ABOUT
Mlungu by Shannon Hendry
There are no white South Africans. Only Mlungu.
“Sister Bethina, O’right! In the meantime Oh sh*t! It’s happening tonight, in the place to be
Hibiri
Hibiri
Hibiri
Hibiri
Hibiri
Hibiri”
Are you prejudice?
Me too...
This show is the perfect opportunity to make friends. Trust me, bring your friends with no colour. Mlungu we see you. Watch this white woman try to save our rainbow nation, no she is not Helen Zille. Not all white people look the same. Some are whiter than others.
This Mlungu she cares, she’s one of the good ones. She is politically aware of her white saviour complex. No shame to be found, just pale skin and a vanilla ikhekhe.
Has this white woman out whited the Ziller? (YES) Pass me a boat and drop me in a pothole because this mlungu is going to the deep end.
Leon Schuster walked so that this Mlungu could strut her stuff.
Julius Malema would love this show.
“Sounds the call to come together,
And united we will stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.”
We are all a little prejudice at the end of the day.
Stand a chance to win your land back!
Created as a BAHons exam at Stellenbosch University Drama Department.
Description
Mlungu is a stand-up comedy cabaret production. Filled with political humour, this English white woman brings a satirist perspective to the current state of South Africa.
As the audience enters the space, she is already there handing out her “Mlungu” postcards and donation tins. Is it a recruitment scheme for a cult or just a lady wanting to have the stage so she can just say whatever she wants, what’s the worst that can happen? Carrying around her dead tree, she is searching for a white man to save her tree. Powered by white bread and the rainbow nation she plans to give back. A woke white woman working towards her Nobel peace prize. She may not be a part of the DA but the EFF loves her, it’s a complicated love triangle.
She’s from Kwazulu-Natal so you know the ANC f*cks with her, sometimes. Witty and straightforward, this white woman has got a lot to say, management is still figuring out whether she should be allowed a microphone or not. Will she be cancelled or will she be the next Nelson Mandela?
Characters
Mlungu: The English White Woman with the microphone, they will not be taking any accountability. Enough said. She’s also super professional and 100% a performer. None of this should be read as sarcastic, she is very serious. NOW, enough said.
Stage Manger Mia: Horrible at their job. Everything is their fault. I repeat EVERYTHING IS THEIR FAULT AND NOT MLUNGU. But Mia is also mlungu, just not the important one.
Little Helper: It used to be a white woman but recently it has been a white man. They are there to help when mlungu can’t get the tree to someone. They are not important. Don’t even look at them. I normally just ask random people or people I know that are around. Whoever is reading this, you could be apart of the show.
Bios
Writer and Performer- Shannon Hendry
Shannon Hendry is a South African comedian, writer and performer. Currently doing her Masters at Stellenbosch University where she is researching South African
comedians, performative political humour and nation-building.
In 2021 she graduated from AFDA (Durban North) with an outstanding achievement award for the HigherCertificate in Performing Arts. Shannon completed her Bachelor of arts in Drama and Theatre Studies at Stellenbosch University in 2024. She continued to study at Stellenbosch, where she graduated in 2025 with cum laude for her BAHons in Drama and Theatre Studies with a specialization in Cabaret. Shannon’s past works include a physical theatre two-hander ÖH (Co-wrote and performed, 2025 she was nominated for a Kanna for Best Upcoming Artist; 2023 she won Best Ensemble, Best use of Technical and Nominated for Best Female Lead, Best Script at Première Teaterfees); Yellowtail (2025 she won Best Supporting Actress at Première Teaterfees), What do you think the birds are doing? (Written and directed by Cailyb Prinsloo); The Fogo In Mercura Maison (Co-wrote and directed by Shannon Hendry); Akrasia (Co-wrote and
Stage managed, 2026 she was nominated for a Kanna for Best Upcoming Artist), The Candidate (Written and directed by Dr André Greber), Hamlets (Directed by Nicole
Holm), Veer ( KKNK blitsteatre programme, created and performed alongside Merwe Van Gent and Chrizelle Strydom). She was also recently nominated for Best up-
coming student at the Cape Town Theatre Awards.
Stage Manager- Mia Burger
Mia Burger is currently finishing her Bachelor of arts in Drama and Theatre Studies at Stellenbosch University. She is well trained and experienced in sewing and jewellery-making, she is a trained stage manager and production manager. Mia has a keen sense of style and an artistic talent to bring any design to life. Her experience includes Pinocchio directed by Schalk van der Merwe (2024 Costume team &stage hand), The Candidate Written and Directed by Dr André Gerber (2024 Props team & stage hand), Winters Tale : Directed by Suki Hofmeyer (2025 Decor team & stage hand), Hamlets: Directed by Nicole Holm (2025 Costume team & stage hand), Mlungu: Written by Shannon Hendry (2025-2026 Stage manager, props, decor and costume), Fok jou in my Spaceship: Directed by Dr André Gerber (2026 Production manager) and Tom, Dick & Harry: Directed by Petrus Du preez (2026 Decor team & stage hand).