Having been loved by audiences internationally, the play’s African premiere marks a surreal moment for Ellams. “The Market Theatre,” he says, “is every progressive theatre-maker’s dream venue. To have my work not just staged on the African continent but at this iconic institution is an honour I wouldn’t have imagined possible. I’m greatly excited for the future ahead, hopeful that this premiere will be the beginning of the production’s intra-Africa tour.”

This highly anticipated piece unmasks men in their complexities, showing barbershops as integral communities in which connection and correction mutually thrive. While culturally prejudiced gazes may have framed barbershops as problematic, chaotic and misogynistic, the play offers an unapologetic counter-framing that highlights the safety, honesty and comedy characterising these spaces.

The play enthusiastically shows barbershops across Africa as dynamic spaces uniquely designed for black men to try make sense of their world, with barbers going beyond crafting eye-catching crispy fades and becoming unofficial therapists, football analysts and relentless comedians, in the process creating unbreakable brotherhood. This charged atmosphere turns the old rule about never cheating on your barber into more than loyalty to the one holding the clippers—it defines the barbershop as a space where a man leaves looking and feeling transformed. The refreshing sense of newness shines through the haircut as it is noticeable in the change of perspective, neatly trimmed by razor-sharp engagements with peers. It’s an unmistakable feeling of having let go of a burden and embracing change.

Director, Sibusiso Mamba, describes the work as a pan-African and diasporic celebration of black masculinities in their various ways of being. “This play confronts the often repeated notion that men don’t have platforms where they can really talk, making a strong case for the babershop as a space for men’s gatherings. The fact that men talk in a language often times misunderstood by the world doesn’t mean there’s no talking happening. Just as no two men’s hair is identical or needs the same cut, the script acknowledges the difference and sensitivity in each one of us and the different forms of masculinity that exist. Barbershops can therefore be sanctuaries that allow men to pour out their hearts, find fellowship and crack jokes without care of societal expectations,” concludes Mamba.

Greg Homann, Artistic Director at The Market Theatre Foundation, is chuffed to programme this powerful and electric theatre piece on the John Kani Stage by one of the leading contemporary playwrights in the world.

“For us, this production deepens our ongoing commitment of being the home of African storytelling by programming works that not only focus on local issues, but the broader continent as well. Arriving at a time of harmful narratives against African immigrants, the play’s infectious humour, witty writing and edgy drama will act as a much needed balm to sooth us into the end of 2025. We’re in a phase of boldly reaffirming the kind of work that we’ve always been known for throughout our nearly 50 years of fearless existence as South Africa’s cultural cornerstone.”

Book your “Barber Shop Chronicles” today and immerse yourself in the energy that fills barbershops. This is the only time you won’t regret cheating on your barber!

Tickets are available on Webtickets starting from R170. Half-price Wednesdays and special discounts for groups (four or more) also apply.

Safe and affordable underground parking available at Newtown Junction.

ENDS

The Market Theatre is a Division of The Market Theatre Foundation, an agency of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.

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 and school groups, contact Anthony Ezeoke (Audience Development Specialist) at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950.

‘The Last Country’ is based on a collection of 30 oral histories of migrant women, including South African women who migrated from rural areas into the city, who recounted their journeys as part of the ‘Migration, Gender and the Inclusive City’ research project, led by Dr. Kira Erwin. Funded by the Cities Alliance, the project was carried out in Durban as a collaborative partnership between the Democracy Development Program, the African Solidarity Network, the Refugee Social Services and the Urban Futures Centre at the Durban University of Technology (DUT).

The production has toured the Kwa-Zulu Natal province over the last three years, playing to capacity audiences in hostels, theatres, schools, universities and communities. A revised production featuring a new all-star cast that includes Mpume Mthombeni, Faniswa Yisa, Andile Vilakazi and Nompilo Maphumulo, played at the 2024 National Arts Festival’s main programme to sold-out venues and glowing reviews.

‘The Last Country’ will be coming to Jo’burg for the first time this year, as part of The Market Theatre’s Africa Month programming. The Market Theatre is aptly located in the heart of Johannesburg, a city that is home to many migrants. According to Artistic Director, Greg Homann, the play presents a unique opportunity to engage each other around issues of migration and what it takes for these women to make a new city their home.

Hailing ‘The Last Country’ as a groundbreaking research-based project, Homann said: “This play contributes to a much larger conversation about migration, belonging, hope and resilience. Again, it highlights policy limitations relating to migration in metropolitan areas and reminds us of the fundamental values that have shaped this beautiful nation. The production forms part of our Africa Month curation at The Market Theatre and bringing it to Jo’burg is an attempt at interrogating myths and challenging harmful rhetoric surrounding immigrants and displaced people.”

Don’t miss ‘The Last Country’ at The Market Theatre from 15 May – 1 June 2025 to immerse yourself in these deeply moving and immersive storytelling. Dive into a story that takes you into the lifeworlds of migrant women from across Africa seeking refuge, arriving in our country, the very last country to escape to, and the world they find themselves in.

Tickets are available on Webtickets, with all Wednesdays at half-price. Special discounts apply for preview performances and groups of four or more.

Safe and affordable parking at Newtown Junction.

                                                                                                                                  ENDS.

The Market Theatre Foundation is an agency of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.

 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 Officer at The Market Theatre Foundation) at anthonye@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950.

While Auntie’s dream to tar the world sounds like an impossible and idiotic idea, a finer line of an ambitious character emerges as she succeeds in opening her own construction company, which she aptly calls Vuka! Africa Road and Paving Construction Company. Will she reach her dream, or will it be a bumpy ride filled with potholes?