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.
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.