Kaza Kamba

Kaza Kamba Pan African Theatre Festival Returns to The Market for its 2nd iteration

The Market Theatre and mehlo-maya (eye-to-the-sun) have once again partnered for the four-day festival of theatre, music, workshops, film screenings and talks, curated by Bobby Rodwell and Lesego Rampolokeng. This dynamic new festival, which takes place from 06 – 09 November 2025, brings together the arts and the political discourse.

The festival features seven Southern African countries, making it a very critical cross-border initiative aimed at strengthening ties between countries. Again, it gives audiences an opportunity to immerse themselves in the stories of our sub-region.

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Afropocalypse

Afropocalypse

Afropocalypse is a new South African production, directed by Daniel Buckland and which was first performed by The Market Theatre Laboratory students as part of their First-Year production module. In their final year of study,2025,  the Lab students reworked the production and travelled with it to the National Arts Festival, where they won a GOLD Standard Bank Ovation Award.

The play, set in a post-apocalyptic South African wasteland, follows a community of traveling players who navigate this desolate landscape through the power of storytelling. As they dodge drone strikes and evade swarms of military helicopters, these intrepid storytellers encounter an unexpected audience. Compelled to share their tales, they recount stories that have survived and evolved through the cataclysm that reshaped society. The production delves into speculative narratives, exploring the events that led to the end of the world as we know it. Through four fables, the play addresses themes fundamental to the human experience: Greed, Mortality, Religion, and Unconditional Love. In exploring these themes, the players are faced with their own resilience and need to survive, highlighting the strength of the human spirit, even in the face of overwhelming despair.

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Afropocalyspe will be staged at The Market Theatre’s Mannie Manim Theatre from 19 November – 07 December 2025. An exciting opportunity for the recent graduates to kick start their professional career in a mainstream theatre space.

THIS IS WHO I AM

THIS IS WHO I AM

British High Commission and Windybrow Arts Centre present 

London Artists Projects

THIS IS WHO I AM

South African premiere

This Is Who I Am is a theatrical journey into Hillbrow and beyond, a place where history and present collide with contradictory illusions and dreams of a mercurial South Africa. A storied, yet troubled inner-city area of Johannesburg, Hillbrow remains a safe harbour for an ever-changing mix of iconoclasts.

Imbued with all the power and the passion of deeply personal real-life stories, ten Hillbrow artists and participants express the truth of their lived experience in their own five-hundred-word monologue in response to the title. Lives of abuse, alienation, disability, violence, and xenophobia connect in a mosaic of hope and resistance that demands justice and the right to a better future. 

This Is Who I Am is an ongoing multidisciplinary, intercultural arts platform featuring live and online performances, photo portraits, exhibitions, workshops and dialogue between artists from London Artists Projects in the UK and Windybrow Arts Centre in Hillbrow, South Africa.

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Launching as part of the G20 Culture Ministerial in South Africa, This Is Who I Am is part of UKwithSA cultural exchange and the British High Commission’s commitment to diversity and equality by drawing on the transformative power of the arts to contribute to wider access and inclusion in collaboration with local partners.

This Is Who I Am is the companion work to Jeremy Goldstein’s Truth to Power Café. Both works are inspired by the political and philosophical beliefs of Nobel Prize winning playwright Harold Pinter and his inner circle, The Hackney Gang, who included Jeremy’s late father, Mick Goldstein, and poet and actor Henry Woolf, whose original poetry bejewels the work.

“Revolutionary theatre at its best and most direct” 

Guardian on Truth to Power Café

This Is Who I Am is a London Artists Projects and Windybrow Arts Centre co-production commissioned by British High Commission South Africa with support from Canon South Africa 

Hillbrow artists and participants:

Gcebile Dlamini, Simphiwe Dube, Reneilwe Leopeng, Tshiyeya Kalombo, Minenhle Masina, Hlengiwe Masondo, Thabang Matsaung, Sandiso Mbatha, Tyson Nkala, Caleb Nyanguila

Artistic team:

Created by Jeremy Goldstein for London Artists Projects

Original score by DYSKINETIC

Co-directed by Jeremy Goldstein and Jaden Mmokwa Oratile Mosadi

Media Editor Flick Harrison 

Photo Portraits by Roger Machin and Quintin Mills 

Videography by Presley Mpofu and Sandile Daniel Radebe

Sound Recordist Tumelo Mosenogi

Behind the Scenes Photography by Kopano Lebotse

Dramaturgy and Workshop Facilitation Stacy Hardy (Creative Writing, Wits University)

Script Consultant Chris Thompson

Executive Producer 

Dr Sarah Meisch Lionetto, MBE 
Public Diplomacy – Head of Arts, Culture & Sports
British High Commission, South Africa
 

Performances contain stories of lived experience that include trauma, political stances and adult themes. 

