OCTOBER AT THE MARKET THEATRE LABORATORY

OCTOBER AT THE MARKET THEATRE LABORATORY

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”
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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.

For ticket bookings visit webtickets.

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Pink Tax 

Pink Tax

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.

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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.

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TEXT ME WHEN YOU ARRIVE

TEXT ME WHEN YOU ARRIVE

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

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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/

Citizen Review : https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-citizen-gauteng/20200130/ page/17

Artsvark review : https://artsvark.co.za/the-harshtag-realities-of-women-in-south-africa/

CAST & CREW BIOS THULISILE NDUVANE (Cast)

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.

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Mwana Ku Chema 

Mwana Ku Chema

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.

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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:

Linda Wa Ka Shabangu

Instagram:waka_shabangu

Facebook Page:Linda Wa Ka Shabangu

Twitter:@wakashabangu

Blog:lindawakashabangu.blogspot.com

YouTube:@lindawakashabangu

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A Marry Little Christmas

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”.

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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 the Vita Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Ophelia in “Hamlet”. She played Daisy in “The Young Visitors” – Vita Nomination for Best Actress, Agnes in “Agnes of God” and Em in “A Story of an African Farm” to name a few. Charmaine received the Naledi Award for Best Actress in a Comedy 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 and Fleur 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 Best Revue, “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 Best Director and in 2022/3 “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” for How Now Brown Cow Productions, winning 5 Naledi Theatre Awards 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”.

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Abigail Kubeka

Abigail Kubeka Joins Mayibuye iAfrika Freedom Songs Concert

Legendary Soweto songbrid Abigail Kubeka has been announced as the surprise guest star at the one-night-only limited-tickets Mayibuye iAfrika Concert: A Celebration of Exiled Musicians and Composers.

Renowned South African guitarist Billy Monama, the driving force and producer of this important cultural event, will also be performing with several other legendary South African artists including Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse, Judith Sepuma and Titi Luzipo live on stage in Johannesburg.

“We had hoped to keep Abigail’s presence on stage a secret for a while longer, but a stage performance in Johannesburg from Abigail Kubeka is something you cannot keep a lid on for long,” says an excited Billy Monama.

Monama confirmed that Abigail Kubeka would join the legendary line-up, setting up the Mayibuye iAfrika concert as the not-to-be-missed musical event of the year. Monama also confirmed that ticket sales are approaching sold-out with only a small number left – he urged the public and African music fans with an appreciation of Black Consciousness and African Freedom Struggle History to book before it was too late.

The concert will be held at the iconic Theatre of Struggle – the Market Theatre in Newtown Johannesburg – on 9 September 2023. Conducted in two parts by Grammy-Award Winning composer JB Arthur, the event will pay homage to a first exile generation of indomitable composers and a second exile generation of musicians.

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Part one will comprise choral freedom songs from the earliest compositions of ANC exiles in Tanganyika, now Tanzania. The fresh arrangement will feature work by Vuyisile Mini, Zinakele Nkaba and Wilson Khayinga.

Under the direction of Monama and led by The Grazroots Project Orkestra featuring bandleaders and composers: Sydney Mavundla, Lucas Senyatso, Themba Mokoena and Mduduzi Mtshali, the second segment will pay tribute to the anti-apartheid stalwarts and towering figures in the local and international music landscape, Letta Mbulu, Dorothy Masuka, Busi Mhlongo, Miriam Makeba, Jonas Gwangwa and Hugh Masekela.

Mayibuye iAfrika: The South African Freedom Songs will be remembered as vital to documenting and disseminating South Africa’s generational music knowledge and a source of musical inspiration.

About Billy Monama:

A guitarist since 1997, composer, arranger and author Billy Monama has gone on to perform and record with a host of South Africa’s legends including Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse, Mbongeni Ngema, Abigail Kubeka and others. While his music is often ineffable, Monama exalts South Africa’s jazz genius through his arrangements and performances.

Notes to Editors:

Artists featured in the line-up are available for radio, print and TV interviews.

Tickets are available at web tickets at R350 per person, tickets for pensioners and students available at R175.

