First Love: Samuel Beckett’s Dark Comedy Arrives at Kippies

A story that is at once both hilarious and devastating, examining themes of loneliness, of loss and grief, of love.

New Work – Voices of Women – Remembers Victims of GBVF

Two women from different backgrounds use their voices against GBV in this new work by Mandisi Sindo.

New Children’s Comedy Brings Recycling to Life on Stage

Zweli and the Lemon Seed is a new interactive comedy piece for children, young audiences and the whole family.

Kaza Kamba Returns for 3rd Iteration at The Market Theatre

The Kaza Kamba Pan African Theatre Festival returns to The Market from 20 – 23 August 2026. This partnership between mehlo-maya (eye-to-the-sun) and The Market Theatre is in its third year and is quickly growing into being “one of the most defining and deserving festivals of our time with a slant on Pan Africanism”, according to Daves Guzha, well-known Zimbabwean theatre producer.

The theme for this third iteration is Memory Against Forgetting, and is based on the Milan Kundera quotation – “struggle of memory against forgetting” – from his novel, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting. This inspiration from the book balances the lightness of living without the weight of the past, with the weight and responsibility of remembering. In South Africa this rings very sharply as we navigate a particularly difficult time in our relationship to our continent.

The dynamic Kaza Kamba Pan African Theatre Festival programme brings a range of Theatre, Music, Film, Workshops and a Colloquium, as well as tables of goodies to buy.

The festival is committed to bringing together the arts with political discourse.

iPhupho L’ka Biko mainlines the festival. This very dynamic group brings to life a brand new multidisciplinary piece which revisits the Marikana massacre both in memory and mirror. Marikana Still…fontein is a lament for the fallen, for the living, a reflection on fractured solidarities and a call to reclaim a Pan-African imagination rooted in dignity, memory and collective liberation.

Southing the Sound with Yonela Mnana (piano), Lesego Rampolokeng (poetry) and Gontse Makhene (Percussion). This is an expressive artistic ensemble that fuses harmony, spoken word and ambient percussion, spearheaded by the ever fearless and provocative poet and author, Lesego Rampolokeng. Sounding the South is not just a melting pot for piano, poetry and percussion; it is an estuary of communal thought and a confluence of critical yet therapeutic reflection urgently needed in this country and beyond.

Theatre Productions include the ever relevant play Skierlik based on a tragic South African event of 14 January 2008 that took place in the informal settlement, Skierlik. Thomas returns to the place where his wife and young daughter were killed in a racially motivated shooting. This is a story of love, loss, and hope, and paints poetic pictures with words. The play is written and performed by the skilful storyteller, Phillip Dikotla.

The Dying Need No Shoes joins us from the Kenyan International Theatre Festival. This thought provoking play, written by Fred Mbogo, directed by Alacoque, and performed by Emmanuel Shikuku and Ann Keveli, reminds us that memory starts at home. Purity Munanda finds herself in a room with her father after years of silence and fear. All the buried trauma comes to the surface. What begins as a tense confrontation soon unfolds into a gripping battle of truth, power and survival as dark family secrets are exposed.

A Season of Hillbrow, a re-imagination of Arthur Rimbaud’s Season in Hell, is staged by The Windybrow Arts Centre. It asks what ‘hell’ might mean in the unfinished present of post-apartheid South Africa. A Season in Hillbrow brings the fire into post-apartheid Johannesburg, where young people from Hillbrow turn the city’s abandonment and reckless multilingual life into poetry, movement, voice and collective rebellion. The play is performed by the students of The Windybrow Arts Centre and directed by Sibahle Mangena and Gerard Bester.

Kaza Kamba Film Festival includes the classic revolutionary film, The Battle of Algiers (1966) as memory; and Sudan…Remember Us (2024) with a discussion by the Sudan Solidarity South Africa members following the screening. This film is an important reminder of Memory Against Forgetting. The words of our poets in Word Down the Line (2015) seek to ask South African poets about our identity and political poetic journeys through Black Consciousness and Pan Africanism, asking who we are today.

Bioscope Beyond Borders is a new project that will be launched, set up as a small cinema in the Lindelani Buthelezi Gallery with 10 chairs and a range of South African films dedicated to migration and identity. People are invited to join films at any time and watch short films that are looped and run for 20 minutes. The Bioscope stands on its own, inviting the individual to watch and interpret the films as a singular experience. Bioscope Beyond Borders is a mobile festival and will be taken to any cultural events in the country, and will be presented at the Warrenton Festival in November, in the Northern Cape.

Kaza Kamba Workshops are key to the festival, where young and old, starting out and experienced practitioners share ideas. Five workshops covering voice, music, drumming, chanting, movement, languages, are offered—including a workshop for youth and children from as young as three years.