Audience age: 14+ – parental guidance recommended

Photo: Roger Machin and Quintin Mills

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Kaza Kamba Pan African Theatre Festival returns to the market for its 2nd reiteration

Kaza Kamba Pan African Theatre Festival Returns to The Market for its 2nd iteration

The Market Theatre and mehlo-maya (eye-to-the-sun) have once again partnered for the four-day festival of theatre, music, workshops, film screenings and talks, curated by Bobby Rodwell and Lesego Rampolokeng. This dynamic new festival, which takes place from 06 – 09 November 2025, brings together the arts and the political discourse.

The festival features seven Southern African countries, making it a very critical cross-border initiative aimed at strengthening ties between countries. Again, it gives audiences an opportunity to immerse themselves in the stories of our sub-region.

An installation speaking to the history of Pan Africanism opens on Thursday, 04 September in The Market Theatre’s Lindelani Buthelezi Gallery, setting the tone for the festival.

Mainlining at the festival is “Lyrics Unchained on website / webtickets”, in which South Africa meets Zimbabwe meets Lesotho in a blend of poetry and percussion, featuring poets Matodzi Ramashia (Makhafula Vilakazi) from South Africa, Mercy Dhliwayo (sista x) from Zimbabwe, naledi chai (zeph) South Africa and Lesotho’sThabiso Mohapeloa (Tha Hymphatic Thabs). Musicians Louis Mhlanga (Guitar) and Gontse Makhene (Percussion) join the production, hosted by poet Lesego Rampolokeng.

BUY TICKETS BELOW:

Kaza Kamba Festival LYRICS UNCHAINED : https://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=1577437811

Kaza Kamba Festival Setimo Juramento: https://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=1577431186

Mozambican Producer Joaquim Matavel of Grupo de Teatro Girassol brings “Setimo Juramento / Seventh Oath”, written by Paulina Chiziane and directed by Ramadane Matusse. Paulo Jamine plays a character who traverses dark worlds in search of a new global identity – one that offers wellbeing, social justices and love – through storytelling, poetry and movement, offering provocations for a better world. The piece is in Portuguese, with English sub-titles.

Workshops over the four days include a performance dance workshop, “Barena: Reimagined” by Smangaliso Ngwenya, “Finding My Voice, Speaking My Truth”, Directing for Theatre by Liatile Mohale of Lesotho, a dance workshop on gender based violence, “Still We Dance” by choreographer Gaby Saranouffi from Madagascar, the Somatic Library workshop on voice by Mpho Malesa and Gifter Ngobeni, and “gubhu seNtshomi (Djembe of Stories)”. There will also be a workshop for young people, facilitated by Sibusiso ‘Vonde-r’ Fihlani, and one for the very young, our Baby Corner, for adults who wish to attend workshops or films.

 

Our films are: “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” [2024], a film by Johan Grimonprez that examines the political machinations behind the 1961 assassination of Congolese leader, Patrice Lumumba and “Dying for Gold” [2018] that focuses on the impact of Gold Mining in the SADC region, produced by Richard Pakleppa and Catherine Meyburgh. There will be panel discussions with the screenings of both documentaries.

A film showing and discussion on the situation in Sudan will be held by members of Sudanese solidarity groups.

The Kaza Kamba Colloquium this year will be held on Saturday, 08 November 2025, “Decolonising the Theatre Space” to be presented by Warona Seane, who will engage with theatre producers from the sub-region.

Our late evenings will be spent at our Kaza Kamba Pavement café in The Market Theatre Precinct, with music and an open mic and lots of lovely food and drink to purchase.

In short, there is a lot to see, experience and debate at Kaza Kamba Pan African Theatre Festival 2025.

All documentary films and workshops are FREE. Tickets for our play and “Lyrics Unchained” are on Webtickets.

There will be food and drinks for sale throughout the day, as well as stalls with books and other delights.

Come down to The Market Theatre from 06 – 09 November 2025 for a weekend of live performances, film, workshops and debate on Pan Africanism. Everyone is most welcome!

                                                                                                                    -ENDS –

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 (Audience Development) at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950 or Mamello Khomongoe mamellok@markettheatre.co.za 0815729612.

