By popular demand, House of Pink is back at the Market Theatre for 5 performances only. Volume 3 promises to be unforgettable, with fun, music and great entertainment in the mix from 26 October 2023.
This third edition of the gender-bending popular drag show is directed by Lebohang Toko.
The Queens take us through a journey of the ever evolving stages of what we today know as The culture of Drag
The show pays homage to a rich and storied history of drag performance that has captivated audiences worldwide for decades. Drag performance, with its roots dating back to the late 19th century, has evolved into an electrifying art form that transcends gender norms and celebrates diversity, self-expression, and empowerment. From the glamorous, groundbreaking performances at legendary venues like the Stonewall Inn in the 1960s to the mainstream popularity of reality TV competitions in recent years, drag has become a powerful symbol of resilience and LGBTQ+ pride.
House of Pink Volume 3 is an affirming continuation of this legacy, featuring a talented cast of Johannesburg-based drag artists who will mesmerize, inspire, and entertain a broad range of audiences with their artistry and charisma.
Speaking on the side-lines of the first iteration back in 2021, Toko said, “Celebrating Pride Month with House of Pink is an ode to the LGBTQ+ community… we have the right to express our lives however we please without anyone’s permission to exist.” More recently he adds, “As we mince forward toward another Season of House of Pink at the Market Theatre, from us to you we say, come celebrate Pride month with us. Come be apart of us. Come learn and be one with us.”
The production is celebratory in tone. It’s a fun way of looking at the hopes, dreams, and ambition of LGBTQ+ experiences. Music, dance, and bold costumes take centre stage, championing resilience in the face of challenges.
In addition, The Market Theatre sees this production as another opportunity to proactively foreground the queer community’s performers and theatre practitioners on a mainstream stage, which many have for too long been excluded from. It promises Joburg audiences an unforgettable, spectacular time in the theatre, featuring exceptional drag queens.
Brace yourselves for 5 performances (including matinees on Saturday and Sunday) of fierceness. Get ready to enjoy a world of positive affirmation as House of Pink Volume 3 takes the stage, pushing the boundaries of what drag can be.
Show dates and times:
26 October 2023 at 7pm
27 October 2023 at 7pm
28 October 2023 at 3pm
28 October 2023 at 7pm
29 October 2023 at 3pm
Tickets start from R150 per person and there are special prices for groups. Tickets available through Webtickets.
For media queries please contact Lusanda Zokufa – Brand and Communications Manager at 072 367 7867 or lusandaz@markettheatre.co.za
For bookings and special discounts contact Anthony Ezeoke at (011) 832 1641 ext 203 or 083 246 4950.
Barney Simon Residency Project at the Market Theatre Laboratory
With the support of the Barney Simon Trust, the Market Theatre Laboratory offers one residency a year to provide a space for theatre-makers to develop a new work, investigate artistic process, and take creative risks.
The artist will receive a grant of R90 000 to subsidise their project costs, including their creative team, cast, archiving and materials. In addition, the residency project will be given 8 weeks of studio space, access to the Ramolao Makhene Theatre for one week to present the outcomes of the residency (with a technician), access to the internet and some IT resources, and printing.
The resident artist will be asked to engage with the students at The Market Lab through masterclasses, seminars and ‘sharings’ of the creative process. This residency is open to practitioners of any level of experience, but you must be a practising theatre-maker.
To apply, please submit the following:
Brief history of you or your company
A concept note (What is your idea?)
Motivation (Why does your idea/process require the support of The Market Theatre Laboratory?)
How does this idea sit within your overall body of work?
Links to support material (videos, sound files, photos, etc.)
A budget (Cost breakdown of how you intend to use the grant)
NB: Please keep your application to a maximum of 3 pages.
A panel will be appointed for the selection process. The residency will take place at the Market Theatre Laboratory from January – February 2023.
Windybrow Arts Centre’s Inaugural Spelling Bee to Ignite Literacy and Learning in Inner-City Johannesburg
On Saturday, 30 September, the Windybrow Arts Centre, in collaboration with Camp I Am and Nando’s, is set to host its first-ever Spelling Bee competition for schools in inner-city Johannesburg. This exciting event will bring together thirty-seven Grade 7 learners from IH Harris Primary School, Mahlasedi College, New Model Private College, and participants of the Windybrow’s Literacy and Homework Support Programme to showcase their spelling prowess, compete for prizes, and earn the esteemed title of the city’s best speller. The Spelling Bee is a highlight of the Centre’s Literacy and Homework Support Programme, designed to empower local youth with critical language skills.
Connecting Through Literacy and Art
The Windybrow Arts Centre is a hub for connection and curiosity, dedicated to nurturing the talents and inquisitiveness of children and young adults. Through innovative programs rooted in best practice methodologies, the Centre fosters literacy skills and inspires the youth through the arts, driving positive social change in the community.
