Pride Month at The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe

Pride Month at The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe

Paint-On-Stage Productions in association with The Art Cave and The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe present ‘The Queer In The Queue’, a bold and intimate portrait of queer love in the face of rejection and red tape by Jason Wheeler, starring performer Luke Ness playing multiple characters.

The play runs from 2 – 5 October 2025 at 19:30pm, with two matinees at 3:30pm over the weekend in the 50-seater fringe venue.

Curated by The Art Cave in celebration of Pride Month, ‘The Queer In The Queue’ follows a newly married gay man trying to change to a new name; one name that changes everything. “In this deeply moving and sharply humorous solo performance, a gay man sits in the dreaded Home Affairs queue, paperwork in hand, ready to change his surname to that of his beloved husband. But what begins as a bureaucratic chore becomes a heartfelt excavation or memory, identity, and family. As he inches forward in the line, the protagonist unpacks his complicated-relationship with his father, the scars of homophobia, and the bittersweet triumph of reclaiming his name, not just legally, but emotionally and spiritually,” explains writer and director, Jason Wheeler.

Staged with innovative intimacy, the audience is seated in a U-shape formation, mimicking the very queue our character finds himself in. With no fourth wall to hide behind, the audience becomes the other citizens in line, witnessing his story unfold step by step. In the centre of this space lies memory itself, a performance zone where the character relives moments from his life with poignancy and poetic insight. 

Wheeler – an emerging playwright – brings his  wit, nuance and emotional range to this highly personal work. Following the acclaim of his previous works, ‘The Marvellous Mr Moffie’, ‘4:59’ and ‘Birds of a Feather’, Wheeler continues to explore queer identity, vulnerability and the pursuit of dignity with unflinching honesty. In 2024, Wheeler was appointed Associate Playwright at The Market Theatre and won the STAND (Sustaining Theatre and Dance Foundation) Global South Playwright Competition.

The play’s solo performer, Ness, recently graduated with distinction from the University of Witwatersrand, and has numerous roles under his belt, including Hally in Fugard’s ‘Master Harold and the Boys’, Gigi in ‘Bobo Eats Sand’ and Doctor A in the absurdist piece, ‘The Patient’.

Presented during The Art Cave’s Pride and Identity Spotlight this October, ‘The Queer In The Queue’ is more than a play about changing a surname; it’s about changing the story we tell ourselves, and finding freedom in the truth of who we are. “In many ways, queer lives are suffocated by a bureaucracy that turns a blind eye on the many queers in the queue looking for dignity. There’s no better way to mark Pride Month than tackling real issues facing the queer community in an entertaining yet meaningful way, which is what this play offers,” says The Art Cave, curators of The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe.

Tickets for the 5 performances are available on Webtickets for R100.

ENDS

Kippies Fringe is an initiative of The Market Theatre, curated by Art Cave.

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.

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Bold and Provocative Work Spotlights Queer Love

Bold and Provocative Work Spotlights Queer Love

Unheard and often suppressed Queer voices are set for their moment of truth, as Vuyelwa Maluleke presents her bold, visceral poem-in-chorus – ‘The Blue Album’ – at The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe. Written and performed by Vuyelwa Maluleke, the show will run at Kippies for a total of five performances, from 21 – 24 August 2025.

 ‘The Blue Album’ fuses poetry, monologue, movement and choral voice to stage an intimate portrait of Queer life and love in the township of Makaleng. It traces the homecoming of Khumo, a young Lesbian woman, as she confronts the afterlife of a traumatic incident and the piercing silence of her community.

Maluleke navigates the complex terrain of public erasures and private reckonings, offering a story that is as lyrically tender as it is politically defiant, disrupting societal norms of love and who deserves it. The work further reimagines the meaning of love, reclaiming it from the often commercialised romance and relocating it in community.

 

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As this new piece dares to centre Black Queer love and survival in spaces where it is often unwelcome, it arrives at the key question: What is left behind when home becomes the mouth of a man? With profound urgency and agency, the piece navigates  the borders of love and danger, memory and survival. Weaving intimate monologues with the public silences of township life, Maluleke exposes with aching precision the slow violence’s Black Queer Women endure.

“This piece is an attempt to make visible the revolutionary remedies of Black Queer love. I wanted to write something that would not only testify to Khumo’s survival, but sing of its sweetness and cast back the light of all of us. This is a ritual. A return. A resistance,” explains Maluleke.

