A Hero's Journey

Have you ever felt it?

That pull towards a certain kind of story. The tale of the ordinary person called to an extraordinary world. The reluctant hero, the wise mentor, the insurmountable dragon. From the Greek myths I was fascinated by as a child to spending most of my weekends in a Mountain Dew-induced coma watching cartoons, adventure movies and playing with my Spider-Man action figure.

Embarking on an adventure to fight the dragon, solve complex puzzles, and rescue those in distress has always been a comforting escape, allowing me to get lost in these fantasy worlds.

It is only later on in life, during my time at University, that I came across The Hero's Journey by Joseph Campbell.

This structure beats like a heart at the centre of our most enduring stories. Over my time exploring theatre and performance, this has become more than just a storytelling template; it’s a map of the human soul. It speaks to our struggles, our calls to adventure, and our potential to overcome the dragons in our lives.

For years, I've been obsessed with this map. I've used it to build worlds in my own short films and stage plays.

Nagvoel (Short Film)

Undermined (Stage Play) coming soon

When looking at its structure, there are some interesting questions: What does the hero’s journey look like in the 21st century? What does it look like for a woman, for a South African, for someone whose world doesn't have literal magic but is no less in need of heroes?

And in asking those questions, I noticed a gap. Here, in South Africa, we are a nation of storytellers, rich with history and drama. Yet, the stories I loved, the epic adventures, the science-fiction sagas, the heroic fantasies—often felt like they belonged to other places. Which would make me wonder, what would it look like to apply the hero journey to South African stories?

NEONYSIA is my answer to that.

This is not just a production company; it is a creative studio, a digital campfire, and a laboratory dedicated to one mission: To explore, celebrate, deconstruct and create stories built on the timeless power of The Hero's Journey.

This website and YouTube channel, CityNeonysia, will be a playground. It’s a place where we, as a community, can dissect the films we love, rediscover the myths that shape us, and ask big questions about the nature of storytelling itself. It’s where my friends and I, a fellowship of actors, writers, and directors, will create our own films, pushing the boundaries of what a heroic tale can be.

This is the work I want to do. This is the art I want to leave behind.

For a long time, I felt like my own life hadn't truly started, that I was waiting for some external call to adventure. I've come to realise that this is it. The journey begins when you decide to build the world you want to live in.

So, welcome to NEONYSIA.

The New Theatre