Eleanor, an unassuming, young single mother is arrested at Griggs Bookstore where she works in Durban and taken for questioning. The police are on the hunt for her lover, the notorious “terrorist”, Red Ronnie Kasrils. She finds herself detained under the 90-day detention act and brutally interrogated. They will “break her or hang her”. Written and directed by award winning actor and playwright, Paul du Toit and based on the Alan Paton Award winning book by Ronnie Kasrils, The Unlikely Secret Agent tells a true story of bravery and hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

It’s 1963, South Africa. The country is on a knife edge. Political protest, sabotage and violence has engulfed the country. Government forces of the Apartheid regime, under Hendrik Verwoerd, brutally suppress resistance. Under the State of Emergency, the feared Special Branch of the police arrest anyone suspected of being involved in underground activities. Ronnie is wanted for his involvement in a string of sabotage bombings of electricity pylons, the Durban post office and the offices of the Special Branch. There is no point in her resisting, the police “know everything”. But do they really? Eleanor is keeping a secret. She is a clandestine agent for the Underground ANC. But she must protect her comrades and Ronnie. She makes the daring decision to fake a nervous breakdown in order to be transferred to a psychiatric institution. From there, she begins to plot her escape.

What the audience has had to say :

“Great script, high quality cast, an important story and a moving experience. Thank you.”

“Brilliant acting, highly recommend it, a must see!”

“It was a great story line with the most phenomenal acting. Thank you for a really great experience. I am recommending it to everyone.” Congratulations to everyone involved in the production of this historic piece of theatre. It’s a gem. – Ira

The show was fantastic. The storyline was powerful. I was amazed how so much history and background made it into the story and stage. The acting was top tier, I mean the moving in and out of different characters was something to behold. What a show! Bravo. – Lonwabo

Read more about it on the Cape Robyn's website The Cape Robyn and Broadway World ReviewBroadway World Review

Copies of The Unlikely Secret Agent by Ronnie Kassrils will be on sale in the foyer at a cost of R240 (cash)

Creative Team: Paul Du Toit - Has recently performed in Two to Tango at the Drama Factory as well as the NAF in Makhanda. He has won both a Naledi and Fleur de Cap award for his performance in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, as well as a Fiesta for best actor in Melk en Vleis. Erika Marais - Has performed her one woman show Jam Every Other Day, at the Drama Factory and NAF Makhanda in 2018, as well as Your Perfect Life at the Drama Factory,Alexander Bar and 44 on Long Street and won a Standard Ovation Award in 2019. Hannes Coetzee -is currently the Head of Culture and HOD for Drama at Curro Hermanus Independent School, and has previously worked in commercial and corporate events management.

Audience Responses

Another 5 star production at Drama Factory, thank you Sue. It was superbly staged and gripping from start to finish.

I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, performance and technical execution of this performance. Thank you for taking me on a journey. Thank you for the Drama Factory for making a space for people to tell their stories. I will be back.

Show was great, well acted and throughly enjoyed. The email I received confirming my booked tickets did not have bank details on it for ne to do an eft, so we had to pay at the door. In future please email the bank details with booking confirmation. Thanks

Show was great, well acted and throughly enjoyed. The email I received confirming my booked tickets did not have bank details on it for ne to do an eft, so we had to pay at the door. In future please email the bank details with booking confirmation. Thanks

Show was great, well acted and throughly enjoyed. The email I received confirming my booked tickets did not have bank details on it for ne to do an eft, so we had to pay at the door. In future please email the bank details with booking confirmation. Thanks

Show was great, well acted and throughly enjoyed. The email I received confirming my booked tickets did not have bank details on it for ne to do an eft, so we had to pay at the door. In future please email the bank details with booking confirmation. Thanks

Show was great, well acted and throughly enjoyed. The email I received confirming my booked tickets did not have bank details on it for ne to do an eft, so we had to pay at the door. In future please email the bank details with booking confirmation. Thanks

Show was great, well acted and throughly enjoyed. The email I received confirming my booked tickets did not have bank details on it for ne to do an eft, so we had to pay at the door. In future please email the bank details with booking confirmation. Thanks

Show was great, well acted and throughly enjoyed. The email I received confirming my booked tickets did not have bank details on it for ne to do an eft, so we had to pay at the door. In future please email the bank details with booking confirmation. Thanks

Show was great, well acted and throughly enjoyed. The email I received confirming my booked tickets did not have bank details on it for ne to do an eft, so we had to pay at the door. In future please email the bank details with booking confirmation. Thanks

Show was great, well acted and throughly enjoyed. The email I received confirming my booked tickets did not have bank details on it for ne to do an eft, so we had to pay at the door. In future please email the bank details with booking confirmation. Thanks

Show was great, well acted and throughly enjoyed. The email I received confirming my booked tickets did not have bank details on it for ne to do an eft, so we had to pay at the door. In future please email the bank details with booking confirmation. Thanks

Show was great, well acted and throughly enjoyed. The email I received confirming my booked tickets did not have bank details on it for ne to do an eft, so we had to pay at the door. In future please email the bank details with booking confirmation. Thanks

Show was great, well acted and throughly enjoyed. The email I received confirming my booked tickets did not have bank details on it for ne to do an eft, so we had to pay at the door. In future please email the bank details with booking confirmation. Thanks

brilliant

It was phenomenal. Educational and insightful in the most capturing way. I wish more of our Amoyo students could watch it and the three students who attended said they loved how it was done in a way that wasn’t boring! Lol. It really opened their eyes to a lot about Apartheid that they didn’t know -in fact we all felt the same way. World class performance and brilliantly produced. Thank you so much

Oustanding! Cleverly told with brilliant cast and acting.

