The Market Theatre Foundation mourns the passing of Zodwa Shongwe

The Market Theatre Foundation mourns the passing of Zodwa Shongwe

It is with the heaviest of hearts that The Market Theatre Foundation announces the passing of Zodwa Shongwe, who, until her final breath, was our exceptional Producer.

Our sincerest thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, colleagues and the artistic community on whose hearts she has left an indelible mark. 

Throughout her years with us, Zodwa set herself apart as an administrator par excellence, possessing the unique ability to balance artistry and industry. With her meticulous project management skills, she was the trusted engine of our artistic programming, ensuring compliance, monitoring progress and evaluating results.

Not one to seek the spotlight, she contributed immensely to keeping our lights on, executing her behind-the-scenes task with enthusiasm and faithfulness like the whole world was watching.

But we at The Market Theatre Foundation will remember Zodwa as more than just an outstanding producer and leading woman in the arts. To all of us, she will remain the warmest and kindest person to have known; an accessible friend and mentor with a sharp sense of humour.

With an unmissable presence that effortlessly created a safe space for all of us to be ourselves, she lived and breathed The Market Theatre Foundation’s core values.

May the soul of Zodwa Shongwe rest in the peace she afforded us all in her living days. And may her loved ones find healing and comfort in these unimaginably dark times.

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.

 

The Moon

The Moon Looks Delicious From Here

Hailed as a masterclass in writing and performance, Aldo Brincat’s ‘The Moon Looks Delicious From Here’ is coming to Jo’burg for the first time after its massive national and international success. The captivating semi-autobiographical story about immigration plays at The Market Theatre from 9 – 27 July 2025. This multi-award-winning piece of theatre is an action-packed exploration of identity, sexuality and heritage.

Told with brave vulnerability and theatrical flair, the play is Brincat’s personal account as a first-generation South African in his family. It is directed by Sjaka Septembir, with music by internationally renowned singer and songwriter, Bongeziwe Mabandla.

‘The Moon Looks Delicious From Here’ won a Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award at the 50th anniversary of the National Arts Festival (2024) and The Special Jury Award at the Bitesize Theatre Festival in London (2024).

In this solo performance, multidisciplinary artist, Brincat, plays an array of characters in and around a fragile young nuclear family – some foreign, some local – all of whom are finding or losing themselves in the ever-changing political landscape.

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Language, religion, ambition, sexuality and political leanings are brought into sharp focus as the show’s two lead characters (both played by Brincat) fight off ‘otherness’, while attempting to assert themselves into a volatile new country. As the effects of apartheid – and its homophobic policies – begin to reach a boiling point, family ties threaten to tear apart.

Brincat says ‘The Moon Looks Delicious From Here’ is a timely intersectional work with relevant themes for our current sociopolitical context. He explains, “This show is universal in its theme, particularly at this time when the intersectional knock-on effects of migrancy, sexuality, heritage and identity are brought increasingly into our consciousness. It makes us question what and who we think belongs, probing our conventional understanding of identity, family, ancestry and nationality.”

As Brincat courageously confronts his personal history, he generously holds space for audiences to revisit their own painful memories, heal their inner child and reconcile with the tragedies of their past.

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

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 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.

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FATHER & I

FATHER & I

The dynamic dance-theatre work exploring South African fathers is back

The heart-warming and beautifully crafted Naledi-nominated dance-theatre piece, ‘Father & I’, returns to The Market Theatre for its second season, after its initial four performances in November, 2024. This year, the show will play from 21 – 31 August 2025, before touring to the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Festival in Durban.

‘Father & I’ uses personal stories, dance, song and music to explore the relationships between South African fathers and their children. As an interdisciplinary work, it combines song, dance, music and personal testimony to create a theatrical experience aimed at acknowledging the complexity and beauty of fatherly relationships, with all its imperfections.

It is choreographed by Moving into Dance’s Artistic Director, Sunnyboy Motau, with music by Bongile Lecoge–Zulu and Matthew MacFarlane, and direction by Artistic Director at The Market Theatre Foundation, Greg Homann.

This dynamic fusion of real life stories from the cast is created between The Windybrow Arts Centre’s 2024 Kwasha! Theatre Company, The Market Theatre and Moving into Dance.

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In a country battling high fatherlessness statistics, ‘Father & I’ offers a warm and nuanced take at what it means to be a father in contemporary South Africa. The performances are delivered with humour, care and empathy, aimed at facilitating understanding, reconciliation and love. According to the 2024 State of South African Fathers report, only 35.6% of South African children live with their biological fathers. The impact of absent fathers on children, especially boys, is widely documented.

The work goes beyond this concerning reality, and delves into the nuances of fatherhood. While spotlighting the crisis of absent fathers, the show further aims to offer a balanced and honest narrative that celebrates present fathers. The artistic treatment creates an empathetic space that has the potential to lead audiences to a place of honest conversations about healing the father wound, reconciling broken families and inspiring a new generation of fathers to break an all too familiar destructive cycle.

Choreographer, Sunnyboy Motau, emphasises that the dance theatre work attempts to show all sides of fatherhood, especially in a country like South Africa where the role requires added resilience, courage, vulnerability and responsibility.

Greg Homann, adds, “Starting with the personal narratives of the actors and dancers involved, ‘Father & I’ weaves stories of absence and presence, identity, inherited roles, support, and notions of masculinity. Each artist shares their experiences, highlighting the challenges of these bonds—the joys, the struggles, and the fatherly moments that define them. These heartfelt stories invite the audience to reflect on their own relationships with their fathers, sparking dialogue about love, belonging, the act of providing and the deep yearning for connection.”

As ‘Father & I’ makes a comeback, it will sit alongside the upcoming Zwakala Festival-winning production, ‘Fatherhood’, as The Market Theatre’s artistic focus over the next few months centres, in part, on issues relating to fathers.

Don’t miss this new work that will shift your perspective about fatherhood in a daringly heart-stirring way. Tickets via Webtickets start from R170 when booked as 4-or-more. There is also a “Parents Special” when buying two full price tickets, where you get a third ticket for free.

                                                                                                                                              ENDS

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

For 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) at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950/081 572 9612.