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The Market Theatre’s 50th Birthday Weekend: A Celebration of the South African Story

The Market Theatre Foundation is excited to announce The Market Theatre’s 50th birthday weekend celebrations, running from Friday, 19 June – Sunday, 21 June 2026 at The Market Theatre in Newtown. The anniversary festival will comprise a special performance entitled “Let’s Meet at The Market”,  exhibitions, surprise appearances, a wall with the names of people who have shaped the Theatre, talks as well as a brand new play acknowledging the historic week in which the theatre opened in June, 1976.

Each of these activities stand as a touchpoint inviting audiences to feel and be a part of the Theatre’s 50-year-strong internationally renowned legacy.

Tshiamo Mokgadi, Chief Executive Officer at The Market Theatre Foundation, describes the 50th birthday weekend as not just a calendar milestone, but a celebration of 50 years of culture-shifting storytelling, fearless resistance and giving a voice to authentic South African stories.

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“As we look back, we reflect not only on the powerful works that have played on our stages, but the people who have turned our space into a dynamic, diverse and truly South African experience. This institution was not built by infrastructure alone; it has always stood on the unbending backs of many individuals, institutions and corporates whose names line the walls on the boards in our foyer.”

Artistic Director, Greg Homann, adds that the weekend programme is framed as a celebration of the South African story, complex and nuanced as it is.

“We have curated the whole birthday weekend experience not only in memory of the past, but as a commitment that The Market Theatre will always be home to the South African story in as authentic a way as possible, told by voices from all backgrounds. This is what has made The Market Theatre so resilient, so agile, and so important for us as a country, and the world, across the decades.”

Below is a full line-up of activities:

Let’s Meet at The Market – John Kani Theatre

Let’s Meet at The Market is a 90-minute multidisciplinary stage production created to celebrate the extraordinary legacy of The Market Theatre. It is a work told through music, movement, spoken word, archival imagery and live performance. Beginning in the old Indian Fruit Market of Newtown, the production journeys across five decades of artistic rebellion, resistance and reinvention, tracing how an abandoned market became one of the world’s most important theatres. The production is directed by Clive Mathibe.

Tickets for this once-off public performance on Sunday, 21 June 2026 are available at R50 from Webtickets. 

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50 Years Bold – Barney Simon Theatre

A series of five intergenerational conversations under the title, 50 Years Bold, will bring veteran actors, directors, writers, producers, designers, arts administrators and technical personnel into dialogue with the next generation of theatre-makers shaping the institution’s future. