Naledi Award-winning Peeling Shadows comes to UJ Bunting Theatre this May for a limited run.

UJ Arts & Culture, in collaboration with The 3rd Theatre Collective, presents Peeling Shadows, directed by Joël Leonard and Sinenhlanhla Prince Mgeyi. The production is driven by a tightly controlled visual language, where live illustration, shadow theatre, and physical performance converge to construct images that shift, dissolve, and reconfigure in real time. Each scene is assembled with precision, placing equal emphasis on how the story is formed and what is revealed.

At the centre of this work is Pamela Jack, a disgraced former detective navigating the collapse of her professional credibility while investigating a corruption case tied to the notorious Gumede family, a wealthy and famously corrupt family that has evaded Pamela’s grasp and justice for many years. On the day of resignation from the South African Police Force, her path intersects with Boang, a mysterious and silent child whose presence disrupts the logic of the investigation into the notorious Gumede family and introduces knowledge far beyond Pamela’s expertise. Their encounter redirects the trajectory of the case, opening access to a realm of shadows in the now abandoned former residence of the Gumede family that exposes the true extent of their crimes and with the help of Boang, Pamela Jack finally tracks down and find these evasive criminals.

The production draws its urgency from the conditions it reflects in modern South Africa. Questions of accountability, institutional failure, and ethical responsibility are embedded within the story, speaking directly to ongoing public discourse in South Africa’s law enforcement and judicial systems.

Without positioning itself as advocacy, the work aligns with broader cultural efforts toward justice, transparency, and social awareness. It echoes a call for accountability and redemption for communities affected by corruption, using slapstick, shadow theatre, comedy, and illustration to entertain while informing. Its engagement is deliberate, inviting audiences to confront these realities through a comedic, experimental, and thought-provoking experience.

Presented in partnership with the University of Johannesburg, the production forms part of a continued focus on strengthening theatre programming and building sustained audiences for drama. The UJ Bunting Theatre, a 180-seat venue, offers an intimate setting that places the audience in close proximity to the work, heightening detail and immediacy.

The collective behind the production emerged from the Kwasha! Theatre Company incubation programme in 2020. Peeling Shadows was originally devised and performed by Wonder Ndlovu, Sboniso Thombeni, Mosehlana Mamaregane, Upile Bongco, Dintshitile Mashile, and Joël Leonard, under the mentorship of Sinenhlanhla Prince Mgeyi. Since then, the collective has continued to build a body of work across local and international platforms, including the National Arts Festival. With a new cast and an invigorated approach, Peeling Shadows extends this trajectory, bringing an award-recognised work into a tightly framed theatrical environment.

Performance Details

Dates & Times
19–23 May 2026 (Week 1)
Tue–Fri | 19:00
Sat | 15:00 & 19:00

26–30 May 2026 (Week 2)
Tue–Fri | 19:00
Sat | 15:00 & 19:00

For any queries please contact dubep@uj.ac.za
Tickets are available via Quicket

Ticket Link: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/361888-peeling-shadows/?ref=organiser-profile#/

Venue: UJ Bunting Theatre, Bunting Road Campus Duration: 60 minutes Languages: English, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi Age Restriction: 12+ Genre: Comedy *Find us on Google Maps*

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