ORATORIO OF A FORGOTTEN YOUTH

THE AMANDLA FREEDOM ENSEMBLE BRINGS ORATORIO OF A FORGOTTEN YOUTH TO THE MARKET THEATRE

ORATORIO OF A FORGOTTEN YOUTH

The multidisciplinary collaborative performance is the echo of the 1976 youth resistance and enthusiastic chant for change

The Amandla Freedom Ensemble led by Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz 2019 Mandla Mlangeni, will once again bring The Oratoria of a Forgotten Youth to the stage, and reimagine jazz through the lens of poetry, classical musings and the ‘black consciousness’ legacy in South Africa. 

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The collaborative endeavour will culminate in a grand performance of Jozi’s strongest forces within the jazz, classical and indigenous music scene. The Oratorio will be performed at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg on 28 and 29 January, and features The Vivacious Sounds Choir, acclaimed sand artist Tawanda Mu Afrika, esteemed academic, pianist and scholar Yonela Mnana and a libretto by award winning poet and theatre practitioner, Lesego Rampolokeng.

 “Our foray into the classical world is an opportunity to give voice to new expression within the structural confines of Western Art, while also drawing from the deep well of indigenous music by creating cultural  avenues that allow for audiences to tap into new and unimagined worlds”, says Mlangeni.  The production, commemorating the June 16 and Fees Must Fall events through a musical and theatrical narrative, reflects the turbulence that South Africa finds itself in.

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ORATORIO OF A FORGOTTEN YOUTH

The seemingly disjointed genre of arts is attractive in its audacity to re-imagine a cutting edge jazz ensemble paired with The Resonance Strings – Johannesburg’s premiere string quartet – and the Vivacious Sounds Choir.  One is bound to be drawn to the boldness of the project in that it will create new and interesting narratives, juxtaposed with choral renditions of the struggles of our past, while swinging through the perplexities of our present day and cementing the foundations of our future.

The Oratorio of a Forgotten Youth is brought to you by The Wits School of Arts and National Arts Council in collaboration with The Market Theatre Foundation.  This creative pairing  seeks to be the springboard for the production and execution of bold new ideas of reimagining spaces for creative discourse.

Tickets for The Oratorio of a Forgotten Youth cost R150 per person and can be booked at Webtickets

To make block bookings and discounts please contact Anthony Ezeoke 011 832 1641ext 203/ 083 246 4950 or Bandile Luvalo 078 4344 860

The Amandla Freedom Ensemble is composed of:

Mandla Mlangeni and Michael Nkuna on trumpet

Ofentse Sebula on tenor sax

Kgetsi Nkotsi and Junior Matsila on trombone

Mark Fransman piano and reeds

Dalisu Ndlazi on bass

Siphiwe Shiburi on drums

Social Media handles:

Facebook:  @MandlaMlangeni @TheMarketTheatre

Instagram: @mandlasmlangeni @markettheatre

Twitter:  @MandlaMlangen12 @MarketTheatre  

#ForgottenYouth

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ISENYUSO

CONCEPT & CHOREOGRAPHY: THAMI TSHABALALA ISENYUSO

ISENYUSO

THE MESMERIZING ISENYUSO RETURNS TO THE MARKET THEATRE

After a successful premiere at the Kucheza Afrika Festival in April of 2022 and The Soweto Theatre, Naledi Award Nominee Thami Tshabalala returns his dance offering in January 2023 at the Ramolao Makhene Theatre from 27 till 28 January 2023.  

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Tshabalala has proved to be a tour de force, since matriculating from the National School of the Arts in 2009 and attaining a National Diploma in Dance/Choreography from the Tshwane University of Technology in 2013, he has been afforded tremendous opportunities to choreograph and dance for some of the industry’s top theatre and dance doyens like Kelsey Middleton, Willie Venter and Dada Masilo to name a few.

After tremendous success of his first choreographed solo- work, ‘Simon’, which received critical acclaim at the relaunch of the Dance Umbrella in 2019 and at several dance national festivals like the PACE Festival in Bloemfontein and the Solo & Duet Festival at the Soweto Theatre, it was nominated in the Best Contemporary/Ballet Production 2019 category at the Naledi  Theatre Awards 2020.