Gerard Bester, Head of the Windybrow Arts Centre, says the Spelling Bee marks an exciting and novel opportunity for local learners – “many of whom have never participated in such an event, and a fun way for them to develop essential skills”. Nando’s Benmore Gardens Branch Manager, Collen Nxumalo, a proud alumnus of Hillbrow Theatre, wanted a space at the Windybrow Arts Centre to hold a spelling bee, and Bester immediately responded: “we want to partner”! Nxumalo, a committed advocate for children and youth of the neighbourhoods surrounding the Windybrow Arts Centre wants to “offer learners in Johannesburg a stage to showcase their remarkable spelling abilities”. Bester reconnected with Kai Crooks-Chissano, Executive Director of Camp I Am, a youth educational program. She worked with the Department of Basic Education to launch the national Spelling Bee in 2015, and has supported district, provincial and national competitions. Crooks-Chissano mentored the Windybrow Arts Centre, and crafted the challenging wordlist, which will remain a secret until an hour before the competition. “A Spelling Bee is a great way to ignite a passion for spelling, which serves as the gateway to reading and writing” said Crooks-Chissano. She added that “participating in the competition boosts learners’ confidence and competitive spirit, enhancing their self-esteem as they perform in front of an audience.” With a few days to go, Bester enthused “may the best learner win!”
Countdown to an Educational Showdown
Event Details
Date and Time: Saturday 30 September 2023, at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Windybrow Arts Centre, corner Nugget & Pietersen Street, Doornfontein, Hillbrow
The Market Theatre Laboratory hosts an exciting October programme at the Ramaloa Makhene Theatre. Here’s what you can expect:
01 October: BRUSHES and BOTTLES
Lab alumni Siphesihle Gcebile Fakude will host her very first BRUSHES and BOTTLES event at 13h00 in our Sarafina rehearsal studio. A paint and pour affair, where you can step into your creativity with colour, wine, laughter and pure delight.
Tickets cost R300 per person and is inclusive of painting materials, 2 glasses of wine and snacks.
For ticket bookings visit webtickets.
4, 5, 6 & 8 October: BIG COMEDY LIVE FEST 2023
Joburg audiences should brace themselves! The BIG COMEDY LIVE Fest features a lineup of pivotal underground gigs that keep the comedy scene alive – all brought to the same festival and stage.
Wed, 4 October at 7pm : “UNTOLD! The Bigger Story”
Thurs, 5 October at 7pm : “Women Who Kill”
Friday, 6 October at 7pm : “Shakers Comedy Extreme : Borderline Offensive”
Sunday, 8 October at 3pm : “Phillip Dikotla – Killing”
Tickets are available at R200 per programme, and at the door for R300 per programme.
For ticket bookings visit webtickets.
11 – 14 October: 4 CUPS
4 Cups, written and directed by Leanetse Seekoe, is a montage of monologues told by four women who share their experiences of being black women in South Africa. In this play, the girls learn to become women in a world of traditional patriarchy and racism.
All shows start at 19h00 and on Sunday 15h00. Tickets are available at R100 a ticket.
For ticket bookings visit webtickets.
20, 21 & 22 October: SUITCASE PIECES
The 2023 second year students of the Market Theatre Laboratory are all packed up and ready to travel! As the end of year nears, they are in the process of creating what will be their first professional works that can easily fit into a single suitcase.
Suitcases Pieces are an invitation to witness some newly devised and adapted works ready to be taken on the road. Experience these unique theatrical works as graduating students prepare for their new journeys as professional artists.
Look out for further details which will be released soon.
26 October:THEATRE THINK TANK
This third and final instalment for the year, curated by Nondumiso Msimanga, will host The Beloved Collective. Nondumiso’s curated programme will invite us all to look deeper into what it means to be a vulnerable, living artist in South Africa and provoke us to question the risks of the exposed artist.
The Theatre Think Tank instalments, funded by the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS), serve as an exploration and reflection on the wealth of knowledge enacted, embodied and performed by practitioners in the arts and culture field. They are designed with the intention to organise this knowledge and make it accessible to the greater community.
Save the 26 October in your calendar!
Tickets to be released on webtickets soon look out for further details.
28 October: THE WRITING ON THE WALL
The Writing on the wall is a poetry showcase that aims to put up the best spoken word artists on stage, to present their 30 – 45 minutes showcase with the theme “The Writing on the wall”. Curated by Siyambonga Mdubeki and Masai Sepuru, this upcoming performance will be presented by Nue Sam.
Show begins at 15h00, tickets are available at R150 a ticket.
