In line with this commitment to growth and operational excellence, Tankiso Mamabolo also joins the team as an intern, offering administrative and project management support, while gaining practical experience.
For The Art Cave, having a return season as curators of the Kippies Fringe is exciting and deeply affirming, reflecting the trust placed in this trailblazing organisation’s ability to present a compelling artistic offering.
“Last year taught us the importance of balance between emerging and established voices, between experimentation and accessibility. This year, we have been more intentional in shaping a programme that not only challenges audiences, but also invites them in. We have improved on structure, diversity and thematic cohesion,” reflects Philangezwi Nxumalo, Artistic Director at The Art Cave.
Nxumalo continues: “We have broadened regional inclusion, strengthened youth participation, and continue to ensure a conscious gender balance across the programme. This is not just a programme, it is a micro reflection of where we are as a society, and where we are going.”
This year’s callout attracted more than 200 applications across the categories of live music, theatre, comedy and young audiences. The selection process focused on authenticity, urgency and artistic innovation.
“We were looking for work that is honest, relevant and bold in its storytelling. The selected productions stood out because they are not only artistically compelling, but they also speak to the times we are living in and align with the scale of the 50-seater fringe venue. There is a strong sense of identity, experimentation and intention across the programme,” shares The Art Cave’s Producer, Tebogo Malapane.
The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe Programme opens in July, with the programme honouring the spirit of legendary jazz icon Kippie Moeketsi through a curated Music Unplugged Weekend. This segment showcases emerging voices in South African soul and jazz, including Sanele Mfene’s Imanyano Yobuhlobo and S’nazo’s self-titled S’nazo Unplugged, offering a contemporary continuation of a rich musical legacy. The month concludes with Zweli and the Lemon Seed, a theatre production for young audiences that blends entertainment and education, focusing on environmental awareness and sustainability which is a clear investment in the next generation.
August explores themes of collaboration and shared space. The programme intentionally features works that centre and elevate women’s voices. Productions such as First Love and Voice of Women reflect a commitment to gender inclusivity, with women leading as directors and performers, while male creators serve to actively support a space for female narratives to thrive.
In September, the programme expands into a broader exploration of heritage and identity. Moving beyond a singular cultural lens, works such as Roti Queen and Sade in Hollandse kombuise spotlight Indian and Afrikaans cultural narratives. This curatorial choice reflects a commitment to unity and dialogue, embracing South Africa’s diversity while reimagining a shared future.
October serves as a space of transition and experimentation within the programme, featuring The Champion and Askies! Sorry. This month continues the programme’s commitment to bold and innovative storytelling that challenges form and expands theatrical language within the Kippies Fringe context.
November brings the programme into an intimate and emotionally charged space through Sense by Thato Moeng and Who Left the Fridge Open? by Botshelo Mmutle. These pieces are positioned to explore the pressures of everyday life and the complexity of human presence through small-scale, character-driven storytelling. This moment in the programme invites reflection, confrontation and recognition.
The programme concludes in December with the Soweto Comedy Festival curated by Kedibone Mulaudzi. This closing moment embraces comedy as both liberation and connection, celebrating voice, resilience and the power of storytelling to travel beyond its origins while remaining rooted in lived experience.
All productions are staged at the intimate 50-seater Kippies venue, located adjacent to The Market Theatre. Tickets for all shows sell for R100 and are available on Webtickets.
ENDS
The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe is an initiative of The Market Theatre, a division of The Market Theatre Foundation
For media enquiries, please contact Bongiwe Potelwa (Publicist at the Market Theatre Foundation) at bongiwep@markettheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641.