ISENYUSO details the injustice, propaganda and toxic representation implicated upon the African tale. Told through the lens of a contemporary queer man of colour, supported by history the work further explores issues of spirituality, lineage and impact caused by Christianity and missionaries on the African culture.

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Isenyuso a noun derived from isiZulu language:  meaning ASCENSION.

The work is inspired by the well- known African novel titled ‘Things Fall Apart’ by acclaimed Nigerian author Chinua Achebe published in 1958 chronicling the life of Okonkwo, an Igbo man and local wrestling champion in the fictional clan of Umuofia. He was empowered by the notion of superiority and justice, driven to reclaim the toxic representation of the African diaspora and retain dignity.

With an extensive career in the performing arts as a dancer and choreographer- he has graced home ground stages co-choreographing SINS, NO AIR which are Standard Bank Ovation award winning works at National Arts Festival with the acclaimed theatre practioner and artistic director of Kmad Dance Company-Kelsey Middleton. He further flourished with the incomparable Dada Masilo  in New York, Italy, Singapore, Paris and Sweden to name a few with her re-imagination of Swan Lake and Giselle and The Sacrifice which premiered in Vienna in August of 2021.

‘I was thrilled, anxious and yet very driven to re-stage my work again’ says Tshabalala. As a producer and storyteller of my time, predominantly post the peak of the pandemic I have yearned to heal, reflect and restart from a place of understanding, acknowledgement and desire to fulfil the purpose of being an artist and grab all opportunities that come my way and create opportunities for myself. KNOCK ON THOSE DOORS. Always seeking platforms to display me- Me is my Art. Global narratives told through the lens of the African child.’

Says Tshabalala ‘Others will kneel for answers, others will help themselves for breakthroughs. Either way we’re not stepping on toes. Let us hand over an untainted baton!

‘A pandemic that’s on its knees begging for acknowledgement in a world that guarantees life through sacrificing the other. Unpacking this crippling and barring suitcase unroots the tainted crop that has partially terminated the other story.

A war to be collectively combated’

Watch Isenyuso at the Market Theatre-Ramolao Makhene Theatre on the 27th of January and the 28th. Both shows start at 19:30. Tickets are R150 and can be purchased through Webtickets or at Pick n Pay.

Creative Team:

 

Choreographer:                   Thamsanqa ‘Thami’ Tshabalala

Performers:                            Thamsanqa Tshabalala & Khaya Ndlovu

Technical Director:             Wilhelm Disbergen

Music Composition:           Siya ‘Umlilo’ Ngcobo’ & Nik Sakellarides

Art Work:                                  Nicholas de Vries- Original image by Graham de Lacy

Follow Thami Tshabalala on all Social Media platforms.

ENDS.

For any further queries and interviews, please contact Thami on 066 248 6335 or via email on ttshabz@gmail.com

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Greg Homann appointed Artistic Director of Market Theatre Foundation

Greg Homann appointed Artistic Director of the Market Theatre Foundation

The Market Theatre Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Greg Homann as its Artistic Director. The choice of Homann for this important role signals the ambition of the Foundation to position itself at the apex of artistic performance. Homann brings a wealth of experience as a director, writer, mentor and cultural historian to this role.

Greg Homann photographer Kate Green

Homann has been widely celebrated for his landmark roles in the world of theatre, and over the last decade, he has established himself as one of the outstanding figures in South African theatre.  Amongst his directorial credits are six new South African plays that have made their debut under his direction. He has been a member of the National Arts Festival Artistic Committee where he advised on the overall curatorial orientation, reported on proposals to the Main theatre programme, and served as an ambassador for the festival.

Homann holds a Master’s degree with distinction in Text & Performance Studies from King’s College London and RADA.

“I’m thrilled to have been appointed as The Market Theatre Foundation’s Artistic Director. It’s a role that I feel deeply honoured to have been offered. I have enormous respect for what The Market Theatre Foundation stands for,” says Homann.

“It gives me great pleasure to extend my warmest congratulations to Greg on his appointment as the Artistic Director of the Foundation. I look forward to working with him as we work for the improvement of our business and the industries we service” says Tshiamo Mokgadi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Market Theatre Foundation.

