The Moth
by Paul Herzberg
27 October to 21 November
Finborough Theatre
118 Finborough Road
London, SW10 9ED
The Moth’s London Premiere is presented by Elysium Theatre Company and Andy Jordan Productions in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre. Directed by Jake Murray.
About The Moth
A chance meeting on a train between John, a Black British journalist, and Marius, a White South African ex-soldier, sets in motion an escalating chain of events that reshapes their lives over the next thirty years – as John withholds forgiveness and Marius becomes increasingly obsessed with seeking it.
Finally, before the nation’s television cameras, they face each other to confront the past and lay bare their conflicting truths.Inspired by a true story, The Moth is a gripping new play that speaks directly to our times – a psychological thriller of memory, race, war, trauma, the legacy of Apartheid and the limits of forgiveness…
Originally developed from a ten-minute video monologue which has since had over 30,000 views, it was selected for 26 festivals across the world, winning the Kwanzaa Film Festival Best Monologue Award in New York City. The stage version took the North by storm on tour in 2025, playing to packed houses at venues including Live Theatre Newcastle, the Lowry Salford and Shakespeare North in Liverpool, it received rave reviews, and won actor Micky Cochrane the award for Best Performance at the North-East Culture Theatre Awards for his portrayal of Marius.
The Moth includes a brief cameo by Bridgerton star, Adjoa Andoh as the voice of John Josana’s mother, Joy.
Drawing on his experiences as a white South African growing up under apartheid, including his conscription into the military, Playwright Paul Herzberg explores the lasting impact of the system and the difficult questions it raises about responsibility, memory and forgiveness. “The Moth looks at racism through the eyes of two men in the present, who are forced to confront their troubled past after a chance encounter. It explores the nature of forgiveness: What it really is; Who has the right to confer it; Whether it has any meaning in the context of human progress.”
More information about The Moth at Finborough – including travel and accessibilty
The Moth – Photography by Victoria Wai.
Press on 2025 UK Northern Tour of The Moth
‘Evocative and as deeply human as it is disturbing… A sure sign of a remarkable and powerful play is that it stays with you long after the curtain call. Like a moth, this play will linger and flutter in your mind.’ ★★★★★ Northern Arts Review
‘I have never been kept on the edge of my seat so literally – worth every minute.’ Crack Magazine
‘A political thriller which directly confronts its darkness… A piece of theatre which lodges itself deep inside you, demanding reckoning long after the evening is over.’ ★★★★★ The Palatinate
‘A poignant reflection on race, war, history and identity… gripping, stellar performances by Faz Singhateh and Mickey Cochrane.’ ★★★★★ Love Manchester
John played by Faz Singhateh – Photography by Victoria Wai.
Marius played by Mickey Cochrane – Photography by Victoria Wai.
The Anti-Apartheid Legacy Centre is delighted to be supporting The Moth, working with the creative team to co-programme a series of post-performance discussions exploring the history of the anti-apartheid struggle, its legacies and its continuing relevance today.
Bringing together former anti-apartheid activists, artists, writers and experts from a range of fields, these conversations will offer audiences an opportunity to reflect on the themes of the production and explore the wider historical and contemporary issues it raises.
Post-performance discussions
- Thursday 29 October: Lord Peter Hain, former anti-apartheid campaign leader, Labour Cabinet Minister, author and trustee of the Anti-Apartheid Legacy Centre.
- Thursday 5 November: Dr Angela Kennedy, psychologist and former NHS director with extensive experience of working with the consequences of abuse and trauma; Vincent Ebrahim, award-winning actor with credits including the National Theatre, RSC, Royal Court and the South African film Material; and Gavin Evans, journalist, lecturer, broadcaster and author of Skin Deep: Dispelling the Science of Race and White Supremacy: From Eugenics to Great Replacement.
- Thursday 12 November: Lela Kogbara, former Anti-Apartheid Movement activist and co-founder and former Director of Black Thrive Global; and John Battersby, journalist, former editor and foreign correspondent for The New York Times and The Christian Science Monitor, and former Chair of the Canon Collins Educational and Legal Assistance Trust.
- Thursday 19 November: Allan Leas, playwright, human rights advocate, photographer and documentary filmmaker; and malakaï sargeant, Operations & Development Manager at the Anti-Apartheid Legacy Centre, multidisciplinary artist, curator and arts producer, joining the cast and director Jake Murray.
Performances and Tickets
The Moth runs from 27 October to 21 November 2026, with evening performances Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm and matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm. Running time is approximately two hours, including an interval.
Tickets range from £20 to £29, with concessions available (£18–£27), with additional discounts for under-30s, local residents and groups. Preview evenings 27 and 28 October are now sold out.
Schools attending the production can also arrange a talk with playwright Paul Herzberg. Please contact us at info@antiapartheidlegacy.org.uk to enquire.
