Pieter-Dirk Uys turns 80: a tribute with two iconic productions
– Cape Times, 4 September 2025
THE Artscape Theatre, in partnership with the Suidoosterfees arts festival, honours South African theatre icon, satirist and social activist Pieter-Dirk Uys’ 80th birthday with a double bill of his work this month.
The celebrations are supported by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Cape Town.
From September 10 to 20, audiences can experience No Space on Long Street, directed by Basil Appollis and starring Terence Bridgett, followed by African Times, directed by Thoko Ntshinga and starring Nosiphiwo Ndabeni, Olwethu Qavile, Busisiwe Mrubata and Sunny Yoon.
In No Space on Long Street, Bridgett transforms into a vivid range of boisterous and fabulous characters from Cape Town’s legendary Space Theatre era — the pulsating soul of drama, dance, comedy, puppetry and political resistance in the 1970s and 80s. The one-man show is a heartfelt salute to Long Street itself and the people who lived and worked there.
African Times is a sharp, contemporary exploration of South Africa’s democracy, following senior cabinet minister Dr MZ Nkosi and his daughter Karabo as they return from a sanctions-busting visit to Beijing. Confronting political nostalgia, prejudice and the harsh truths of a changing world, the Nkosi family must face the struggle ahead.
Pieter-Dirk Uys, known internationally for his fearless satire and his alter ego Evita Bezuidenhout, has spent decades challenging South Africans to laugh, think and confront uncomfortable truths. His accolades include the TMSA Naledi Lifetime Achiever Award, the Berlin International Film Festival Special Teddy Award, the Hertzog Prize for drama, and honorary doctorates from Rhodes University, UCT and the UWC.
Born in 1945 in Cape Town, Pieter-Dirk Uys has spent decades using humour to challenge fear and ignorance. Rising to prominence in theatre, he became known for bold political and social commentary. During apartheid, he was a fearless critic of the regime, using satire to expose its absurdities. His most famous creation, Evita Bezuidenhout, evolved from lampooning apartheid to becoming a symbol of post-apartheid South Africa.
Uys’s work spans stage, film and activism, earning him a special place in the hearts of South Africans. As he turns 80, he remains active, tackling social issues with empathy and wit.