stockholm Resilience Centre, and the Unruly Natures research project. This isn’t just a performance – it’s a conversation. UNRULY has been widely praised for its layered exploration of human-animal relationships, the ecology of the Cape Peninsula, and the politics of space, place, and species. Previous tours included shows for baboon-visited neighbourhoods, conservationists, and schools. It has earned three Fleur du Cap Theatre Award nominations, including: Best Theatre Production Best Solo Performance (Andrew Buckland) Best Sound/Music (Chantal Willie-Petersen) Selected performances (Saturday 19 and Saturday 26 July, 14:30) will include facilitated post-show dialogues led by co-creator Dr. Dylan McGarry. These sessions offer audience members a chance to unpack the research behind the production and share their perspectives on the entangled lives of humans and wildlife. Catch UNRULY at The Baxter Studio from 17 July to 2 August. Expect a jazz-infused, emotionally charged journey that blends live music, powerful storytelling, and ecological inquiry into a theatrical experience unlike any other. Written by Neil Coppen in collaboration with Andrew Buckland and Dr Dylan McGarry Inspired by research undertaken by Johan Enqvist (Researcher and project leader for Unruly Natures), Luke Metelerkamp (researcher for Unruly Natures project) and Kinga Psiuk (Junior Researcher in the Unruly Natures project) Direction – Neil Coppen Design – Dylan McGarry Actor Andrew Buckland Musician Chantal Willie-Petersen Original score by Braam Du Toit & Chantal Willie-Petersen. Sound Design Tristan HortoTheatre That Speaks to Today – and Listens
Double bass, drama and dialogue unite in a powerful exploration of nature, humanity, and jazz
Jazz, Justice, and Ecology Intertwined
Post-Show Dialogues – Join the Conversation
Experience UNRULY
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