Johannesburg, Gauteng – Theatre enthusiasts rejoice as our acclaimed production company, LWuD Theatre, proudly presents Pink Tax: An Epic Journey, an extraordinary theatrical experience set to captivate minds and move hearts. This groundbreaking production will take the stage at The Market Theatre from the 18th of October to the 22nd of October, and we’re inviting audiences on an unforgettable journey. Pink Tax promises to transport spectators through time, space, and emotion, merging the realms of reality and imagination. The production showcases the brilliant artistic vision of our director Noxolo Bhengu, who has carefully curated every element to create an aweinspiring production. Pink Tax is an intricate blend of physical and epic theatre.
Pink Tax written by Noxolo Bhengu delves into the harrowing reality of human trafficking by pulling back the curtain to the dark underbelly of this modern-day slavery. In a city called Ntozonke [everything], it’s safe and peaceful. Neighbours coexist in harmony and nothing out of the ordinary happens. However, the residents are unaware that it’s the breeding ground for syndicates who lurk in street corners and buildings, watching and plotting, waiting to make their move. They prey on the impoverished by promising them false employment, they lure naive individuals into traps disguised as free access to living lavish lifestyles. They manipulate people who’ve surrendered their trust as lovers and family members.
When victims are uprooted from their homes, they’re taken to a strange place called Nantsika [thing] where they’re subjected to unpaid labour and other atrocities. Nantsika is an isolated and dilapidated toxic wasteland that is the source, transit, and destination for the third largest crime in the world.
Noxolo Bhengu’s gripping play uncovers a society where people have replaced objects as commodities. In this underworld, wealthy voyeurs sit in camera rooms placing their highest bids as they fight over the most sought-after purchase.
Pink Tax unveils the psyche of exhausted and distraught human beings on a quest for freedom. We witness how victims take a step towards reclaiming a sense of agency. They muster the strength to face an uncertain future while battling to accept their present reality as a result of their attachment to and yearning for the past.
We are delighted to showcase our commitment to supporting and nurturing emerging talent as this production features a talented ensemble cast of exceptional newcomers alongside seasoned performers, displaying the diversity of artistic voices in our vibrant theatre community.
LWuD Theatre has built a distinguished reputation in China for its commitment to excellence in theatrical productions, and Pink Tax is no exception. Our mission is to bring thought-provoking, emotionally gripping, and visually captivating theatre to our audience, and we are confident that this performance will exceed all expectations.
We cordially invite theatre enthusiasts, discerning critics, and the general public to join us for this unforgettable experience. Tickets for Pink Tax are available for purchase starting on the 19th of September on webticket.co.za We encourage early bookings as this production is anticipated to be a sell-out success.
For more information, interviews, or press passes, please contact Noxolo at 0739949320 or theatrelwud@gmail.com. High-resolution production images and additional press materials are available upon request.
About LWuD Theatre:
LWuD Theatre is a renowned production company committed to presenting captivating theatrical experiences to audiences globally. LWuD was created in 2017 in Shanghai, China. It has produced 3 original plays: Unpacking [performed in Nanjing and Shanghai] Pink Tax [performed in Shanghai and soon in Johannesburg] and Boxed, a children’s play which was performed in Nanjing and Ningbo. LWuD also provides creative drama workshops, After- school musical theatre programs, Theatre in Education workshops, industrial theatre, and summer theatre programs.
By upholding the highest standards of creativity, innovation, and artistic integrity, our productions continue to receive critical acclaim and engage audiences with raw honesty and authenticity.
Text Me When You Arrive is a powerful, satirical and physical exploration of the plight of the everyday South African woman through the lens of a playful YouTube channel.
The three ladies explore how women navigate their way through the “rules” set by rape culture, patriarchy and social media in her daily life on her seemingly impossible mission to not get raped and killed in South Africa.
The play puts to trial the social media trends around gender-based violence and questions the practicality of such hashtags and the ability of the digital space to exert tangible change in the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa. Using physical theatre and satire, the one hour piece consistently engages its audience in order to create space for all of use to realise where and how we relate to the “rules” that “keep women safe”
CREATIVE TEAM :
Text Me When You Arrive was devised and written by the cast Aaliyah Matintela, Sibahle Mangena and Thuli Nduvane. The show is directed by Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi. MoMo Matsunyane and Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi have served as a Mentors & Contributors on the production.
A BRIEF HISTORY
A workshop presentation of the play was commissioned in 2019 as part of the Market Theatre Laboratory “30 Years of the Lab” alumni festival. The piece has enjoyed successful runs at the Ramolao Makhene Theatre, the POPArt Theatre and at festivals, schools and corprate
venues. However, the piece still has the capacity to reach and change audiences with its strong and provocative message.
Through the various iteration of the work, the producers have observed that the piece has the power to engage audiences young and old, and to spark conversation on the topic of gender based violence. The identified best audience for this show is young people between the ages of 16 – 25.