Book Launches include Segopotso, a compilation of 17 plays from 1976 to 1986, most never published before, including Maishe Maponya, Zakes Mda, Fatime Dike and Matsemela Manaka. Edited by Vanessa Cooke, Lesego Rampolokeng, Samu Mfuphi and Bobby Rodwell.

Rising to Palestine: Africans in Solidarity for Decolonisation and Liberation, edited by Raouf Farrah and Suraya Dadoo with articles from African scholars connecting struggles from Gaza to Sudan, the DRC and Western Sahara.

Play Readings is our new development wing. Two new plays by Khutjo Green (Maki Next Door), and Jonathan Maseng (Sobukwe) will be presented to an audience for comments and debate.

The Kaza Kamba Pavement Café will be open from Thursday to Saturday night in The Market Theatre Precinct, with music and an open mic and lots of lovely food and drinks to purchase, as well as stalls with materials, clothing, earrings and all manner of goodies.

In short, there is a lot to see!

All documentary films and workshops are FREE. Tickets for plays and music shows are available on Webtickets.

Do not miss this vital festival, critical to our country today. It presents a weekend of live performances, film, workshops and debate on Pan Africanism. Everyone is most welcome!

ENDS

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

For enquiries, please contact Bongiwe Potelwa (Publicist at the Market Theatre Foundation) at bongiwep@marketheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641.

For reduced price block bookings (of 10 or more) and school groups, contact Anthony Ezeoke at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za and 083 246 4950, or Khanyisa Titus at

khanyisat@markettheatre.co.za and 065 955 7182.

The Jury Experience

Step into the world of justice with The Jury Experience, where you become the jury in a live, interactive trial. This immersive courtroom drama challenges you to examine witness testimonies, cross-examine key players, and assess forensic evidence, all while live actors present compelling arguments in front of a cinematic screen. As you engage with the case, you’ll make decisions at pivotal moments, with your final vote determining the fate of the accused: guilty or innocent.

Designed for group participation, this 60-minute experience immerses you in high-stakes courtroom drama where the line between right and wrong is blurred. Will justice be served? Only you can decide.

Practical info

⏳Duration – 65 minutes – Doors open 30 min before

📍Venue – John Kani Theatre – The Market Theatre – 138 Lilian Ngoyi Street, Newtown, Johannesburg 2001

👤Age12+Under 16s must be with an adult

♿Accessibility – Fully accessible Wheelchair zone available

Woza Albert!

WOZA ALBERT! Returns to Its Home at The Market

Woza Albert! makes a highly anticipated return to The Market Theatre for a strictly limited run of two weeks as part of the Theatre’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The work was first created and staged at The Market Theatre in 1981 by Mbongeni Ngema, Percy Mtwa and Barney Simon. Through biting satire and chilling truthfulness, the creators explored what would happen if Morena – the Lord – were to return to a racist, oppressive apartheid South Africa.

The current version is performed by Hamilton Dhlamini – who also directs it – and Thulani Mtsweni. The two actors move between characters to capture the daily realities of Black lives under apartheid. They highlight the resilience, imagination and defiance of Black South Africans, while confronting audiences with the moral contradictions of the time.

Set to run in the Barney Simon Theatre from 15 July – 02 August July 2026, this hugely influential piece of protest theatre is an honest and raw portrayal of the apartheid regime’s brutality as it satirically revisits the ground we walk on today.

Actor-director Hamilton Dhlamini regards the staging of Woza Albert! as an opportunity for the nation to sit back and reflect on its progress more than 30 years after democracy, especially in a high-stakes local government election year.

“Thematically, this play is about power and its (mis)use. We need responsible and accountable leadership who will honour the sacrifices of the past and deliver a better life for all. When it was created, it pierced sharply into the heart of apartheid. Its return is now an examination of the conduct of our current leadership. The piece is an important mobilising tool towards elections, reminding both leaders and the electorate of what the struggle has always been about: the people.”

“It is an immense honour,” Hamilton goes on, “to bring Mbongeni Ngema, Percy Mtwa and Barney Simon’s seminal piece to its original home. With this totally unmissable run, we’re not just reviving an old apartheid story; we’re confronting contemporary issues facing the nation in the new dispensation.”

At the height of apartheid in the ‘80s, which included the declaration of the State of Emergency alongside calls to make the country ungovernable through mass action, Woza Albert! commanded attention globally as a strong voice against the regime. Through impactful performances, the work contributed to the international condemnation of the system, proving how powerful art can be in giving language to people’s struggles.