GREG HOMANN

Homann has bold plans for the Market Theatre and has indicated that he intends to hit the ground running. “Soon after taking up the role, I want to initiate a multi-pronged new plays development programme aimed at writers, playwrights, and theatre-makers of all experience levels. Let’s invest time and energy into preparing our untold stories for future production.”

Homann has deep respect for the history of the Market Theatre Foundation and he has expressed his desire to tap into this deep well of historical goodwill. “For almost 50 years The Market Theatre Foundation has served as an unflinching platform for the very best actors, performance artists, directors, playwrights, theatre-makers, designers, and visual artists in this country. It has given our most socially engaged and politically conscious storytellers a voice. I believe a significant part of the job is to open the door to the next generation of such artists,” adds Homann.

Prior to his appointment at The Market Theatre Foundation, Homann brought his decisive leadership style to institutions such as The Wits School of Arts and AFDA Johannesburg where he was the Head of the School of Live Performance. Homann was for a time Resident Dramaturg at The South African State Theatre. 

In the USA he has served as dramaturg on Syracuse Stage’s 2021 production of Athol Fugard’s ‘MASTER HAROLD’…AND THE BOYS and has more recently been working with San Jose Stage in California on the world-premiere of L. Peter Callender’s STRANGE COURTESIES.

His past productions at The Market Theatre are LORD OF THE FLIES, BROTHERS IN BLOOD, DELIRIUM, FLORENCE, and THE LESSON. Other career highlights to date include A VOICE I CANNOT SILENCE, a five-man version of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, PTERODACTYLS, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, AIDA ABRIDGED, OEDIPUS @ KOÖ-NÚ!, and creating IN OUR SKIN under commission as Associate Artist at the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) in the UK which drew on verbatim interviews to depict the lives of gay men living in Birmingham and Johannesburg. 

In 2014 Homann was awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Theatre. His productions have been nominated for over forty awards, winning two Standard Bank Ovation awards, and twelve Naledi Theatre Awards including Best New South African Play and two for Best Cutting-Edge Production.

For interviews and more images contact:

Lusanda Zokufa, Acting Brand and Communications Manager 072 367 7867 or lusandaz@markettheatre.co.za  

TIEN DUISEND TON premiére vir ‘n beperkte seisoen by die Markteater!

TIEN DUISEND TON premiére vir 'n beperkte seisoen by die Markteater!

Die veelbekroonde TIEN DUISEND TON – ’n vlagskipproduksie van die 2019 US Woordfees –  is van 19 Januarie tot 5 Februarie 2023 by die Markteater te sien.

Die Markteater is voortdurend op soek na grensverskuiwende werk en poog om as produksiehuis braaf genoeg te wees om nuwe en opwindende inhoud as deel van  ‘n stimulerende program aan te bied. Die teater het drie jaar gelede ‘n dapper verbintenis aangegaan toe dit onderneem het om die tuiste van Afrikaanse teater in Johannesburg te word.

Die wêreld word warmer, daar is onrus oorsee (die see sélf is ook nie baie rustig nie) en een paartjie dink daaraan om ’n kind te hê. TIEN DUISEND TON, uit die pen van die hoog aangeskrewe Britse dramaturg Duncan Macmillan (People Places & Things, Every brilliant Thing) is ’n slim, snaakse en emosionele drama wat twee mense deur ‘n verrassende en onverwagte fase van hulle verhouding volg. Hulle stoei met vrae rondom familie, verandering, hoop, verraad, toeval, en die verskriklike pyn wat die mense wat jy die liefste het kan aandoen.

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Translated into Afrikaans and directed by Nico Scheepers, TIEN DUISEND TON brings together two of South Africa’s foremost talents in Albert Pretorius and Cintaine Schutte, who star as a couple seriously considering  procreation in the face of imminent extinction.

Winner Best Actress and Best Debut Production at the SU Woordfees 2019, and nominated for 5 kykNET Fiësta Awards, TIEN DUISEND TON is an incredibly moving, funny and fast-paced production coming to the Market Theatre.

Presented by the Market Theatre and SU Woordfees, in association with Carel Nel, TIEN DUISEND TON runs at the Market Theatre from 20 January to 5 February 2023.