LINKS & PRAISE FOR THE WORK:
POPArt Run (Audience responses) : https://archive.popartcentre.co.za/show/JAN_02_20/ Theatre Times Review : https://thetheatretimes.com/text-me-when-you-arrive-is-witty-punchy-and-hard-hitting/
Thuli Nduvane, is an Actress and Theatre-Maker from Johannesburg. Although she’s always loved theatre, she only began to pursue a career in the Performing Arts at the Market Theatre Laboratory after completing her degree in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Pretoria.
After graduating from The Lab in 2018, she joined the resident youth theatre company; Kwasha! Under the Market Theatre and Windybrow Arts Centre. Kwasha! walked away with two Awards from Standard Bank: a Bronze Ovation, as well as a Best Ensemble Ovation for their production Currently (G)old (dir. Aalliyah Matintela & Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi). Later that year, the company, directed by the TheatreDuo, staged Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros in collaboration with the French Institute (IFAS).
She co-devised the Naledi Award nominated satire, Text Me When You Arrive. The show highlights issues around plight of women living in the rape capital of the world as well as issues of GBV in the nation.
With a few commercials under her belt, Thuli shot her first shortfilm with Heartlines & Quizzical Pictures for SABC in 2022. She played the lead role of Melodi in the Fathers Matter film ‘Melodi’.
She currently works as a talent agent at Canvas Casting Artist Management based in Johannesburg.
AALLIYAH ZAMA MATINTELA (Cast)
Aalliyah Zama Matintela is an Actress, Theatre Maker, Director and playwright from Johannesburg. She is a graduate from the Market Theatre Laboratory, where she got a chance to learn different techniques and grow her skills in the craft. She directed and performed in various Community Theatre festivals and won stunning awards for her work.
Highlights of her career include performing in the Africa Day Spectacle in 2017, directed by Omphile Molusi as well as being cast in a supporting role in ’21 Wandah’ directed by Mwenya Kabwe in 2017.
In 2018 she was cast in a supporting role in the play ‘Platitudes’ directed by Nondumiso Msimanga. She co-directed the play “Marose”, which won Best Student Production in National Arts Festival 2018. She also directed “Currently (G)Old!”, which won a Standard Back Ovation at the National Arts Festival, and which was nominated for 3 Naledi Awards in 2019. In 2021 she
performed in Kgaube written and directed by Thabang Gabogope and “Text Me When You Arrive” which she co-created. She’s also done work on television, stirring in Adverts such as Consol and Chicken’Lickin.
SIBAHLE MANGENA (Cast)
Sibahle Mangena born and raised in Johannesburg. She is an actor, writer, and theatre maker and Naledi nominated director with an interest in body movement and text. She graduated from the Market Theatre Laboratory in Practical performance and theatre making in 2017. Her focus has always been on experimentation with the grotesque, play, emotion, physicality and vocal preparation as principles of embodied performance. Her main work is creating new work through devising, workshopping and improvisation.
Her repertoire of work includes several works such as, Umsebenzi ka Bra Shakes (The work of Shakespeare), Umthandazo, Keys to a Great Poetic Game, Houseboy by William Kentridge, Mandla Mbothwe’s HOW |Showing the Making created as part of different programs at The Centre for the Less Good Idea and Naledi nominated Text me when you arrive.
SINENHLANHLA MGEYI (Director)
Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi (28) is a theatre maker, director, dancer, choreographer and an actor who graduated from the Market Theatre Laboratory in 2017.
He began his performance training under the guidance of Howard ‘Brother’ Dladla at the Zase Laduma Art Centre in Mpumalanga. Following working at community art centres around the country, he joined the Market Theatre Laboratory.
Highlights of his performing career include roles in “Lampedusa Beach” (dir Raissa Bringi, Italy), “The Love of the Nightingale” (dir. Nondumiso Msimanga) and the award winning touring production “Hani : The Legacy” (dir. Leila Henriques). He also performed in “Rhinoceros” (dir. theatre Duo.)
As a director, he has been part of several award winning productions, including the winner of the Hillbrow Inner City Schools festival production “Thwala”, which he co-directed with Gcebile Dlamini, the National Arts Festival Student festival award winner “Pop I Cherri”, co-directed by Tumeka Matintela as well as “Currently (G)Old” which he co-directed with Aalliyah Matintela that won Best ensemble and Bronze ovation award in Makhanda National Art Festival.
Following his graduation from the Market Lab, he toured to the United Kingdom where he took part in a collaborative co-production “Encountering the Other” under the guidance of Clara Vaughan and Jaques de Silva. He then joined the Kwasha! Theatre Company, where he has been part of major productions such as “Error SA Comedy” (dir. Christopher D. Betts) and “The Little Prince” (dir. Mwenya Kabwe and Clara Vaughan). His currently a trainer at the Market Theatre Laboratory.