Reuben T Caluza

A multimedia concert unearths the buried music of South African composer, Reuben T Caluza

Reuben Tholakele Caluza (1895 to1969) was once a household name in South Africa. For decades though his music was largely forgotten in the sound archives of music history. Now, a multimedia concert at The Market Theatre by acclaimed contemporary musicians, sets out to change that.

As part of Heritage Month, Reuben T. Caluza – The B-side will celebrate a musical legacy of one of South Africa’s most accomplished composers. The performance will feature imaginative new interpretations of songs based on the original recorded album, called The Double Quartet, that Caluza made in London in 1930.

Caluza’s lyrics were often commentaries on the social issues of the day, ranging from the brutal apartheid laws coming into effect in the early 1900s, to his critical views on the growing aspirations of the Black middle class living in the cities of Joburg and Durban. His work was influenced by a variety of styles and idioms from choral hymns to ragtime and protest music.

The project to re-introduce Caluza’s music is led and arranged by the internationally acclaimed composer Philip Miller, together with his collaborator, Tshegofatso Moeng, a multi-talented musical opera singer and composer. An impressive ensemble of singers join Miller and Moeng, alongside award-winning theatre-maker Khayelihle Dominique Gumede who directs the concert.

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The project began at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, when Miller came across the song ‘Influenza’ (1918) which Caluza had written in response to the devastation of the Spanish flu pandemic in South Africa. It resonated so powerfully at that time, that Miller and Moeng brought together a talented ensemble of twelve singers to record this song remotely, raising awareness of the plight of singers who were struggling to make ends meet.

The Brazilian video designer, Marcos Martins joined the project.  He created a video on social media, using mostly cellphone video footage filmed by the singers who were isolating in their homes during the hard lockdown. Miller says that, “The response to the song was so overwhelmingly positive that the they collaboratively continued to learn, arrange and record more of Caluza’s incredible repertoire.”

Miller adds, “It become clear that Caluza’s music, and the messages of his songs still has strong relevance today.”

Martins has gone on to create twelve unique films that now provide a contemporary visual response to the music that is to be presented theatrically in this dynamic multimedia concert. He uses a rich mixture of visual languages ranging from original filmed footage, archival material, and typographic animations and drawings.

The singing team includes many of the singers who have collaborated with Miller and Moeng over the years – most of them would have been heard singing Millers music for William Kentridge’s work: The Head and the Load that was seen earlier this year at the Joburg Theatre.

The singers include: Ayanda Eleki, Ann Masina, Bulelani Madondile, Nokuthula Magubane, Lydia Manyama, Zebulon Mmusi, Mhlaba Buthelezi, Mapule Moloi, Lindokuhle Thabede, Lubabalo Velebayi and Bham Ntabeni.

Other great instrumentalists like Dan Selsick, trumpeter Adam Howard, cellist Kutlwano Masote, and bassist Thembinkosi Mavimbela complete the ensemble which has led to the creation of the concert and digital album, entitled Reuben T Caluza – The B-side.

Don’t miss this exciting concert over Heritage Day weekend that aims to advance the legacy of South Africa’s rich musical history.

Bookings at Webtickets or visit www.marketthaetre.co.za for more information.

Listen to the album @

https://philipmiller.bandcamp.com/album/reuben-t-caluza-the-b-side

https://iamtranscriptions.org/reuben-t-caluza/

“Shouts”

 “Learning about Caluza has been a revelation to me…”  – Albie Sachs, Former Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa

 …a perfect example of how the rich archive of black South African musical traditions may still speak to contemporary issues and audiences. – Prof. Veit Erlmann, Professor of Ethnomusicology and Anthropology, Butler School of Music, University of Texas at Austin

To make block bookings and discounts please contact Anthony Ezeoke 011 832 1641ext 203/ 083 246 4950

For further information, interviews and images, contact:

Acting Brand and Communications Manager: Lusanda Zokufa 072 367 7867 or lusandaz@markettheatre.co.za

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JOMBA!

JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience at The Market Theatre 13-16 September

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Art’s JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience celebrates its 25th anniversary year – and now as part of the milestone celebrations will have short season in association with The Market Theatre, Johannesburg from 13 to 16 September.

The 25th year firmly sets JOMBA! as the longest running contemporary dance festival in South Africa. The 13-day festival begins in Durban on Tuesday 29 August with JOMBA! Legacy Artist Mamela Nyamza’s work titled HATCHED ENSEMBLE.

For the Market season works by Mamela Nyamza (South Africa) will feature along with Hannah Ma’s hannahmadance (Germany/Luxenbourg), Virva Talonen (Finland) with the FLATFOOT Dance Company (South Africa), ACE dance and music (UK) with Serge Aimé Coulibaly (Burkina Faso) and Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe (South Africa).

The Artistic Director of The Market Theatre Foundation, Greg Homann says, “I see JOMBA! @ The Market in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Art, as an invaluable opportunity to showcase in Johannesburg some of the very best from the South African and global dance community. The brilliant programme that Dr Lliane Loots has curated for this Joburg leg of JOMBA! is going to be a celebration to the enduring power of movement to inspire, challenge, and excite us all.”

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Mamela Nyamza’s HATCHED ENSEMBLE is motivated by an original 2007 solo work which offered an autobiographical work that reflected on her life as a mother and artist. HATCHED ENSEMBLE builds on this and is now performed by seven ballet trained dancers from different racial and gendered backgrounds. Challenging issues of tradition, gender norms within the dance classics, and various issues around identity and belonging, HATCHED ENSEMBLE references both classical Western music and dance, with traditional African vocal scores.

Hannah Ma’s hannahmadance performs a work that links with South African performers Thobi Maphanga and Jabu Siphika. INVASION(S) analyses the act of invasion as the act of violently entering a (political, physical, biological) territory from a feminist, and post-migrant perspective.

With support from the Finnish Embassy (Pretoria), Virva Talonen presents a work in collaboration with Durban’s FLATFOOT Dance Company. Her Portable Home Project is a contemporary dance performance series that delves into a concept of home and its various definitions. The work is co-created by Finnish Lighting Designer Nanni Vapaavuori. Virva will also perform Nothing Personal a solo work she made in 2018 with Nanni Vapaavuori. The core of Nothing Personal lies in the relationship between the repetitive, minimalistic improvisational movement, written text and the audience.

Mamela Nyamza’s HATCHED ENSEMBLE is motivated by an original 2007 solo work which offered an autobiographical work that reflected on her life as a mother and artist. HATCHED ENSEMBLE builds on this and is now performed by seven ballet trained dancers from different racial and gendered backgrounds. Challenging issues of tradition, gender norms within the dance classics, and various issues around identity and belonging, HATCHED ENSEMBLE references both classical Western music and dance, with traditional African vocal scores.

Hannah Ma’s hannahmadance performs a work that links with South African performers Thobi Maphanga and Jabu Siphika. INVASION(S) analyses the act of invasion as the act of violently entering a (political, physical, biological) territory from a feminist, and post-migrant perspective.

With support from the Finnish Embassy (Pretoria), Virva Talonen presents a work in collaboration with Durban’s FLATFOOT Dance Company. Her Portable Home Project is a contemporary dance performance series that delves into a concept of home and its various definitions. The work is co-created by Finnish Lighting Designer Nanni Vapaavuori. Virva will also perform Nothing Personal a solo work she made in 2018 with Nanni Vapaavuori. The core of Nothing Personal lies in the relationship between the repetitive, minimalistic improvisational movement, written text and the audience.

Birmingham (UK) based ACE dance and music features in a spectacular double bill UNKNOWN REALMS – with choreography by Burkina Faso’s Serge Aimé Coulibaly and South Africa’s Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe. Coulibaly’s THE NIGHT BEFORE TOMORROW is a metaphorical night where people try to do their last dance before an uncertain tomorrow. Mantsoe’s MANA – THE POWER WITHIN which engages the sacred, ritualistic and shamanic. 

