Unruly

Unruly is a play by Neil Coppen, Andrew Buckland and Dylan McGarry.

Original text

This immersive storytelling performance, based on extensive academic and creative research, explores the coexistence of urban baboons and humans in the fictional town of Skemer Baai, where tensions rise following the mysterious disappearance of a baboon matriarch.

Performance history in South Africa

2024: Presented by Empatheatre on a tour of the Cape Peninsula in June, and again at the Baxter Theatre in November. Performed by Andrew Buckland.

2025: Presented by Empatheatre, in collaboration with The Baxter, the Stockholm Resilience Centre and the Unruly Natures research project at the Baxter Theatre (July - August). Directed by Neil Coppen, original score by Braam DuToit, with lighting design by Tina le Roux and set and costumes by Dylan McGarry. Performed by Andrew Buckland and double bassist Chantal Willie-Petersen.