Almost 50 years later, the play has enjoyed a prolific local and international life, with successful tours and rave reviews at the Edinburgh Festival, Berlin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia and more.

It has also won numerous international awards and is now among South Africa’s stage classics read in schools nationally, and is studied worldwide.

About its return during the crucial 50^th birthyear of The Market Theatre, Artistic Director Greg Homann comments: “Woza Albert! is woven into the DNA of The Market Theatre. Created here in the early years of our existence, it stands as one of the seminal works that helped define both our stages and the South African story we have been home to for the past 50 years. Bringing it back now acknowledges where we come from as a nation, as well as how our story continues to evolve.”

Tickets for Woza Albert! are available on Webtickets starting from R110, with special discounts for the preview performance, for groups of four or more, and with all Wednesdays at half-price.

Affordable, safe and secure underground parking is available at the Newtown Junction.

ENDS.

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

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

For media enquiries, please contact Bongiwe Potelwa (Publicist at the Market Theatre Foundation) at bongiwep@markettheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641.

Woza Albert!

THE NEWS IS A JOKE: If We Don’t Laugh, We’ll Sigh

Dan Corder is coming to the home of bold, The Market Theatre, to present his brand-new political comedy show, THE NEWS IS A JOKE: If We Don’t Laugh, We’ll Sigh. Featuring sharp news analysis, edgy satire, celebrity guest interviews and live music from one of South Africa’s best jazz bands, THE NEWS IS A JOKE is a funny take at some of South Africa’s most ridiculous moments, tearing into the newsmakers of the day, political figures and key developments in this democracy of ours.

Corder, celebrated for his solid grasp, unusual humour and unique delivery, presents more than a show; it’s a commission of inquiry into how did we get here! Today’s economy might have impeached your bank balance, but if you dig deeper, you might find some dollars in your couch. So, get down to The Market Theatre, and remember to get your ticket on Webtickets, or Madlanga will be calling you. The only cold drink we recognise is the one sold at the bar.

The Art Cave Returns to Curate the Kippies Fringe During The Market Theare’s 50th Year

The Art Cave Returns to Curate the Kippies Fringe During The Market Theatre’s 50th Year

The Market Theatre is proud to announce the return of the Kippies Fringe, curated for the second year running by The Art Cave (Philangezwi Nxumalo and Tebogo Malapane). The 2026 programme – which unfolds from July to December 2026 at Kippies – promises a bold and dynamic fringe offering that engages multiple generations, themes and communities.

This year’s iteration, in the 50th year of The Market Theatre, marks a significant milestone for The Art Cave, while reaffirming The Market Theatre’s commitment to bridging access, empowering up-and-coming storytellers and developing new audiences.

“For 50 years, The Market Theatre has proved itself to be a trusted home of the South African story—and continues to be a space in which diverse voices find expression. The Kippies Fringe sits within that objective of giving space to small-scale work, while amplifying rising voices,” states Greg Homann, Artistic Director at The Market Theatre Foundation.

New Children’s Comedy Brings Recycling to Life on Stage

Zweli and the Lemon Seed is a new interactive comedy piece for children, young audiences and the whole family.

BUY TICKETS

New Work – Voices of Women – Remembers Victims of GBVF

Two women from different backgrounds use their voices against GBV in this new work by Mandisi Sindo.

BUY TICKETS

First Love: Samuel Beckett’s Dark Comedy Arrives at Kippies

A story that is at once both hilarious and devastating, examining themes of loneliness, of loss and grief, of love.

BUY TICKETS

The Art Cave Returns to Curate the Kippies Fringe During The Market Theare’s 50th Year

The Market Theatre is proud to announce the return of the Kippies Fringe, curated for the second year running by The Art Cave (Philangezwi Nxumalo and Tebogo Malapane). The 2026 programme – which unfolds from July to December 2026 at Kippies – promises a bold and dynamic fringe offering that engages multiple generations, themes and communities.

This year’s iteration, in the 50th year of The Market Theatre, marks a significant milestone for The Art Cave, while reaffirming The Market Theatre’s commitment to bridging access, empowering up-and-coming storytellers and developing new audiences.

“For 50 years, The Market Theatre has proved itself to be a trusted home of the South African story—and continues to be a space in which diverse voices find expression. The Kippies Fringe sits within that objective of giving space to small-scale work, while amplifying rising voices,” states Greg Homann, Artistic Director at The Market Theatre Foundation.

“Our continued work with The Art Cave is not just a contract, but a decisive commitment to reimagining the next 50 years of live performance, curation and artistic direction. As we give new works on the fringe life, we have also integrated The Art Cave into our artistic and corporate functions for guided mentorship and practical experience across our day to day activities.”

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.