We are delighted to see ‘Unruly’ come back to the stage in just a couple of weeks. After its three Fleur du Cap nominations, Empatheatre’s powerful story will now has its own run independently of this research project, at the Baxter Theatre. With two tours around the Cape Peninsula under its belt, including special performances with high school students, baboon rangers, and key stakeholders, this production has really grown into something special and we are really proud to see it stand on its own and reach wider audiences. Hats off to Mr. Andrew Buckland, Ms. Chantal Willie-Petersen, and of course Empatheatre’s Neil Coppen and Dylan McGarry!
If you haven’t caught the show already, it is a really unique production that explores the intricate dynamics of human-baboon interactions in the Cape Peninsula through a captivating performance that tenderly and rigorously tends to human and animal politics. Previous community shows have been followed by facilitated discussions, which has generated very valuable insights for our research (currently in review to be published – more on this soon). The upcoming show will not be part of the research, but the Saturday matinées will have an opportunity to stay behind after the performance for a short discussion. These will also be attended by at least one member of the Unruly Natures research team.
To book your tickets, please visit https://baxter.uct.ac.za/events/unruly.
PS. Please also keep an eye out for an upcoming post from our recently graduated MSc student Alice van Veen, about her thesis on baboon rangers’ role as urban wildlife stewards!
Unruly Natures Project 
Good day
I read with interest that ‘Unruly’ is coming to the Baxter Theatre.
I read it with a heavy heart as there are plans by the Baboon Joint Task Team to move out many of our baboon troops, whatever ‘move out’ means.
I feel that there is not the will in the south peninsula to move towards a consensus on the baboon situation and lack of flexibility from both opposing camps will ultimately lead to a bad outcome for the baboons.
Many people in Simon’s Town where I live would be perfectly happy if the baboon troop was removed and would turn a blind eye to their fate. They are just fed up of being scared of the baboons and having to be constantly vigilant or they can find the baboons have got in and trashed their kitchen. The people who are most scared are those with young children or dogs and they have my sympathy. Unfortunately, those who care about the baboons intransigently refuse to hear and acknowledge the fear of the other camp. In fact, both sides say that the other side does not listen.
We did have a group of facilitators who under the auspices of the Civic Association put in a valiant amount of hard work to achieve a consensus position that we could take to the City but they failed. I put this down to their losing their impartiality over time.
I am on the side of those who wish the baboons to remain in our area and believe that if we managed our waste and managed the baboons we could live side by side. However, those who care about the baboons would, I think, reject any culling of baboons who are really causing terror for some people by wrenching out window frames or sliding doors. I would support such culling.
All along, when anyone has asked if the baboons can be relocated, the answer from experts and authorities has ALWAYS been that there is nowhere for them to go so we are very suspicious when the authorities say they will be taken elsewhere and wonder if in the end they will all be killed. If that happens, it will be a real indictment of our society and its failure to manage human-wildlife relations and the arrogant, misguided belief that human interests must always come first and humans are not obliged to adjust their behaviour or be inconvenienced in any way. It is not easy for humans and wildlife to co-exist but it is a challenge worth devoting time and energy to, especially when we are talking about animals like baboons that are unaggressive towards humans. (If they were aggressive, they would have been wiped out years ago.)
I would like to watch this show again but I don’t think I could bear to watch it without some acknowledgement at the performance of what the situation is on the Cape Town south peninsula and how under threat the baboon troops are.
Best wishes
Judy Scott-Goldman
Dear Judy,
Thank you for sharing your reflections, and for showing sympathy for different people’s experiences of the baboon situation. We are aware of the recent developments and the proposals regarding certain baboon troops, and understand that it is a difficult time for many. In our research, the vast majority of residents oppose euthanasia, and even relocation is a divisive issue. That doesn’t mean that we can say whether either is a suitable management method, only that they are likely to be opposed by many or most residents.
I will forward your message to Empatheatre. I don’t think the play itself will be changed at this point, but they might very well want to acknowledge the current situation in some way ahead of the performance.
Kind regards,
Johan Enqvist
Dear Judy,
Just to add to my previous message. Neil and Dylan at Empatheatre wanted me to thank you and let you know that they really appreciated your comment. They are working on a way to acknowledge the current situation in the upcoming performances, to make sure the play stays relevant and sensitive to the ongoing difficulties.
Warm wishes,
Johan