UJ Arts & Culture in partnership with POPArt Productions, present the acclaimed theatre production Text Me When You Arrive at the UJ Arts Centre. Staff are encouraged to invite and accompany students to this free art-for-social-change initiative, which centres student wellbeing, safety, and critical reflection within a South African context that is both urgent and familiar.
The performances will take place on 26 and 27 February 2026 at 17:00 at the UJ Arts Centre.
In a society where everyday movement often requires caution — from the routes we choose to travel to the messages we send when arriving safely — Text Me When You Arrive speaks powerfully to the shared realities many women are compelled to navigate.
Created and performed by Aaliyah Zama Matintela, Sibahle Mangena and Thuli Nduvane, and directed by Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi, the production blends physical theatre, satire, and audience engagement to examine the unwritten “rules” women learn, inherit, and observe in the name of safety. These codes, shaped by social behaviour, digital culture, and deeply embedded psychological patterns, are explored not as abstract ideas but as lived daily negotiations.
Without offering simplistic answers, the work invites audiences to sit with discomfort, recognition, and shared responsibility. Rooted in the lived experience and collective inquiry of its creators, the production pays tribute to girls and women who have lost their lives to gender-based violence, while interrogating why the burden of safety so often rests on women themselves. Originally developed through a research-informed creative process at the Market Theatre Laboratory, the work has since toured POPArt Theatre, Ramolao Makhene Theatre, festivals, schools, and corporate venues.
It has been described as “witty, punchy and hard-hitting,” engaging audiences through humour while confronting deeply unsettling truths. As one reviewer notes, it “changes the way you look at the world as you navigate your way home.”
Critically acclaimed for its sharp theatrical language and emotional resonance, Text Me When You Arrive has been described as “witty, punchy and hard-hitting,” with reviewers noting its ability to engage audiences through humour while confronting deeply unsettling truths. As one review puts it, the work “changes the way you look at the world as you navigate your way home.”
Facilitated Post-Performance Discussion
Each performance will be followed by a facilitated post-performance discussion, creating a safe and structured space for reflection, dialogue, and support. The discussion aims to deepen engagement with the themes of gender-based violence, accountability, and community care, and to connect students and staff with relevant campus support resources.
Performances
Performance 1 (FULLY BOOKED)
Date: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Time: 16h30 for 17h00
Performance 2 (FULLY BOOKED)
Date: Friday, 27 February 2026
Time: 16h30 for 17h00
About UJ Arts & Culture
UJ Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (FADA) produces and presents world-class student and professional arts programmes aligned to the UJ vision of an international university of choice, anchored in Africa, dynamically shaping the future. A robust range of arts platforms are offered on all four UJ campuses for students, staff, alumni and the general public to experience and engage with emerging and established Pan-African and international artists drawn from the full spectrum of the arts. In addition to UJ Arts & Culture, FADA offers programmes in eight creative disciplines in art, design and architecture, as well as being home to the NRF SARChI Chair in South African Art and Visual Culture, and the Visual Identities in Art & Design Research Centre.
About the Creators
Performers, Aaliyah Zama Matintela, Sibahle Mangena and Thuli Nduvane are Johannesburg-based theatre makers and performers, and graduates of the Market Theatre Laboratory. Working through collaborative and research-informed processes, their work explores physical theatre, satire and socially engaged storytelling, with a focus on lived experience and contemporary South African realities.
Directed by Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi, a theatre maker, director and choreographer, the production reflects a shared commitment to theatre as a space for reflection, dialogue and care. Together, the creative team develops work that engages audiences through movement, humour and critical inquiry, creating performances that resonate beyond the theatre space.
About POPArt Productions
POPArt Productions is a 100% female-owned and operated company that has played a significant role in South Africa’s independent theatre landscape since 2011. Through its work as a producing entity and former theatre space, POPArt has staged over 500 independent productions and continues to support emerging artists through development platforms, mentorship and partnerships. POPArt Productions is committed to youth development and creative sustainability, with ongoing projects in collaboration with institutions such as the Market Theatre Laboratory and Yes4Youth.