Her of Perfidy, a new production written and directed by Louis Viljoen and starring Emily Child (pictured), will run at the newly opened Antique Theatre & Bar from 10 to 28 November 2026.
The play follows a woman confronting a peculiar devil within herself. As she navigates the isolation of her life, she is drawn into questions of desire, betrayal, revelation and unrealised potential. The story explores the uneasy territory between what we want, what we conceal and what we might become. And, as the suggestion of poetry written in blood indicates, this is not an entirely conventional journey of self-discovery.
A seventh collaboration
Her of Perfidy marks the seventh collaboration between actor Emily Child and playwright and director Louis Viljoen. The pair have previously worked together on productions including The Emissary, The Hucksters, The Vulgarians and The Pervert Laura, establishing a working relationship that has produced several acclaimed plays.
This production takes their collaboration in a new direction: it is their first one-person play together. With Child carrying the performance alone, the production places particular emphasis on a single character’s perspective and the demands of sustaining a story through one performer. For both artists, the format presents an opportunity to explore new creative territory.
Designed for an intimate space
Designer Kieran McGregor, another regular collaborator of Viljoen’s, is responsible for the production’s visual environment. His previous designs include The Vulgarians and The Killing of a Union Leader. For Her of Perfidy, his work will contribute to the atmosphere and physical setting of the play, complementing its exploration of the character’s inner world.
The Antique, an independent and intimate theatre and bar, offers a close-up experience of the performance, placing the audience near the action and allowing the details of Child’s delivery and the play’s construction to take centre stage.
Running for approximately 60 minutes, Her of Perfidy combines a solo performance with Viljoen’s writing and direction and McGregor’s design. Its focus on isolation, desire and betrayal offers audiences a character study that examines what can emerge when a person is forced to confront the darker corners of her own life.
What: Her of Perfidy
Where and when: The Antique Theatre & Bar, Kloof Street, Cape Town from 10 to 28 November 2026
Tickets: The Antique
WS