Maluleke is an actor, lecturer and writer with an MA in Creative Writing (with distinction) from Rhodes University, and a BA in Dramatic Arts from the University of Witwatersrand. A runner-up for the 5th Gerald Kraak Prize, Maluleke was also shortlisted for the Kelsey Street Press QTBIPOC Prize for the manuscript ‘Falling Toward the Centre’ (2021) as well as The Sillerman First Book Prize for ‘The Blue Album’ manuscript (2021).

Again, she was a semi-finalist in the Boston Annual Poetry Contest (2020), and has worked with directors such as Sylvaine Strike, James Ngcobo and Jo Bonney. Her most notable performances are from the television production of ‘Shreds and Dreams 2’ and national touring theatre productions of ‘Tartuffe’ and ‘Emotional Creature: it’s a girl thing’.

ENDS.

Kippies Fringe is an initiative of The Market Theatre, curated by Art Cave.

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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Breakfast with Mugabe

Breakfast with Mugabe

“Breakfast with Mugabe” is a National Arts Festival, The Market Theatre and Festival Enterprise Catalyst (FEC) co-production, in association with the Calvin Ratladi Foundation. This gripping psychological thriller is directed by Calvin Ratladi, 2025 Standard Bank Young Artist for Theatre.

It is set in the final years of Robert Mugabe’s rule in Zimbabwe. Inspired by real events, Fraser Grace’s award-winning play explores the troubled mind of the once-revered leader as he battles inner demons and political paranoia. Haunted by a malevolent spirit, Mugabe reluctantly seeks the help of a white psychiatrist, leading to a tense and dangerous power struggle. Following its South African premiere at the National Arts Festival, this riveting production comes to The Market Theatre, delving into themes of power, fear, and the ghosts of history. Directed by Calvin Ratladi, with a brilliant cast and searing dialogue, “Breakfast with Mugabe” offers a chilling glimpse into the psyche of a man clinging to control. Don’t miss this compelling drama that resonates far beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.

The Festival Enterprise Catalyst (FEC) project is a joint initiative by the National Arts Festival, Nasionale Afrikaanse Teater-inisiatief (NATi), Concerts SA, SAMRO, Woordfees, Aardklop, Suidoosterfees, KKNK and the Tribuo Fund with support from the Jobs Fund and contributing funding from Standard Bank South Africa.

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Phakamisa Dance Commission

Phakamisa Dance Commission

This is a National Arts Festival, The Market Theatre and JOMBA! Dance Festival (Centre for Creative Arts) co-production, with contributing funding from Standard Bank South Africa. It is choreographed by Asanda Ruda, 2025 Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance and recipient of the 2025 CCA JOMBA! and The Market Theatre Phakamisa Dance Commission. Asanda Ruda is presented as part of a double bill at the Market Theatre Foundation

Titled the Phakamisa Dance Commission – with reference to the isiZulu idea of lifting up and holding – this joint commission is an ongoing commitment to the illustrious JOMBAand The Market Theatre partnership – started in 2023 to grow and support South African dance. As an extension of JOMBA@ The Market, the second instalment of the innovative joint commission will be presented by this year’s recipient, Soweto-born Asanda Ruda.

The two dance pieces taking the stage are:

KEMET – Black Lands: A solo work that traverses generational alienation, political defiance, and personal emancipation. Rooted in Afro-contemporary expression, it navigates the intersections of space, politics, and culture, transforming the body into a vessel of ancestral memory and self-liberation. Ruda’s movement affirms presence in a world that often marginalises difference.

Alkamal Walkamal Almutlaq or Completeness and Absolute Wholeness (ancient Arabic), explores the eternal bond between spirit and soul. It delves into how these elements interconnect to heal and revive. Ethereal Afro-contemporary movement and symbolic rituals invite audiences to contemplate love, health, and balance.

The commission aims to support and make space for innovative and provocative South African dance makers. For one week only, this is a chance for audiences to see the work of one of South Africa’s most exciting dance-makers.

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Barber Shop Chronicles (PG)

Barber Shop Chronicles

It’s time to cheat on your barber as Barber Shop opens in Johannesburg

All men will be free this November to cheat on their barber and never regret it, as The Market Theatre ends the year with staging the renowned “Barber Shop Chronicles” for the first time on African soil. Brilliantly written by Nigerian-born British playwright, Inua Ellams, the international-hit play is directed by Sibusiso Mamba. 

It will run from 6 – 30 November 2025 in the John Kani Theatre.