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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Journey of Discovery Concert                                                    

Journey of Discovery Concert

SOUTH AFRICAN AND HONG KONG ARTISTS SET TO SHINE ON THE MARKET THEATRE STAGE IN “JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY” CONCERT

The National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC), is excited to present the second instalment of Journey of Discovery, a much-anticipated concert taking place at the renowned Market Theatre in Johannesburg on 24 and 25 October 2025.

This groundbreaking cultural exchange was launched following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NAC and HKADC on 2 February 2024. It gained momentum at the inaugural Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX) held from 14–18 October 2024, where South African and Hong Kong- based musicians captivated audiences with a unique co-created musical showcase.

As part of this ongoing initiative to promote indigenous music and celebrate cultural identities, the five South African musicians who performed at HKPAX alongside their Hong Kong counterparts will once again share the stage, this time on South African soil.

Creative and Production Team

Music Director: Ng Cheuk-yin
Musicians (South Africa): Ayanda Jiya, Mbuzeni Duncan Mkhize, Natalie Rungan, Sky Dladla, Thandeka Mfinyongo
Musicians (Hong Kong): Ngaiman, Jing Wong, Ma Wai Him

Producer: Kenny Chen

Together with their Hong Kong collaborators, these award-winning musicians will present an innovative, cross-cultural performance that bridges continents through music.

“Journey of Discovery is more than just a concert; it is a celebration of shared humanity, musical dialogue, and creative expression that transcends borders. Through this collaboration, the NAC continues to foster global visibility for South African talent while honouring the importance of cultural diplomacy and creative exchange,” says Mr Lebogang Mogoera, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the NAC.

Ms Pheon Tsang, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, a statutory body established by the government to promote the development of the arts in Hong Kong also shared her enthusiasm:

“I am delighted to witness the fulfilment of this strategic partnership with the South African National Arts Council under the helm of Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo. It marks a meaningful step forward in deepening cultural exchange and mutual understanding through the arts. As we enter the second year of the Journey of Discovery concert series, I am confident it will be even more impactful as we proudly extend our artistic footprint onto the African continent.”

Hosting the concert will be the prestigious Market Theatre Foundation. Ms Tshiamo Mokgadi CEO of Market Theatre Foundation remarked:

“We are honoured to host an event of such calibre at the Market Theatre. This partnership reflects the power of the arts to transcend borders and connect communities. Our team is working to ensure that all preparations are in place to welcome both local and international guests for what promises to be a wonderful musical experience, shared across borders.”

ENDS

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The TX Theatre Hub

The TX Theatre Hub

The TX Theatre Hub x The Market Theatre Collaboration Presents the Soul of Community Storytelling

The Market Theatre has teamed up with The TX Theatre Hub in a groundbreaking collaboration intended to dismantle barriers between mainstream platforms and fringe creations, while amplifying community storytelling. As a result of this partnership, The Market Theatre is a proud host of The TX Theatre Hub @ The Market, a festival of five works running from 24 – 28 September 2025. The festival boldly aims to present new and existing works by emerging and established voices, nurture talent and connect traditional narratives with contemporary expressions for the viewing pleasure of audiences.

For five days, the festival promises five compelling productions, comprising of comedy, drama, and puppetry. The works include Masai Sepuru’s ‘Dark Magic’ and Moruti Abednigo Dlamini’s ‘Stevovo the Puppeteer’,  ‘Madi Phatleng’ by Solly Ramatswi, ‘Chasing Laughter’ by Isaac Sithole, as well as ‘Behind Van Vuuren’s Farm’ by Mxolisi Masilela.

Mxolisi Masilela, Founder of The TX Theatre Hub described the collaboration between The Market Theatre and the Tembisa-based theatre hub as both “timely and necessary”, elaborating: “It bridges the divide between mainstream and fringe productions, brings fresh energy to the sector, ensuring that stories born in the township reach wider audiences, while affirming their place in the national cultural conversation.”

Dark Magic:

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Stevovo the Puppeteer :

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Madi Phatleng:

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Chasing Laughter:

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Behind van Vuuren’s Farm:

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Masilela added that both theatres stood to benefit from this historic partnership. “The TX Theatre represents the next wave of theatre-making: daring, raw, and rooted in community. It has become a platform for young, independent artists to develop work that speaks to today’s realities, often with limited resources but unlimited creativity. This collaboration matters because each theatre needs the other. Together, they create a powerful pipeline that ensures artistic excellence is not confined by geography or resources.”

In addition to exposing audiences to authentic township stories that rarely enjoy the spotlight, the collaboration between The TX Theatre Hub @ The Market Theatre collaboration is also about sustainability and inclusivity in an increasingly vulnerable arts sector facing shrinking funding  and strong competition from alternative mediums. As they join hands, the two organisations will attempt to reimagine the relationship between mainstream and community-based theatre, and explore future fruitful partnerships.

