RISE ‘76 transports audiences to Molefe Secondary, a fictional school in Soweto. As the mid-year exams loom, student leaders “Bafana Buthelezi” (played by Alex Sono) and “Kedibone Moloi” (Zilungile Mbombo) find themselves in a heated confrontation with their principal, “Mr Alfie Ndlovu” (Botlhale Mahlangu), over the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction. The disagreement quickly escalates into a tragic turning point, altering the course of history and exposing apartheid’s brutality.
Completing the cast are Deon Lotz, Mfuneli Ntumbuka, Sbuja Dywili and Ben Albertyn.
Since opening at the Baxter Theatre on 12 May 2026, the production has garnered widespread acclaim. Broadway World hailed it as “a haunting and powerfully human portrait of the Soweto uprising,” while legendary actress Thembi Mtshali-Jones praised its “emotional and historical weight”. Journalist and podcast host Nancy Richards described it as “worth seeing if only for the interpretation by the whole creative team and the power of the performers”.
For The Market Theatre, RISE ’76 intertwines the theatre’s legacy with the country’s liberation history. Opening its doors just three days after June 16th, The Market Theatre joined the struggle against apartheid through bold and fearless storytelling. Fifty years later, the space is still home to the South African story in its abundant complexity, contradiction and humanity.
“This gripping play locates itself within, and further enriches, The Market Theatre’s five decades-long legacy of reflecting the South African story—one of resilience, meaningful human connection and the fight for justice. It is an impeccably researched production, while also being a piercingly honest and deeply humanising piece of historical fiction that re-examines the events leading up to – and the immediate aftermath of – the historic day with compassion and care for the affected families and lost lives,” says Greg Homann, Artistic Director at The Market Theatre Foundation.
With this play, Mashifane wa Noni, a two-time Fleur du Cap-winning playwright-director, brings a uniquely intimate and compelling exploration of the individual and collective memory of June, 16 1976. The script derives from firsthand interviews, archival records and existing literature to ground the historical fiction in harrowing reality. Her artistic focus is on the ordinary and often overlooked details of the day; what she calls ‘the smaller ripple effects’ instead of the bigger narrative from history textbooks, important as that is.
“With an event of this magnitude, thousands of details can easily fall through the cracks. So, with this play, I have picked up what I think are only a couple of crumbs, but the crumbs do give us an idea of the various flavours of that terrible day,” she shares.
“What drew me to joining this project was not only the opportunity to reflect on something 50 years later with the hindsight of today, but also the challenge of telling a story that almost every South African knows, and finding ways to experience it anew. My philosophy in telling this very well-known story was to always remember that there is not one dominant ‘true’ voice. Rather, there are many different voices that can complement or contradict the greater historical narrative that we know.”
Don’t miss this fresh and captivating play by one of South Africa’s most exciting young voices, as told by a brilliant cast. Tickets for RISE ’76: The Story of June 16th are available on Webtickets from R110, including special half-price performances on 16 June and Wednesdays, discounts for preview performances and groups of four or more, and a further reduced price for school groups of 10 or more when booking directly with The Market Theatre.
Safe, secure and affordable underground parking is available at Newtown Junction.
ENDS.
The Market Theatre is a Division of The Market Theatre Foundation, an agency of the Department of Sport, 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.