The play chronicles six barbershops across the cities of Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos, Accra as well as London. It’s an insightful exploration of masculinity, vulnerability and connection. Ellams explains, “The narrative unfolds over a single day, connecting the lives and stories of African men. These barbershops serve as sanctuaries where men gather not just for haircuts but for camaraderie, debate and solace, exploring themes of identity, fatherhood, history, relationships, culture, race and masculinity. It also offers a poignant and humorous exploration of the African diaspora experience.”

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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.

A Tribute to Athol Fugard from the Market Theatre Foundation

A Tribute to Athol Fugard from the Market Theatre Foundation

The Market Theatre joins the world in mourning the passing of Athol Fugard, a titan of South African and world theatre whose voice and vision shaped the landscape of storytelling both at home and abroad.

Fugard’s unflinching commitment to truth, justice, and the act of witnessing through theatre resonated deeply within the Market Theatre’s walls, where his plays found a natural home and a passionate audience. His long list of remarkable works – Boesman and Lena, “Master Harold”… and the Boys, The Road to Mecca, People are Living There, Hello & Goodbye, Nongogo among many others – confronted what it is to be human in an imperfect world, and offered a study of relationships that are unsurpassed. His collaborative plays, with the likes of John Kani and Winston Ntshona, like Sizwe Bansi is Dead and The Island challenged injustice and held a mirror to our society that was recognised globally.

As an artist, his words carried the weight of history and the depth of lived experience. As a playwright, his legacy continues to inspire generations of playwrights who strive to tell stories with courage and conviction.

The Market Theatre Foundation acknowledges Athol Fugard’s immeasurable contribution to the stage and to the fight for a more just world. Our theatre and society would be a lesser space without him. His passing marks the end of a life lived so wholeheartedly for our theatre, and his influence will endure with every audience moved by the power of theatre.

We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who loved and admired him.

RIP Athol Fugard. Your words live on.

 

The Good White

The Good White

The Good White Confronts South Africa’s Non-Racial Project

The Market Theatre in partnership with Suidoosterfees is proud to present ‘The Good White’, a bold new play by acclaimed South African playwright Mike van Graan. Premiering in Cape Town for two performances only on 1 and 2 May at the Suidoosterfees, this gripping drama then runs from 8 May to 1 June 2025 at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg.

Set in 2016 during the height of the #FeesMustFall protests – a time when South African students were demanding free, decolonised education while the country was reeling from political scandals and corruption – the play brings together four sharply drawn characters, portrayed by an all-star cast: Russel Savadier, Renate Stuurman, Vusi Kunene, and Shonisani Masutha. As the characters navigate a volatile social and political landscape, they are each pushed to re-examine what it means to live in a South African society still healing from its divided past.

At the centre of the play is Professor Simon Whitehead, who earned his credentials through his involvement in the anti-apartheid struggle. As a member of university senior management, he now faces a new generation that sees him not as an ally, but as part of the problem. 

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Van Graan’s script, which is his first multi-character work since ‘When Swallows Cry’ in 2018, doesn’t shy away from difficult questions. Instead, it leans into them with wit, honesty, and a sharp theatrical flair. The result is a piece that’s as entertaining as it is deeply affecting – one that challenges audiences to reflect on the idea of non-racialism and the promise of a truly equal society.

Van Graan expresses excitement over his return to The Market Theatre to stage a multi-character play for the first time post-COVID, further stressing the impact of the pandemic on independent theatre-makers like him. Being able to once again stage a multi-character piece is therefore a significant moment for the renowned playwright. “As an independent theatre-maker, I’ve concentrated on recovery through one-person shows that are portable, cost-effective and yet with good income-generating potential. ‘The Good White’ is the first multi-character play I’ve had staged since 2018, so I’m extremely grateful to The Market Theatre, Die Suidoosterfees and the National Afrikaans Theatre Initiative for co-producing it,” states van Graan.

Directed by award-winning theatre-maker Greg Homann, who also serves as the Artistic Director of The Market Theatre Foundation, ‘The Good White’ dives headfirst into the uncomfortable but necessary conversations around race, privilege, and South Africa’s ongoing struggle with inequality.

‘The Good White’ forms part of a powerful theatrical reflection curated at The Market Theatre on the #FeesMustFall movement, now approaching its tenth anniversary. Also featured in this reflection is ‘The Fall’, which is currently on until 4 May 2025. ‘The Fall’ is a collaborative work created by former University of Cape Town students involved in the #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall protests. Together, these two productions offer a layered and engaging look at how a generation of young South Africans is redefining activism and pushing for real transformation.

“Through ‘The Good White’ and ‘The Fall’, we’re creating a space to examine the ideals, the tensions, and the realities faced by young people in post-struggle South Africa. These plays are fiery and heartfelt, with a theatrical pulse that is dynamic and edgy. They speak to anyone who’s ever questioned their place in the country, or wanted to change it,” says Greg Homann.

