The Beta Man Alphabet challenges us to confront the bully and to find the courage to be authentically ourselves. This intimate one-person show, written and performed by David Schmidt and directed by Sophie Jones, takes us on a journey through the generational dictionary – the A to Z of our South African time.
Through storytelling, spoken word and song, the performance explores the power of words to wound and to heal. It interrogates the banal cruelty of racism, the courage and the pain of 1980’s political struggles, the intimate miracles of South Africa’s democratic transition, the blessings of friendship, family and community and to the current global ruptures where what once seemed solid disintegrates into quicksand.
As the country grapples with its changes, the performer untangles his own voice, navigating the echoes of his upbringing, the expectations of his demanding father and the slow, sometimes painful work of trying to be a good man. It is a story about shame and cowardice, about the ambiguity of identity and about finding strength in kindness. Raw, poignant, honest and sometimes disarmingly funny, The Beta Man Alphabet is a heartfelt exploration of inter-generational legacy and the messy beauty of being human in a fractured, yet hopeful world.
Production Credits
Written and performed by David Schmidt
Directed by Sophie Joans
About the Artists
Writer and Performer: David Schmidt
David Schmidt lives in Cape Town and divides his time between public policy, teaching ethics and leadership, and avoiding the stage—until now. He was immersed in the political struggles of the 1980’s and had a frontline seat in some of South Africa’s transition moments. Between a career trying to make public services work better and bridging the divides of politics and domestic bliss, he has always been a latent performer—a satirical songwriter and poet. He has a Master’s in Creative Writing and has been published locally and abroad without incident. This is his first time performing a show, unless one counts parenthood, which he does not. Having quietly avoided the spotlight for years, he is now putting himself in it. There may be no turning back.
Director: Sophie Joans
Sophie Joans is a clown, comedian, theatre-maker and trouble-maker with a passion for live performance. Her debut solo show, ÎLE, received enormous acclaim, both at home and internationally, winning the Gold Standard Bank Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival in 2022 and was one of 5 nominees for the Filipa Bragança Award for Best Solo Female Performers at Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 (out of 3800 shows). She’s played Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Maynardville, and The Imp in Brett Bailey’s Summer Night’s Dream. She co-wrote & performed in puppet show, Ka-Boom, which was awarded UNIMA SA’s Incubation Prize. Her two clown shows AÏo (directed by Aldo Brincat) and ÜÜÜ (directed by Rob Van Vuuren), were experimental. That’s all she’ll say about that. When she’s not performing, Sophie loves teaching and regularly facilitates storytelling and writing workshops with Spark in the Dark, and weekly clown workshops at Clown Town.
- Venue: Gymnasium
- Location: Victoria Girl's High School
- Ticket price: ZAR 120.00
- Programme type: The Fringe
- Genre: Theatre
- Duration: 75 minutes
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Ages:
12+