In celebration of this 25th anniversary, JOMBA! will launch its special book done in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, and supported by IFAS and BASA. Provocatively titled, Archiving History and Memory: 25 Years of the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, the book has been edited by Tammy Ballantyne Webber. A special Johannesburg book launch will take place in tandem with The Market Theatre season, hosted by IFAS at Alliance Francaise Parkview on Saturday 16 September at 2pm.

JOMBA! and The Market Theatre will host four free dance workshops at the Sophiatown Studio in Newtown. Hosts of these are Vincent Mantsoe (South Africa) and ACE music and dance (UK), Mamela Nyamza (South Africa), Virva Talonen (Finland) and Hannah Ma (Germany). 

Nanni Vapaavuori (Finland) hosts a lighting workshop: “LIGHT AS MATERIAL” in the Mannie Mannim Theatre at The Market. All workshops are open to dancers 16yrs and older. Booking essential with thobimaphanga@gmail.com

JOMBA! curator, Dr Lliane Loots says, “We are incredibly excited to pay our first visit to Johannesburg and The Market Theatre, and hope this is the start of a long-term partnerships that sees incredible dance being shared across our two cities and provinces. I can think of no better way to serve artists than making these partnerships a reality.  This JOMBA! @The Market Theatre package showcases a broad range of contemporary styles and themes, reflecting local and global motifs that speak to our festival theme of “(in)tangible heritages.”

For more information about JOMBA! go to https://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/

-Ends

For JOMBA!

Sharlene Versfeld


Versfeld & Associates


Public Relations and Communications


Mobile: +27 (0) 83 326 3235


Email: sharlene@versfeld.co.za

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Blacksmith

Blacksmith Forges a Communion of African Stories and Consciousness

The Market Theatre Foundation in collaboration with Arts Alive International Festival 2023,Arts, Culture and Heritage Presents The 2022 Zwakala Festival Winner production Blacksmith as part of the Arts Alive International Arts Festival programme which seeks to feature an array of creative offering to activate the artistic landscape.

The 2022 Zwakala Festival winners, Thabo Ramaine and Lonwabo Bhele, bring their thought-shifting production of Blacksmith to The Market Theatre, in perfect synchrony with the spirit of Heritage Month. This theatrical experience combines mask work with the mesmerizing harmonies of a live musician, weaving the threads of ancestral resonance and awakening the legacy of our heritage.

Writer and actor, Thabo Ramaine, offers a profound insight into the essence of the play: “The name ‘Blacksmith’ is a historical concept from the original meaning that describes the one who crafts weapons and sharpens metal with fire. The title of the play is the metaphor that describes the one who sharpens the mind and creates weapons of consciousness. The communion between fire and metal becomes the key significance of the communion between African stories and the minds that conceive them.”

Under the direction of Lonwabo Bhele and rooted in the urgent need to address mental slavery among Africans, Blacksmith employs inventive mask work and a live musician to bring its powerful narrative to life. When the lights come up, a man of profound significance takes center stage, entrusted with the sacred duty of preserving a heritage born from the crucible of struggle, taking you on a voyage that delves into the depths of African History’s untold truths.

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This production emerged through the Incubation Programme sponsored by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. With a firm commitment to nurturing emerging practitioners and honing their skills. The Incubation Programme places a strong emphasis on cultivating home-grown content. Blacksmith, a testament to this initiative, is set to generate excitement among audiences, offering a compelling perspective on African narratives.

This production confronts the pivotal moments that have shaped the African trajectory under the weighty yoke of colonialism and white supremacy. Brace your mind for an emotional odyssey that challenges preconceived notions, ignites introspection, and fosters a collective awakening. Through this performance, you will bear witness to the indomitable spirit that survives adversity and the unyielding resilience that forges a future rooted in empowerment and reclamation. Allow your thoughts to be provoked, your understanding to be stretched, and your perspective to be altered by this exploration of Africa’s past and its resonating echoes in the present.

