Skip to content

English-based Show Unearths the Seeds and Weeds of Afrikaans

The Market Theatre and The Art Cave proudly present Sade in Hollandse Kombuise, a one woman show set to be performed at The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe in Newtown. This piece explores what Afrikaans and Afrikaner identity are in our current context.

Susan, our only-English-speaking but Afrikaans protagonist, is bent on convincing herself and the world that Afrikaans is not only redeemable but deserves a place on this rich African soil. And so, she goes in to get her hands dirty, literally and figuratively as she unearths the history of her family as well as her cultures.

Join her as she finds recipes, braai tongs, phones, doll houses and more. She gets confronted with the good, the bad and the suppressed. On this journey, she encounters an array of other family members that colour in the various stereotypes, ideologies, humour, truths and traumas that form part  of Afrikaans and a part of her.

This moving play, written and performed by Naledi-nominated actress, Christine van Hees, began in 2019 and first debuted on the National Arts Festival online programme in 2020, being staged at POPArt and later awarded a Standard Bank Ovation Award.

Buy Tickets

Sade was also a part of this year’s Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees, earning rave reviews for “asking the right questions”.

Revisiting the work now, van Hees is following in Susan’s footsteps and excavating what it means to be Afrikaans, once again asking: “Wat is en is nie myne nie?”

Van Hees, the writer and performer of the piece, is not a stranger to The Market, as Sophiatown was her debut performance as a theatre actress in 2016. In 2026, she was cast in Amy Jephta’s international hit-play, A Good House, at The Market Theatre, and has performed on various stages and festivals including the State Theatre and Vryfees. Her film and television credits include Binnelanders, Lakens and the co-written short film Hey Jude.

She chose to return to the piece as she feels the topic is still so relevant. “The world feels as though it is becoming more and more divided, and from my own history I know how easy it can be to try to keep up reasons to divide rather than connect, but it’s not sustainable or even logical,” she says.

“So, we have to get our hands dirty and so in that, it is our own responsibility to look at ourselves fully and take accountability for our history and agency for our present so we can be active citizens in shaping our future. I would like us all to have a conversation. Even if it is uncomfortable. Afrikaans is lekker and there are so many parts to love, and just as many to heal. This is my seed for germinating the conversation. Come and see if you find some of yourself as Susan tries to do the same.”

For an honest excavation of Afrikaans, don’t miss out on this engaging piece at Kippies in Newtown from 10 – 13 September 2026. Tickets are out on Webtickets selling for R100. Bulk tickets can be purchased at The Market Theatre box office: 4 tickets at R350 and 8 tickets at R670.

Safe, affordable and secure underground parking available at Newtown Junction.

ENDS

The 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.

For reduced price block bookings of 10 or more and school groups, contact Anthony Ezeoke (Audience Development Specialist at The Market Theatre Foundation) at anthonye@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950.