BULAWAYO-BASED comedian General Lesley returned to the stage on Saturday with his latest one-man comedy production, Hole of Shame, delivering powerful laughs blended with deep social commentary — this time focusing on the struggles of the boy child in modern society.
Staged for the second time, Hole of Shame drew attention to how men are often raised without emotional support and how unresolved childhood traumas shape them into misunderstood adults.
The performance, hosted at the Bulawayo Theatre, sparked positive responses from attendees who applauded both the humour and the raw honesty behind Lesley's message.
“This show is an advocacy for the boy child,” General Lesley told NewsDay Life & Style.
“It explores how a boy is raised, the struggles he faces and how bullying, emotional suppression and neglect affect him as he grows. Eventually, these unresolved traumas lead society to label him a ‘dog’.”
Using sharp wit and metaphor, Lesley compared the experience of a growing up male child to that of a dog.
“Dogs are not allowed to cry but to bark — just like men,” he said. “They are expected to sleep outside in the cold, protecting the family, yet only eat leftovers.”
This was Lesley's third one-man production and the second in 2025.
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The first Hole of Shame performance, held on July 19, interrogated Zimbabwe’s education system and received praise online, including from Eveline High School deputy head Thabani Hillary Moyo.
Despite failing to fulfil his dream to fill up the Bulawayo Theatre, Lesley is determined.
“The dream is still to fill up the Bulawayo Theatre. I will keep engaging until that happens,” he said.
“But those who attended had a great time. My inbox has been flooded with positive feedback — people laughed, but they also took something meaningful home.”
Lesley promised more excitement at his show scheduled for August 23 at the Large City Hall.
“This is a brand-new General Lesley,” he said.
“Come August, Bulawayo will know they have a general in comedy. Laughter is guaranteed.”