Complementing the festival’s best-five performances are two interactive talks designed to deepen audience engagement. For the first talk, Mxolisi Masilela will join The Market Theatre Foundation’s Artistic Director, Greg Homann, in discussing the intersection of theatre, history and activism. The second talk will be a reflection session on the dominant themes emerging out of the festival, giving audiences intimate access to the stories. All talks are free of charge.

Greg Homann highlighted the investment made by The Market Theatre Foundation in empowering community-based creatives, a legacy of nearly 50 years.

“The Market Theatre Foundation regards fringe theatre as the future of storytelling. We have chosen to collaborate with The TX Theatre Hub who are doing immensely important work in amplifying the often unheard voices in our communities. This partnership is a continuation of the longstanding investment we have made in developing the next layer of South African theatre, creating new entry level opportunities, empowering young theatre-makers with meaningful creative roles and introducing fresh voices to our loyal audiences. We have done this in the past through initiatives such as the decades-old Zwakala community theatre festival and our recent introduction of Kippies Fringe, which allow us to maintain our legacy as a crucible for fearlessly honest performances,” Homann said.

As The TX Theatre Hub @ The Market  approaches, township stories that are often staged first in small community venues will now stand on the same platform that has propelled many of South Africa’s greatest stage plays. This visibility will go a long way in demonstrating that township-born creativity is central and not tangential to the country’s artistic future, sustainability and relatability.

The TX Theatre Festival is also supported by the National Arts Council (NAC) and the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

Don’t miss the heart and soul of township storytelling, from 24 – 28 September 2025 at The Market Theatre. Tickets are available on Webtickets for R140 per show, with weekend day passes priced at R200. Buy one get one free special for the first 21 tickets per show applies.

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

 

INTSUSA Examines the Impact of SA’s Mining History on Women

INTSUSA Examines the Impact of SA’s Mining History on Women

Aviwe Dasha in Partnership with The Art Cave and The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe present INTSUSA, a bold storytelling production written and performed by Aviwe Dasha.

Running from 4 – 7 September 2025, INTSUSA is a powerful storytelling drama directed by Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi and Tshepo Matlala. The show offers a deeply personal yet universal exploration of memory, womanhood and the generational impact of South Africa’s mining history.

Through intimate storytelling, song and physical theatre,  INTSUSA journeys into how the lives of forefathers who worked in the mines left lasting scars that continue to shape generations of men today. At the same time, it shines a light on the resilience, pain and healing carried by women across time. The production is a searing confrontation of the past and a moving act of hope—an invitation to imagine healing in the present.

First performed at the HerStory Festival (Soweto Theatre, 2022) and later at the Yes Let’s Experimental Festival (2023), INTSUSA has evolved into a landmark work of South African storytelling. It blends theatrical poetry with spiritual elements, asking urgent questions about trauma, memory and community renewal.

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Aviwe Dasha is a graduate of The Market Theatre Laboratory’s prestigious full-time performance programme, where she refined her craft in theatre and the performing arts. During her training, she collaborated with celebrated theatre practitioners such as Mongiwekhaya (SkullKandy) and Nondumiso Msimanga (Theatre Think Tank), gaining invaluable experience in diverse creative processes.

A dynamic and versatile performer, Aviwe’s talents span both acting and movement. Her passion lies in pushing the boundaries of storytelling and creating bold, innovative work through international collaborations.

Most recently, from January to March 2025, she directed Threads as part of the National Children’s Theatre’s Young Director’s Festival, further establishing her as an artist with both performance and directorial vision.

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.

IsiWula                                                     

IsiWula

Following its powerful debut as a 12-minute isiZulu piece at the 12/12 Live Festival by POPArt, isiWula returns as a full-length theatrical experience that confronts love, betrayal, and survival in rural KwaZulu Natal. Written by Samukelisiwe Khuzwayo and directed by the award winning Aalliyah Zama Matintela, this intimate two hander stars Mncedisi Hadebe and Nolwazi Qwabe in a searing exploration of fractured dreams and buried truths.

Set in a modest village home lit by oil lamps and shadowed by unspoken truths, the play unfolds over a single night. A married couple, once tethered by love, now navigate the fragile terrain between truth and illusion. As the hours stretch, so do the fault lines,  loyalty is tested, betrayal lingers in the air like smoke, and the lies they’ve lived with begin to unravel.

isiWula does not shout its themes, it whispers them, drawing the audience into a world where the most intimate wounds are inflicted not by violence, but by absence. It’s a meditation on what remains unsaid, and what it costs to finally speak.

