After viewing a viral online video of a brutal homophobic attack in an unknown country, five men in their late twenties reflect on their experiences of growing up, grappling with their identities and confronting toxic masculinity in Cape Town, South Africa. The play then shifts its focus to a surprise birthday party for Mushfeeq, planned by his group of friends, where the presence of an unwanted guest creates friction and conflict. Through a series of uncomfortable truths, Mushfeeq must come to terms with his own biases and prejudices.
Following successful runs at various local festivals and Artscape Theatre, the critically acclaimed Please, don’t call me moffie is now available in print and includes never-before-staged Acts 2 and 3.
ISBN: 978-1-0671781-6-1
Publication date: September 2026
ZUBAYR CHARLES is a UCT Master’s in Creative Writing graduate and multi-disciplinary writer from Cape Town. He is known as the playwright and theatre-maker of hit plays such as Mercy, this bra’s a psycho, The Battered Housewives’ Club and Brasse, Tot Laat Toe. He was part of the Baxter Theatre’s How to Write a Musical Workshop under the mentorship of David Kramer in 2019, attended LitNet’s and The Jakes Gerwel Foundation’s Kommadagga Nonfiction and Short Story Writing Residency under the mentorship of Rachelle Greeff in 2020, and completed his Master’s in Creative Writing cum laude under the supervision of Imraan Coovadia in 2022 at UCT. His first novel, Haram, and his first poetry collection, the sad boy’s starter pack and other poems, were published in 2026.
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