KHETHUKUTHULA JELE (Stage Manager)
Khethukuthula Jele is a performer, writer and administrator from Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal. She trained at The Market Theatre Laboratory where she graduated in 2019. During her school career, she had the privilege of working with directors such as Andrew Buckland, Mwenya
Kabwe and Mahlatsi Mokgonyana, to name a few. She was part of the devising cast of Le
Journal, which won the best actors and best writing award at the 2019 National Arts Festival Student Fringe. Professionally, Khethu has worked as a stage manager for the production Text Me when You Arrive and as a performer and brand ambassador for Tshepo 1Million.
An overall dreamer at heart, she chooses to focus her career and energy toward storytelling, embodying shared experiences and producing alternative worlds and realities that inspire hope and make us a better people.
A Critically Acclaimed Play”Mwana KuChema” Returns to the Stage Following Successful Run At The 1s and 2s Theatre Festival.
After a resounding success at the 1s and 2s Theatre Festival in July, “Mwana KuChema”is set to captivate audiences once again as it returns to the spotlight at Market Theatre.
The play,which made its debut to widespread acclaim at the Tembisa Theatre Festival in February 2023,is an artistic masterpiece that delves into the intricate journey of self-discovery within the context of a family’s well-guarded secret.
Written and directed by the immensely talented Linda Wa Ka Shabangu.
“Mwana KuChema” is a compelling narrative that transcends time and space,interweaving the past,present,and future.
The play serves as a powerful exploration of forgiveness and the quest for healing,resonating not only within individuals but also echoing through our society,communities, and homes.
Through its poignant storytelling,”Mwana KuChema”raises thought-provoking questions about the challenges of existence in an increasingly deteriorating environment.
The play offers a searing commentary on humanity’s struggle to coexist within the confines of township life,shedding light on the fractures within family structures,the depths of self-destruction, and the enduring power of parental love and guidance in black communities.
At the heart of “Mwana KuChema”is the heart-wrenching journey of Tswarelo,a character whose path of self-destruction and eventual self-discovery grips the audience’s emotions.
The play navigates through Tswarelo’s pursuit of answers to life’s most pressing questions,all while attempting to escape the harsh realities that surround her.
“Mwana KuChema”is a theatrical experience that transcends age barriers,offering a profound reflection on the nature of townships and the crucial role of parental guidance in shaping our understanding of the world.
Audiences ranging from teenagers to adults are invited to witness this extraordinary production,which promises to leave an indelible mark on hearts and minds alike.
For more information about “Mwana KuChema” and ticket details, please visit www.markettheatre.co.za.
Stay updated on the latest news by following Linda Wa Ka Shabangu’s official Facebook page.
Tickets are also available for purchase at webticket.co.za or directly at the door of the Market Theatre.
Don’t miss the opportunity to experience “Mwana KuChema” live on stage.
Date: 20-23 September 2023
Venue: Market Theatre
Ticket Price: R100
For media inquiries, interviews, and press passes, please contact:
This story follows four young girls aged 12 to 16 years and it explores their curiosity with life in the living and life after death. They explore this in their childlike manner, through the games they play together and the stories they have been told by elders. They create a whole new world of their own where there is a strong division between Lana (the land of the living) and Ngaphesheya (the land of the dead where the cemetery lies). They are met with a new friend who emerges from the other world of Ngaphesheya, whom they accept into their everyday living of playfulness and welcoming this new member into their circle changes their lives.
In Ngaphesheya, the 6th edition of the Kwasha! Theatre Company showcases an amazing piece that draws light to the themes of death, purgatory and paranormality. They do this by telling the story in narration, song and physical chorus work. Although, the story is told in a light manner, events get darker as all the characters find themselves experiencing a whole new forbidden land that is introduced by the character of Pinkie. We witness the other three girls, Nobahle (16), Sphiwo (12) and Owethu (14) being influenced by Pinkie to explore the land of Ngaphesheya, a land that has always remained unknown to them. With young Sphiwo longing to again see her late mother and twin sister who passed during childbirth, an interest to visit the other world is evoked. Will this journey feed their curiosity or further swallow them into a world of darkness?
Growing up in a village in the Eastern Cape, many stories and superstitions surrounding death and the afterlife were passed down generations. “Never point at a grave” – or you’ll be inviting death unto your family, “Never whistle indoors” – uyahlola (you are attracting the tragedy of death), “Hold your breath when passing through or driving past a cemetery” – you might inhale an evil force or a recently departed spirit looking to take up residency in your body, to name a few.
This planted curiosity in me about what truly happens when people crossover, is there a life after death?
