South African actor and Australian Global Artistic Talent Visa recipient Ben Voss returns with his solo show Becoming Benno to Sandton Theatre on the Square from 17 – 28 September 2025.
Fresh from touring the show at the Adelaide International Festival, Durban, Grahamstown Festival and Cape Town, the production has already earned international praise, winning the Top Theatre Pick Award at the Adelaide International Arts Festival in Australia, Adelaide Fringe Top 5 Theatre show of the Festival and a Grahamstown Ovation Award.
At Sydney Airport, with his wife and child waiting anxiously at arrivals, Ben—a washed-up actor—is unexpectedly detained by immigration due to an issue with his Permanent Residency Visa. What was to be his first hour as an Australian becomes an hour of uncertainty…
As Ben oscillates between confidence that he’ll be admitted and panic at the possibility of rejection, he reflects on the challenges and emotions of moving countries. Armed with his 7kg hand luggage and a copy of Qantas Spirit of Australia magazine, he delves into themes of identity, family, and belonging, with humour and heartfelt insight.
At the heart of his musings lies a central question: Is he running from his old life or toward a new one?
While waiting, Ben encounters Mr. Brody, a meticulous Border Security officer; Arisha, a Mumbai resident visiting her Australian grandchild and Jared, a British cleaner.
Ben Voss shared: “I wanted to create a deeply personal piece of theatre to unpack the gamut of emotions that come with the three-year journey to residency. What better setting than a Border Force interrogation room—a no-man’s-land between an old and new life? The audience will be on the edge of their seats, wondering if this poor guy will stumble at the final hurdle and lose the future he’s spent years dreaming about.”
With a heartfelt script, an irrepressible performance, and a cast of diverse characters brought to life by a single performer, Becoming Benno tells the story of a man reinventing himself and finding hope—and humour—in his journey Down Under.
This one’s for:
- Anyone navigating (or thinking about) immigration
- South Africans asking tough questions about staying or going
- Fans of sharp, character-driven solo theatre
- Those looking for laughter with emotional punch
Becoming Benno is directed by Michael Richard with best-selling playwright and novelist John van de Ruit as dramaturge.
Details
- VENUE: Theatre on the Square, Sandton
- DATES: 16th – 27th September
- PRICE: R200
- DURATION: 55 min
- BOOKINGS: webtickets.co.za