Expelled A play

Expelled is a powerful and timely piece of theatre. Rosalind Butler tackles urgent issues
such as rape culture in all-boys schools, the enabling of harmful behaviour by families and
institutions, and the devastating consequences of placing status and success above the
wellbeing of children. The play beautifully portrays the tensions between justice, loyalty,
reputation and truth. Rooted in a distinctly South African reality, the play is both compelling
and unsettling, raising important questions that demand reflection and conversation that
stays with you.
— Aubrey Sekhabi, playwright, director and artistic director of the South African State
Theatre
Expelled does not off er easy answers. It challenges us to examine the values we uphold,
the institutions we glorify, and the ways in which we participate, knowingly or otherwise, in
elitist cultures that harm as much as they entrench.
— Greg Homann, Artistic Director of The Market Theatre
A matric schoolboy’s viral scandal at an elite school ignites a digital wildfi re,
shattering his powerful family in the ruthless world of social media.
Expelled is an award-winning drama-comedy that unfolds over an explosive week in a
privileged South African family.
Lou and Rich have staked everything on their son Alex: he has a place at an elite
boys’ school, is popular and on the fi rst rugby team. His status seems untouchable
until a reckless moment with the wrong friends is caught on camera and goes viral.
Overnight, reputations shatter, secrets erupt and the family fractures.Teenage
impulsiveness spirals into betrayal, social media chaos and wrenching choices –
where career, status and business deals outweigh parental loyalty.
With razor-sharp dialogue, punchy scenes, and innovative multimedia projections,
Expelled delivers a fast, easy-to-stage takedown of toxic masculinity and entitlement in
elite schools. It explores the terror of a viral moment and the desperate drive to protect
the perfect image.
Darkly funny one minute, heartbreaking the next, it’s a story that every teenager,
parent and teacher will recognise.