Catch TIED DUISEND TON a dazzling and beautifully crafted love story that not only intensely personal but also poignantly universal – it never misses a beat!

Age recommendation 16 years

PRODUCTION INFORMATION CREATIVE TEAM

Writer                                                         Duncan Macmillian

Translated and Directed by            Nico Scheepers

Producer                                                    Carel Nel

Set, Costume and Lighting  Designer  Nico Scheepers

Stage Manager                                                  Ali Madiga

Stage Manage r Intern                                  Irvin Taylor                                                                      

Cast:

Albert Pretorius as Man

Cintaine Schutte as Vrou

Season:                                                                                  Thursday 19 January – Sunday 5 February 2023   

Venue:                                                                                    The Mannie Manim    

Performance times:                                                        Tuesday – Saturday @19h00 and Sunday @15h00

Ticket prices:                                                                      Tuesday – Thursday R90

Friday – Saturday R150

Sunday – R130

To make block bookings and discounts please contact Anthony Ezeoke 011 832 1641ext 203/ 083 246 4950 or Bandile Luvalo 078 4344 860

For further information, interviews and images, contact:

Lusanda Zokufa 072 367 7867 or lusandaz@markettheatre.co.za and Desmond Mathebula 062 329 4741 or desmondm@markettheatre.co.za

English Version

TIEN DUISEND TON

TIEN DUISEND TON will premiere at the Market Theatre for a limited season!

A flagship production at the 2019 SU Woordfees, the multi-award winning production of TIEN DUISEND TON is coming to the Market Theatre from 19 January – 5 February 2023. 

The Market Theatre is constantly looking for ways to push the envelope, and challenges itself to be brave as a production house by searching for new and exciting content to present a stimulating programme. The Theatre made a bold commitment three years ago when it pledged to become the home of Afrikaans theatre in Johannesburg.

The world is getting hotter, there’s unrest overseas—the seas themselves aren’t very calm—and one couple is thinking about having a child. Written by the incredible Duncan MacMillan (People Places & Things, Every Brilliant Thing), TIEN DUISEND TON is a smart, funny and moving drama that follows a couple through the surprising lifecycle of their relationship, as they grapple with questions of family and change, hope, betrayal, happenstance, and the terrible pain that you can only cause the people you love.

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Translated into Afrikaans and directed by Nico Scheepers, TIEN DUISEND TON brings together two of South Africa’s foremost talents in Albert Pretorius and Cintaine Schutte, who star as a couple seriously considering  procreation in the face of imminent extinction.

Winner Best Actress and Best Debut Production at the SU Woordfees 2019, and nominated for 5 kykNET Fiësta Awards, TIEN DUISEND TON is an incredibly moving, funny and fast-paced production coming to the Market Theatre.

Presented by the Market Theatre and SU Woordfees, in association with Carel Nel, TIEN DUISEND TON runs at the Market Theatre from 20 January to 5 February 2023.

Catch TIED DUISEND TON a dazzling and beautifully crafted love story that not only intensely personal but also poignantly universal – it never misses a beat!

Age recommendation 16 years

PRODUCTION INFORMATION CREATIVE TEAM

Writer                                                 Duncan Macmillian

Translated and Directed by     Nico Scheepers

Producer                                             Carel Nel

Set, Costume and Lighting  Designer  Nico Scheepers

Stage Manager                              Ali Madiga

Stage Manage r Intern             Irvin Taylor                                                                      

Cast:

Albert Pretorius as Man

Cintaine Schutte as Vrou

Season:                                                                                  Thursday 19 January – Sunday 5 February 2023   

Venue:                                                                                     The Mannie Manim    

Performance times:                                                        Tuesday – Saturday @19h00 and Sunday @15h00

Ticket prices:                                                                      Tuesday – Thursday R90

Friday – Saturday R150

Sunday – R130

To make block bookings and discounts please contact Anthony Ezeoke 011 832 1641ext 203/ 083 246 4950 or Bandile Luvalo 078 4344 860

For further information, interviews and images, contact:

Lusanda Zokufa 072 367 7867 or lusandaz@markettheatre.co.za and Desmond Mathebula 062 329 4741 or desmondm@markettheatre.co.za 

Afrikaans Version