I have since learned that not everyone who crosses over gets the everlasting peace that is promised upon death. In Ngaphesheya, we explore and imagine what happens in the other world as we paint our own picture of what life after death may look like.
Directing a theatre production has always been a dream for me and I am grateful for the opportunity to do so beside an incredibly talented group of female performers. Taking up this role is something very special to me, it plays a part in me trusting myself and growing as a creative. It definitely is something that will forever be engraved in my journey as a young artist.
A very huge and special thank you goes out to our mentor in this process, Aus’ Momo Matsunyane, ndibamba ngazo zozibini. Thank you for seeing our story, believing in it and guiding us to tell it in the greatest way. You’re phenomenal.
I hope everyone enjoys our story as much as we did making it.
MENTOR
KGOMOTSO ‘MOMO’ MATSUNYANE
Kgomotso ‘MoMo’ Matsunyane (b. 1988) is an actor, playwright and director. She has performed in numerous plays, films and television shows and has subsequently been nominated for and won several awards including: Hlakanyana The Musical, which won a whopping 8 out of the 14 awards they were nominated for at the 2023 Naledi’s. Matsunyane won for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role as Mawethu along with Best Ensemble and Best Production of a Musical; Best Actress in A Leading Role (Have You Seen
Zandile? ;Naledi Theatre Awards 2014), Best Supporting Actress (Ankobia ;SA Theatre Magazine Awards 2017), Best Ensemble (Animal Farm; Naledi Theatre Awards 2015), Best Supporting Role (Tsotsi The Musical; Fleur Du Cap Awards 2018) amongst many others.
She has also recently acted in a new sketch comedy show called ROSA directed by Kagiso Lediga scheduled to play on popular streaming network, Netflix in 2023. In the same year Matsunyane was festival director for the acclaimed Zwakala Festival and will be mentoring the winning group as the show takes to the stage in October 2023.
MoMo has been a professional actor since 2004. She obtained an Honours Degree in Dramatic Arts from Wits University in 2012, majoring in Performance as well as Film and Television. In 2022 she performed in If A Tree Falls which was also directed by acclaimed director
Janice Honeyman. In 2020, she performed in Switzerland in Converting Eviction. In 2021, MoMo was the Head Writer of a new musical produced by Madevu Entertainment and UJ
Arts Centre called Hlakanyana directed by Janice Honeyman. She was also cast in Standard Bank Young Artist Award Winner for Dance, Lulu Mlangeni’s NAF production Kganya which made its live debut at the internationally acclaimed festival Afrovibes in 2022 and it will also be playing at The State Theatre in July 2023.
STAGE MANAGER
ZAMANTIMANDE SHONGWE
Zamantimande Shongwe, a venue technician. I graduated with a BA in Drama & Theatre Studies (Technical) at the University of Stellenbosch. I specialise in stage management and lighting but am skilled in costume making, production management, continuity, video production, décor, props, sound and stage make up. I am from the East Rand, Johannesburg and am currently working at the Market theatre Laboratory.
I am the stage manager for Ngaphesheya by Kwasha the 6th.
CAST
NONTUTHUKO AZANDE MKHUNGO
Nontuthuko Azande Mkhungo is originally from KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. She obtained a degree in Bachelor of live Performance (stage & screen acting) at AFDA Johannesburg in 2017. She has the utmost respect & passion for the arts – in its entire form that is whether it’s on stage, screen or behind the scenes.
She is an extremely hardworking and talented theatre practitioner & screen actor. She is a musician, presenter and dancer. She is also very skilled when it comes to behind the scenes work which includes editing, logging & cinematography.
She lives by a mantra that she has created for herself which is: “I have no plan B because art is all I know”.
CAST
NDONIE NTSHIZA
Ndonie Ntshiza was born and bred in Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal. She is a 23 year old qualified theater and screen actress. During her years of studying she took part in presenting classes.
Later on, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Live Performance at the School for the Creative Economy, AFDA. Shortly after, she was selected to join Duma Ndlovu’s Actor’s Academy, a space that presented her with theater and television acting roles. Currently, she is part of the 6th edition of the Kwasha! Theatre Company.
Ndonie shows great interest in voice acting, improvisation and writing in her home language, isiZulu. She continues to work on her standard American and British accents.
Her latest project is the theater production, NGAPHESHEYA. A play that’s allowed her to exercise her additional skills: producing, character styling and writing – a hobby she intends to develop in the near future.
CAST
NGWEDI
Ngwedi is a Theatre and Performance graduate from The Market Theatre Laboratory with a gentle spirit. She was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa and is 22 years of age. She is currently under a theatre company called Kwasha The 6th. She is an observer and storyteller. She is a vessel for expression and often finds her voice rooted in the intricacies of the human experience. As a writer at heart, a large part of her work exists with a sense of poetry. She is also a mover, whose skills lie in physical theatre. Ngwedi is a body that is constantly in a state of becoming and she uses this to challenge the constructs of theatre.
