A sponsor and a newcomer walk into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. What follows is not quite the recovery story either man expected.
David Ireland’s dark comedy "The Fifth Step" makes its exclusive South African premiere at the Baxter Studio in September, bringing its two-man story about sobriety, masculinity, faith and accountability to Cape Town.
The play centres on James, played by Albert Pretorius, who has been sober for years and agrees to sponsor Luka, played by Lyle October. Their relationship starts with black coffee, shared experiences and conversations about life before sobriety.
Then Luka reaches the programme’s fifth step.
The step requires him to make a total and honest confession of his past wrongs to another person. As he prepares to do so, the conversations between the two men become more revealing, with old traumas and hidden secrets putting their trust in each other under pressure.
Ireland’s script uses dark humour alongside its more serious subject matter, allowing the audience to move between uncomfortable laughs and moments of vulnerability. The play also looks at the expectations placed on men when it comes to faith, responsibility and asking for help.
That focus on vulnerability gives the play relevance beyond the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. Conversations around men’s mental health, addiction and emotional openness have become more visible, but admitting that you need help is still not always easy.
James and Luka are forced to deal with the parts of themselves that are harder to explain, defend or simply leave in the past.
There is also a familiar tension in the idea of presenting one version of yourself to the world while carrying another privately. Social media makes it easy to control what people see, while accountability has become a regular part of conversations about behaviour and relationships.
"The Fifth Step" first premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival in August 2024 before transferring to London’s West End in 2025. It has since drawn attention for Ireland’s sharp dialogue and its ability to deal with difficult questions without losing its sense of humour.
For the Baxter production, Pretorius brings credits including "Othello" and "Ek is Nie Danie", while October has appeared in "Metamorphoses", "Othello" and "Neighbourhood". October was also part of the Baxter’s Fires Burning Company.
Award-winning director Charmaine Weir-Smith, whose previous work includes "Expelled" and "The Beauty Queen of Leenane", directs the production. Wolf Britz handles set and lighting design, with costumes by Marisa Steenkamp.
"The Fifth Step" runs at the Baxter Studio from 3 to 26 September. Here is a look at other theatre on show across the country.
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