Homann also points to the historical role of The Market Theatre as a home for protest theatre.

“As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2026, we’re reminded of our roots as a platform for bold, socially engaged storytelling. Just as the theatre was born out of the 1976 student uprisings, we see the Fallist movement as another defining moment that demands our attention – and our artistic response.”

Whether you lived through the protests or are learning about them now, ‘The Good White’ promises to be a gripping and illuminating experience. It invites audiences into a conversation that’s still unfolding – a conversation about justice, opportunity, and what it truly means to build a better, more inclusive South Africa.

Don’t miss this thrilling production. Tickets for the short premiere period at  Suidoosterfees and for The Market Theatre run across May are available via Webtickets. Half-price specials for all Wednesdays apply at The Market Theatre, as well as special discounts for preview performances and groups of four or more.

‘The Good White’ is a co-production between The Market Theatre and Suidoosterfees, with support from the National Afrikaans Theatre Initiative (NATi).

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

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The Last Country

The Last Country

An immersive theatre production about migrant women finds a home at The Market Theatre in Africa Month

 ‘The Last Country’ is an immersive and deeply moving theatre piece exploring the stories of migrant women. It is set to run at The Market Theatre from 15 May – 1 June 2025. Through the stories of Ofrah from the DRC, MaThwala from Ndwedwe in KwaZulu-Natal, Aamiina from Somalia, and Aneni from Zimbabwe, the audience is intimately immersed in experiences of leaving home and arriving in a South African city. The script carefully weaves together experiences of struggle, pain, humour, hope and resilience in ways that surface our shared humanity, and how the smallest acts of kindness can support and transform the experiences of those seeking sanctuary in our cities.

 The play is created by the award-winning Empatheatre team (known to Jo’burg audiences for the multi-award-winning ‘Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater’ play). It is co-written by Neil Coppen and Mpume Mthombeni, and directed by Neil Coppen.

Sociologist, Dr. Dylan McGarry, Producer and Co-founder of Empatheatre, alongside Coppen and Mthombeni, sees this production as a work “…that is love made visible”, adding that it “brings audiences into a shared active empathy”.

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‘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.

Mantsopa

Mantsopa

New Mantsopa-Inspired Play With Music Celebrates the Resilience of African Women

Following a highly successful staged reading performed at The Market Theatre on 5 October 2024, “Mantsopa”, a play with music written and directed by veteran actor and theatre-maker, Dr. Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha, makes a return as a fully developed production, running for 10 performances from 30 April – 11 May.

Mantsopa, whose grave lies at Modderpoort in the eastern Free State, was born in 1793 and died in 1908. A survivor of famine and subsequent cannibalism, she grew to become a trusted advisor to King Moshoeshoe I, correctly predicting victorious battle outcomes for Basotho against colonial settlers and speaking truth to power with unshaking honesty. Mantsopa’s tale is interwoven with the very existence of Basotho, highlighting the immense contributions of women in shaping history. Gifted with sharp foresight and divine wisdom, she stands as a symbol of resilient femininity and a source of hope to many women battling structural limitations.

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In this brand new work, the story of diviner, seer and rainmaker, Mantsopa, is shared through the journey of her fictitious great-granddaughter, Tholoana, who has inherited the gift of song. Tholoana’s blossoming music career coincides with echoes from the spirit world to take her great-grandmother’s gift. As she struggles to reconcile the gift and the calling, Mantsopa’s towering greatness compassionately guides her through the internal conflict. Tholoana’s journey of refusing to be reduced to the entrapments of fame delivers a powerful message for women to claim their power.

Writer and director, Mofokeng wa Makhetha, calls the play with music both a contemporary interpretation of Mantsopa’s legacy using modern musical instruments that will appeal to a broad audience, and a celebration of the Basotho people more than 200 years since King Moshoeshoe I formed the nation.

“This production is a cultural journey into the heart of the Basotho people through one of our most extraordinary icons, Mantsopa, revered by all who witnessed the accuracy of her war-time prophecies and felt the first raindrops as she summoned the floodgates of heaven for rain. It is theatrically realised through a blend of dramatic action and musical storytelling, tapping into the traditions of Basotho as people of narrative, song and dance. The delivery appeals to the current times, allowing audiences to view Mantsopa from a modern perspective,” states Mofokeng wa Makhetha.      