CAST
SINEGUGU SHANTEL MDLULI
Sinegugu Shantel Mdluli, is a 21 year old theatre performer and vocalist originally from Mpumalanga.
She recently graduated from Tshwane University of Technology with a diploma in Performing arts specialising in Musical Theatre. Her musical theatre practice explored tap dance, ballet, theatre dance as well as vocal training and acting. Her experience of theatre performance is mainly tertiary based with productions from Breytenbach theatre as well as The South African State Theatre such as Before and After! musical, Eviction Dance production, Sheila’s day, Mbombozone the musical amongst many others.
She is currently under the 6th Kwasha! Theatre Company at The Market Theatre Foundation in collaboration with Windybrow Arts centre.
She aspires to work on more platforms that will enhance her artistic self.
A Marry Little Christmas, a new South African Comedy by Greg Homann
The Market Theatre and How Now Brown Cow Productions are proud to announce their partnership on a brand new South African comedy, A MARRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS by Greg Homann.
This end-of-the-year offering is set to be a highlight of Johannesburg’s festive season as it takes to the John Kani stage from 29 November to 24 December 2023.
A MARRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS was commissioned out of How Now Brown Cow’s Writer’s Collective during the 2020 Pandemic shutdown. It was written by Greg Homann before he took on the appointment as the Market Theatre’s Artistic Director in January of this year. This premiere production of the laugh-a-minute play will be directed by multiple award-winning Charmaine Weir-Smith featuring an impressive cast of nine.
Owner of How Now Brown Cow Productions, Julie-Anne McDowell says, “How Now Brown Cow is thrilled to see the first of The Writers’ Collective plays by Greg Homann go from the page to the stage. We are proud to present a brand spanking new South African festive offering in co-production with The Market Theatre on the John Kani stage with some of the best loved local talent”.
This hilarious new South African play is set on an unnamed golf-estate somewhere on the north-west edge of Johannesburg and promises to be the heart-warming holiday comedy you need at the end of this year. It’s story about family, love, misunderstandings, and the topsy-turvy nature of following cultural practices will lift spirits and leave you smiling.
Arnold Hartmann is 45 and three quarters. He has big plans to propose to Natalie Cloete before hosting the perfect ‘traditional’ Christmas lunch to unify his and her family. But a nightmare has caused him to oversleep, and before he can build up the courage to pop the question, the two families have started to arrive …
Homann says, “This play has been a few years in the making, with the initial idea for it dating back to an animated festive lunch with my own family. Although not based directly on my family, the roots of it are deeply connected to my own families dynamics and antics.”
The sensational cast features some of South Africa’s best loved talent and stars, Antony Coleman (Houseboy, Borderline) and Kim Cloete (Joanie Galant – Hulle) return to The Market as the leading couple at the centre of the comedy. They are joined by James Borthwick (Amadeus, Uncle Vanya), Judy Ditchfield, (6 Dance Lessons in 6 Weeks, Menopause The Musical), Louise Saint-Claire (My Name is Asher Lev, Pterodactyls), Ilse Klink (The Amen Corner, Mamma Mia), Roberto Pombo (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Epicene Butcher), Zolani Shangase (West Side Story, The Color Purple), and Trevor Lynch (In the Blood, Hunters Gatherers).
Come and start your end-of-year festivities at The Market Theatre this year!
Tickets range in price from R150 to R250. For your not-to-be-missed-end-of-year outing, book via webtickets or call for discounted block bookings.
To make block bookings and discounts please contact Anthony Ezeoke 011 832 1641ext 203/ 083 246 4950
NOTES TO EDITORS
GREG HOMANN – Writer
Greg Homann is the Artistic Director of the iconic Market Theatre. He has been a leading figure in the South African theatrical landscape for well over a decade. His influential work as a director, dramaturg, and playwright includes award-winning and imaginative theatre across a wide range of forms. Amongst his 25 professional directing credits are eleven world premieres – six of them being new South African plays.
Greg’s produced work as a writer to date include seven plays, a co-written musical, and two adaptions of operas into pocket-size versions for small casts.
His most celebrated plays include A Voice I Cannot Silence which he co-wrote with Ralph Lawson, and which enjoyed a national tour around South Africa and won Best New South African Play of 2015; his Standard Bank Young Artist Award play, Oedipus @ Koö-Nú!; and the Ovation Award-winning One Woman Farce.
In June 2022 he premiered a new verbatim-based play called In Our Skin with the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) in Birmingham. His most recently staged work is a new version of Eugène Ionesco’s play, The Lesson which he adapted and directed under commission from The Market Theatre in 2022.
