In 1988 Andrew Buckland wrote and played in a one-man show, under the direction of his wife Janet, which changed the face of South African theatre.

The Ugly Noo Noo was acclaimed as a masterpiece of comic physical performance and an exceptional piece of political theatre. The play received a total of 17 national and international awards including a Fringe First and a Perrier Pick of the Fringe short listing from the Edinburgh Festival.

The Ugly Noo Noo tells the story of a man’s encounter with the notorious Parktown Prawn. Using sharp satirical commentary, an explosive performance style and a unique stage presence, this play takes the audience on an unforgettable journey through the compost heaps and dark underbelly of suburban life in the big city, and examines in side splitting comic detail the relationship between fear and power in our every day lives.

The extraordinary performance skills of Andrew Buckland and the power of the script make this an un-missable theatre event which will make you ‘howl with laughter at the sheer sensual pleasure of theatrical performance’ (Barry Ronge). More than thirty eight years later the play is as enthralling and as funny as it ever was.

Production Credits