Love Me, Feed Me, Never Leave Me is back! This hilarious and heartfelt look at the modern world of dating recieved a Blue Standard Bank Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival in 2025 and is back to thrill and amuse audiences once again!
From awkward first dates to emotional breakdowns, new dads to not-so-faithful partners, this fast-paced series of scenes dives into the messy, magical world of relationships. It’s a light-hearted play with heavy-hearted conversations - funny, relatable, and painfully honest. If you’ve ever swiped right, cried over an ex, or questioned everything over dinner... this one’s for you.
"A witty and poignant play, tracing dating scenarios. It is a rom-com with benefits of excellent writing. The writing is heart stopping. Impressive script. It is young and fun sure, but also smart, poignant - and tender. The ensemble cast is terrific." - The Cape Robyn
"Love me, Feed me, Never Leave me is a theatre production for the practical, the saucy, and those who wear their hearts on their sleeves. The four brilliant artists effortlessly present the complexities of dating in our time as they swing from one scenario to another. The hilarious and gripping writing allows the actors to relate intimately with the audience." - Tanya Maswaure (Cue Magazine)
"A hopeless romantic's dream show, a broken heart's empathetic response, and a lost soul's reality check-- Love me, Feed me, Never Leave me is for all those who journey in this wild, wild west, we call the dating world!" - Cue Magazine
Production Credits
Directed by: Emma Amber
Written by: Emma Amber
Starring: Anja Taljaard, Emma Amber, Ethan Saunders and Kamogelo Mhlantla
Set and lighting by: Emma Amber and Harley Ferguson
About the Artists
Emma Amber - Writer, Director and actress
Emma Amber is the founder of Origen Productions and a Fleur du Cap-nominated director for The Marvelous Wonderettes, in which she also performed the role of Cindy Lou, touring across South Africa.
Her play Love Me, Feed Me, Never Leave Me, which she wrote and directed, received an Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival 2025.
Most recently she wrote and performed in 'You Should Go In' at the Baxter Masambe where the play recieved rave reviews. She wrote and directed 'Trial and Error', which was staged at the Baxter Masambe Theatre in 2024. Recent performance credits include ‘Fiona’ in Byron Bure’s ‘Shrek the Musical’ (2025) and ‘Cindy Lou’ in ‘The Jingle Belles’ at Daphne Kuhn’s Theatre on the Square.(2025).
Anja Taljaard - Actress
Award-winning Cape Town actress, voice-over artist, and vocalist Anja Taljaard brings depth and nuance to any role she steps into.
She has achieved significant success in South African film, earning a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for ‘Juffrou X’ at the Silwerskerm Festival and winning Best Actress at the South African Independent Film Festival for her performance in ‘Hier’.
Her additional film credits include ‘Nicola’ in ‘Khaki Fever’, ‘Evie’ in ‘Glasshouse’, ‘Henda’ in ‘Niggies’, and more.
Anja was also part of the Ovation Award-winning run of Love Me, Feed Me, Never Leave Me at the National Arts Festival, as well as its Cape Town and Johannesburg runs and is excited to be back in the world of this modern dating play.
Ethan Saunders - Actor
Ethan is a versatile actor trained at The Byron Bure Academy of Arts. He has has a strong background as a film actor, having worked on international franchises such as 'How to make a killing' with Glen Powell, Tubi's 'Killer body count' and Malcolm Venvill's 'Churchhill at war'.
His recent theatre credits include 'Lord Farquaad' in Byron Bure's 'Shrek the musical' (2025) 'Detective Oppenheimer' in Michaela Richards' 'Who done did it' (2025) and 'Simon' in 'Trial and Error' by Emma Amber. (2024)
Kamogelo Mhlantla - Actor
Kamogelo Mhlantla is an AFDA graduate with a strong passion for acting and storytelling. His most notable work includes The Year of the Bicycle (2022–2023), in which he played Andile under the direction of Dara Beth - a production that received multiple awards and critical recognition.
In 2025, he wrote and starred in Solitude, directed by Qondiswa James, which was performed at Theatre Arts and the National Arts Festival. The production was praised by Cape Robyn for its excellent writing.
He is excited to return to the National Arts Festival with his own work, while also stepping into the role of Sincere Guy in Love Me, Feed Me, Never Leave Me, and being part of the Spark in the Dark team.
Trailer
Publicity Info
- Venue: Masonic Front
- Location: Freemasons Hall
- Ticket price: ZAR 120.00
- Ticket price: ZAR 129.00
- Programme type: The Fringe
- Genre: Theatre
- Duration: 80 minutes
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Ages:
14+