Absolutely captivating performance! Brilliant production and use of props. Superb change of characters. Erica was amazing

Absolutely brilliant acting.loved it.each and every actor was amazing.Thank you

Excellent on the whole, and the venue is perfect. The script is a tad too long and would benefit from pruning to avoid self-indulgence

Excellent on the whole, and the venue is perfect. The script is a tad too long and would benefit from pruning to avoid self-indulgence

Acting, staging and writing were superb.

The performance was amazing, some technical difficulties but overall was a fantastic show.

The cast were excellent rspecially the leading lady

Excellent acting, but script became a bit too repetitious in second half of performance, i.e. interrogation of Eleonor. But it was broken up well, with bits of flashback. Otherwise, well done!

fantastic show. loved the diversity of the all the actors and that this piece is highlighting an important part of south african history. my only criticism is to do with the projections... they are hard to see when projected into a corner and sometimes too small to give proper effect in the prison scenes.

fantastic show. loved the diversity of the all the actors and that this piece is highlighting an important part of south african history. my only criticism is to do with the projections... they are hard to see when projected into a corner and sometimes too small to give proper effect in the prison scenes.

Excellent play - strong cast, great writing, cleverly structured. And a treat to be back in a theatre!

Excellent play - strong cast, great writing, cleverly structured. And a treat to be back in a theatre!

Excellent play - strong cast, great writing, cleverly structured. And a treat to be back in a theatre!

Excellent play - strong cast, great writing, cleverly structured. And a treat to be back in a theatre!

Such an excellent production that had me on the edge of my seat from the moment it started. Brilliant use of the stage, beautiful lighting and sound design, such intelligent direction and above all an incredible cast. The way each of the men jumped so seamlessly to each character was utterly entrancing to behold. I loved that theybdisnt need to change any costume really except their voice, physicality and just the intensity of their performance. So so good and then lastly, but not least at all, there was Erica, holding her own in all this insanely talented group and was such a beautiful constant. One almost forgot it was a play due to her realness and all the while embodying such joy when happy, honesty in all the sincere sections and natural fear with each scene change and snippet being delivered in the story. Utterly brilliant show and retelling of such brave humans who fought for equality in our country. They would be so proud, as am I. I'm so happy I could enjoy such top notch theatre especially in these stressful times. I was entertained and I was entranced and transported to another world. Thank you to the cast and creative team and Sue for bringing this to an audience. All the best for the final performance today. 10 stars.

Really enjoyed the show - intriguing story, great script with seamless movement between the different scenes, enjoyed the characterisation and great switching between the characters and a lovely love story.

Really enjoyed the show, and a good reminder for us South Africans, of where we have come from!

A must-see piece of theatre!

An exceptional show!! I was expecting something a little heavy going but it was hugely entertaining, fun and really well acted. I couldn’t recommend it more highly x

An exceptional show!! I was expecting something a little heavy going but it was hugely entertaining, fun and really well acted. I couldn’t recommend it more highly x

Brilliant. Not to be missed.

What a wonderful theatre experience! Great storyline and superb acting. Big applause! Anene

I’ve watched theatre all over the world, including London and New York … and the Unlikely Secret Agent is one of the best productions I’ve ever seen. Encore, encore!

It was a brilliant play and superbly acted. You really have found some gems for us Sue. I think that the people who didn't bother to book again after the Covid debacle missed a gem. Love, Genevieve

It was a brilliant play and superbly acted. You really have found some gems for us Sue. I think that the people who didn't bother to book again after the Covid debacle missed a gem. Love, Genevieve

It was a brilliant play and superbly acted. You really have found some gems for us Sue. I think that the people who didn't bother to book again after the Covid debacle missed a gem. Love, Genevieve

The play was absolutely outstanding. It should be taken to London!

Brilliant 5 stars!

Brilliant 5 stars!

An excellent production of a difficult story. Well acted- excellent pace with smatterings of light hearted ness to ease the tensions

Haha, I did not see that show but I am looking forward to see The Unlikely Secret Agent Showing! Stay safe

I am in favour of thanks because I really want to attend it

Fistly my thanks to the Drama factory for a lovely venue. It has been too long since I have seen such a brillaint performance. This quility of productions are far and few. The actors were of world standard. Everything to the finest detail were faultless. Minimalistic yet there was a world on the stage. This play reminded me why I am so fond of the performing arts. It was interesting to get more detail on the hitory and happeings of that time that our older generation are just too familiar with. I found it to be acurate and my compliments to the Author/ director not to make one cringe at the horrid things that did happen, It was presented tastefull yet clear. However; my question is: how is this play still relevant today? What was it realy teaching the younger oudience? To learn from the past, to persevere in your beleives or to romatisize the planing of boms and that it will all be ok in he end? May this play get the oppertunities and eposure it deserves. May you go from "strenght to strenght."

Slightly confusing at the start with the actors playing multiple roles but actually brilliant. Followed the story in the book fairly closely which given the wide range of settings was remarkable. The multiple roles being acted was outstanding.

The actors and play were phenominal, the show wad quite extensive but one never felt bored, in fact with fast but reasonanle wit the record of the history was so well produced. Congrads with your Premiere...

Congratulations to everyone involved in the production of this historic piece of theatre. Its a gem.

An excellent performance. A clever delivery of character switching. While we live in a transformed South Africa we must not forget the sacrifices made by many.

Fabulous - great acting and story!

It was a great storyline with the most phenomenal acting. Thank you for a really great experience. I am recommending it to everyone 😊

It was a great storyline with the most phenomenal acting. Thank you for a really great experience. I am recommending it to everyone 😊

Brilliant acting ...highly recommend it ...a must see ?!!

Great script, high quality cast, an important story and a moving experience. Thank you.