Award-winning multilingual actress, Florence Masebe, takes on the role of “Mma-Tholoana”,  while one of Lesotho’s finest musical exports, Leomile, prepares to stir our heartstrings with soulful notes as “Tholoana”. Additionally, renowned actor Tseko Monaheng’s powerful voice adds depth to the story, with the little dynamite – Itumeleng – challenging him.  Lebohang Banyane returns to the play, after being part of the staged reading during its development phase last year. Accompanying and flavouring the story with music are Mawande Stuurman (on keyboards and musical direction) and the legendary Godfrey Mgcina (on percussion).

Come celebrate the transcendent life of an iconic woman, and the rich history of the beautiful Basotho nation.

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

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) at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950.

The Fall

Protest Theatre Piece – “The Fall” – Arrives At The Market Theatre For #FeesMustFall’s 10th Anniversary

Theatre Duo & Co in partnership with The Market Theatre are proud to present a reimagined staging of the internationally acclaimed protest theatre piece, “The Fall”, in acknowledgement of the 10th anniversary of the #FeesMustFall movement. Originally produced by The Baxter Theatre Centre, “The Fall” will play at The Market Theatre from 9 April – 4 May 2025, excluding the Easter week.

This collaborative piece of workshopped protest theatre is an intense portrayal of the lived experiences of students in the heat of the movement. It was devised by the original cast of Ameera Conrad, Sihle Mnqwazana, Oarabile Ditsele, Sizwesandile Mnisi, Cleo Raatus and Tankiso Mamabolo. The new production of “The Fall” will feature three of the original creators, along with new cast members under the co-direction of Mahlatsi Mokgonyana and Billy Langa, with movement direction by Ernest “Ginger” Baleni.

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When the colonial statue of Cecil John Rhodes was removed from the University of Cape Town, postgraduate Drama students co-wrote this searing and insightful play about the crosscutting roles that race, class, gender, sexism, colonialism and the ideologies of patriarchy have to play in the perpetuation of discrimination in our country—which continues to exist and is more often than not, exacerbated by our country’s history of deep political injustice.

After its premiere in 2016 at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town, this award-winning piece went on to enjoy multiple outings in Europe and the U.S, receiving commercial and critical acclaim as it sold out venues and earned raving reviews from leading publications such as The New York Times.

This year – 2025 – marks 10 years since #RhodesMustFall, a call that primarily focused on dismantling the statue of Cecil John Rhodes at the University of Cape Town, and later dovetailed with #FeesMustFall to immediately respond to an announced hike in tuition fees across South African universities. Ketsia Velaphi, spokesperson for TheatreDuo & Co, highlights the profound impact of the Fallist movement, as seen by its shift from campus-based politics  to becoming an active national response to complex and intersecting historical and political inequalities.

“It is incredibly crucial that we pay tribute to this movement this year and in doing so, reignite a conversation that really is nowhere close to finished. More especially, it is crucial for this reimagination to be staged at The Market Theatre, given the theatre’s dual historical (and present-day) steadfast and unwavering challenge against injustice,” says Velaphi. 

Highlighting the historical importance of the Fallist movement and its contribution to reshaping post-struggle student politics, The Market Theatre Foundation’s Artistic Director, Greg Homann, shares that The Market Theatre will be showcasing “The Fall” alongside a new play by Mike van Graan, called “The Good White”, both of which create a curatorial conversation that acknowledges the 10th anniversary of #FeesMustFall.

The objective of these two intersecting plays is to show the complexities of race and transformation, following witty, relatable and complicated characters that reflect the lived-experiences of those who were involved in, and impacted by, #FeesMustFall. Homann further states that these creative explorations underscore the historical function of The Market Theatre, reaffirming its global recognition as a landmark for protest theatre throughout its nearly 50 years of existence.

“As we gear up for our 50th Anniversary milestone in 2026, we continue to fulfil our historical role of being a vibrant space for staging entertaining and compelling protest theatre, and showcasing creative explorations that confront injustice. The Fallist movement, much like the 1976 student uprisings in whose wake The Market Theatre was formed, played a crucial role in conscientising us to the hardships of young people in post-struggle South Africa. These two complementary productions are therefore an invitation to a multilayered, nuanced and necessary conversation about access to, and success in, institutions of higher learning.”

Pay tribute to the #FeesMustFall movement and homage to those who put their lives on the line for access to a free decolonial education, by seeing the internationally acclaimed play.

Catch “The Fall” at The Market Theatre from 9 April to 4 May (excluding Easter week). Tickets are available on Webtickets, with all Wednesdays at half-price. Special discounts are also available for preview performances and groups of four or more.

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