“The Market Theatre Foundation takes immense pride in supporting and showcasing the most recent Zwakala Festival-winning work,” expressed Greg Homann, the Market Theatre Artistic Director. “Thabo Ramaine and Lonwabo Bhele’s production, Blacksmith, serves as a valuable reminder that acknowledging and engaging with the impact of our colonial past is vital. It sheds a piercing light, exposing the complexities and wounds that continue to shape our nation and sense of identity. The upcoming restaging of this work in Heritage Month will no doubt encourage dialogue and contribute to a path where, one day, our colonial legacy no longer haunts us.”

Blacksmith promises to be a theatrical encounter that delves deep into the struggles and triumphs of the African experience. With Lonwabo Bhele at the helm as director, supported by mentor director MoMo Matsunyane and dramaturge mentor Monageng “Vice” Motshabi, this production guarantees a transformative journey for all who experience it.

Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the fire of resilience ignite within the hearts of us, forging a renewed sense of identity and belonging.

Blacksmith is in the newly refurbished Barney Simon Theatre at The Market Theatre from 23 September to 8 October 2023. Book your tickets now to be part of this extraordinary exploration of African stories and consciousness.

Production Creative Team:

Writer & Actor:                                    Thabo Ramaine

Director:                                              Lonwabo Bhele

Mentor Director:                                  MoMo Matsunyane

Dramaturge Mentor:                           Monageng “Vice” Motshabi

Season:                                               23 September – 8 October 2023

Venue:                                                 The Mannie Manim Theatre 

Performers:

Thabo Ramaine

Mpho  Ramorola

To make block bookings and discounts please contact Anthony Ezeoke 011 832 1641ext 203/ 083 246 4950

 For further information, interviews and images, contact:

Brand and Communications Manager: Lusanda Zokufa 072 367 7867 or lusandaz@markettheatre.co.za

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CALL FOR ZWAKALA SHOWCASE 2023/2024

CALL FOR ZWAKALA SHOWCASE 2023/2024

The incubation programme is sponsored by the Department of Sports Arts and Culture Incubation Programme. Through this programme the department aims to help emerging practitioners to hone their skills through mentorship and propel them to professional status. The process also puts a strong emphasis on home-grown content to hopefully generate exciting new productions for the theatre-going public.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • All members of the group must have South African ID
  • Groups are to reside within boundaries of City of Johannesburg
  • Group members need to be between 18 and 35 years old
  • Only full-time theatre practitioners can apply, no students/learners allowed to participate
  • Groups must secure their own rehearsal venue for site visits and fieldwork. No rehearsal venue will be provided by Market Theatre
  • All groups must adhere to the confirmed site visit schedule, no deviations will be allowed. Failure to adhere will result in disqualification.
  • Failure to comply will all the requirements, will result in immediate disqualification
  • Rights of admission reserved

REQUIREMENTS:

Should you meet the above eligibility criteria, the following needs to be submitted for your application to be evaluated:

  • A duly completed showcase application form
  • Script
  • Production picture (minimum of two/ maximum of five pictures)
  • 100 word bios of the writer and the director
  • The total number of group members not to exceed ten
  • Technical Rider

IMPORTANT DATES:

When applying, groups must ensure that they are available for showcasing  as well as fieldwork. Site visits and fieldwork will be as per the festival schedule that will be shared with accurate dates per production.

Roll-out of the festival for 2023/2024 is as follows:

  • Selection 1: September 2023
  • Fieldwork 1 & Selection 2: September& October 2023
  • Fieldwork 2: November 2023
  • Ko Lapeng Showcase: December 2023
  • Fieldwork 3: January 2024
  • Zwakala Festival: February 2024
  • Zwakala Winner:
  • Rehearsals: 2 weeks pick-up rehearsals (Dates TBC)
  • Season: 2 weeks run (Dates TBC)

Applications can be submitted online by 08 September 2023  at 23:00

Correspondence will only be limited to successful groups

For enquiries, please contact the Festival Coordinator at proposals@markettheatre.co.za 

Market Theatre Foundation will not be liable to cover costs for rehearsal process during fieldwork phases. 

Right of Admission reserved

 

Applications are closed 

apply here