Show Dates

Performances will take place at the Market Theatre’s Kippies Fringe on the following dates and times:

25 September at 19:30

26 September at 19:30

27 September at 15:30 and 19:30

28 September at 15:30

Audiences can expect a raw, poetic exploration of fractured intimacy, set against the backdrop of a dimly lit village home. With its blend of physical theatre, satire, and protest driven storytelling, isiWula offers a gripping reflection on gender politics, abandonment, and the fragile hope of reconciliation.

 Creative Team

  • Writer: Samukelisiwe Khuzwayo – A rising voice in South African theatre, blending script development experience savvy with raw emotional storytelling
  • Director: Aalliyah Zama Matintela – Known for her protest driven, satirical style and award winning productions like Currently (G)Old! and Marose
  • Performers: Mncedisi Hadebe – A dynamic actor/director with credits across Brazil, Germany, and South Africa, including Naledi nominated works and Nolwazi Qwabe – A versatile performer and voice artist, celebrated for her work in Mehlala and iNtombi’nto.

Why isiWula Matters

“isiWula is not just a story it’s a mirror. It reflects the quiet violence of abandonment, the resilience of women, and the fragile hope that love might still survive the wreckage,” says director Aalliyah Zama Matintela.

With its poetic dialogue, haunting silences, and moments of unexpected tenderness, isiWula invites audiences to sit in the discomfort and beauty of what it means to truly come home.

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FATHERHOOD

Fatherhood

31st Zwakala Festival Winner Gears Up for a Debut at The Market Theatre

The Market Theatre is pleased  to present ‘Fatherhood’, a production that won the 31st iteration of one of the most significant and longest running community theatre festivals, the Zwakala Festival. Originally created through The Alex Theatre Company and Academy, the play will have a run from 9 – 19 October 2025 in the Barney Simon Theatre, a performance space named after the visionary behind Zwakala.

‘Fatherhood’ features a young cast that poignantly bares the crisis of absent fathers for our collective reckoning. It is written by Mike Dzova and directed by Archie Oupa Matsetela, under the mentorship of award-winning playwright and director, Ntshieng Mokgoro. The script presents a fresh take at this complex societal issue, calling for a moment of reflection on the kind of world we’re creating for younger generations. Gearing up for its run as a developed production at The Market Theatre under Mokgoro’s mentorship, it promises to captivate audiences with its dynamic blend of acapella with saxophone, slick movement and text.

Matsetela describes ‘Fatherhood’ as a work that is as much urgent as it is edgy, innovative in how it confronts the emotional impact of fatherlessness and intergenerational conflict on families. 

He continues, “The play follows the struggles of four boys, most of whom raised by single mothers, who try to comprehend the void left by their absent fathers—and the fathers they thought they had. The text comes from a place of childhood innocence, and is therefore carried out with brutal honesty, humour and emotiveness. As the friends reflect on growing up in broken homes, they hold a mirror for audiences to witness the emotional turmoil caused by fatherlessness.”

While the piece depicts the ills of absent fatherhood, it equally shines the spotlight on mothers who have had to stand in the gap for runaway fathers. In exposing the emptiness children without present fathers often contend with, it further highlights the resilience it takes to run single-parent households. According to the 2024 State of South African Fathers report, only 35.6% of South African children live with their biological fathers, while 24% stay in households without any man. The impact of absent fathers on children, especially boys, is widely documented.

The Market Theatre’s artistic focus over the next few months centres, in part, on issues relating to fathers. ‘Fatherhood’ will sit alongside the beautifully crafted Naledi-nominated dance-theatre piece, ‘Father & I’, as well as ‘Gabo Legwala’: an autobiographical piece by Modise Sekgothe that blends poetry, music and storytelling to highlight the scourge of fatherlessness.

Greg Homann, Artistic Director at The Market Theatre Foundation, praised ‘Fatherhood’ for its boldness in tackling this important and deeply triggering subject for many people. Homann added that through programmes such as Zwakala Festival, The Market Theatre Foundation lives up to its brand story of guiding artistic talent from cradle to great. “It’s our mission as an organisation to break down barriers to entry for community theatre makers, shaping the next generation of South African storytellers. We aim to go beyond unearthing authentic stories from communities, and commit to also develop and introduce them to our mainstream stage.”

Don’t miss ‘Fatherhood’ at The Market Theatre from 9 – 19 October 2025. Get your tickets today on Webtickets, and become part of scripting the future of live entertainment. Full price tickets are R150, with special discounts for the preview performance and 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 Sports, 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.

 

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