CHARMAINE WEIR-SMITH – Director
Charmaine is an award-winning actress and director. She won theVitaAward for Best Supporting Actressfor her portrayal of Ophelia in “Hamlet”. She played Daisy in “The Young Visitors” – VitaNomination for Best Actress, Agnes in “Agnes of God” and Em in “A Story of an African Farm” to name a few. Charmaine received the NalediAward for Best Actress in aComedy for “2 4 The Price of 1”and for Sylvaine Strike’s “Pregnant Pause” a Naledi Award Nomination for Best Actress. For six seasons, Charmaine played Shanell in Paul Slabolepszy’s “Suddenly the Storm” for which she was nominated for Naledi andFleur du Cap awards.
Charmaine’s directing credits include: The Vita nominated musical “I Love you, You’re Perfect, Now Change”, “Annie” – Vita Award for Best Musical Production, “Big Band Blast” – Naledi Award for Best Musical, “Captain Entertainment” – Naledi Award BestRevue, “Tale of the Allergists Wife” and “Glorious”. She directed Nick Boraine in “Sic” which toured South Africa and had a successful off-Broadway run in New York. She directed Athol Fugard’s “The Train Driver” for The Market Theatre – Naledi Award for BestDirector and in 2022/3 “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” for How Now Brown Cow Productions, winning 5 Naledi TheatreAwards including Best Director for Charmaine and Best Production. In 2023, Charmaine directed two sold-out seasons of “Nothing But The Truth” for The Theatre on the Square.
Charmaine’s television and film career has spanned more than two decades with lead roles in Isidingo, Binnelanders and Scandal and in the UK ITV’s production of “Wild at Heart” and Showmax’s “The Girl from St Agnes”.
Her latest film credits include Netflix’s “Jadotville” and “The Jakes Are Missing”.
FOSTERING INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP IN THE ARTS - THE MARKET THEATRE LABORATORY'S THEATRE THINK TANK RETURNS FOR A SECOND INSTALLMENT
The Market Theatre Laboratory presents the second Theatre Think Tank instalment, curated by cultural policy specialist, Boitumelo ‘Tumy’ Motsoatsoe. After the success of the first instalment at this year’s National Arts Festival, The Market Lab now hosts a free conversation focussing on succession planning in the arts and culture sector.
The Theatre Think Tank instalments, funded by the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS), serve as an exploration and reflection on the wealth of knowledge enacted, embodied and performed by practitioners in the arts and culture field, specifically with the intention of gathering and organising this knowledge in a way that draws on the knowledge of local communities, and made accessible to the greater community.
Speaking on the upcoming Theatre Think Tank, Cherae Halley, the head of The Market Theatre Lab has this to say:
“This second Theatre Think Tank for 2023, titled Connected Circles: Fosta-ring an inclusive, intergenerational and interdependent community of creative leaders and intermediaries, is an exciting opportunity for us to speak back to the succession of leadership in our sector. As someone who has stepped into a leadership role, I am certain that the conversation is one of great value and will contribute significantly to research through an intergenerational approach”.
“Bula(ng) Sekele!” which loosely means: “make the circle bigger” is a phrase used in children’s games and later popularised through a pop song produced by Thabo Bogopa Junior (JR). It is also the point of departure for the Connected Circles Theatre Think Tank, challenging leaders and intermediaries in the creative sector to consider the role that a more interconnected and inclusive community might play in the process of rebuilding and repositioning the sector post COVID-19.
Borrowing from the principles of Sankofa, Ubuntu and Emergent Strategy by writer and activist, adrienne maree brown, the Theatre Think Tank aims to deliberately convene different generations or exclusive circles of creative leaders and intermediaries, from various schools of thought, into one space, where they can reflect and share ideas/ideals on how to meaningfully create linkages or pathways between these circles.
Through this Think Tank experience, Tumy invites our greater community to share their thoughts on the role that interdependent and inclusive leadership can play in building broader capacity, fostering accountability, enabling succession planning and in facilitating a meaningful flow of power and resources across the network. While initiating a lekgotla that expands on the notion of a fishbowl, Tumy will probe the following questions to be discussed:
“What are the core “eco-systemic” challenges that have created these barriers of collaboration and how can we work together to break them down? Equally so, what does a thriving sector look like and how can we make it accessible to diverse individuals?”
If you are engaged in the arts, or are just curious, don’t miss The Connected Circles Theatre Think Tank which takes place on Sunday the 17th of September at The Market Theatre Laboratory in Newtown at 14h00.
For information on reservations and further enquiries please contact The Market Theatre Laboratory on 011 838 7498 or contact Thandeka Nheke on thandeka@marketlab.co.za
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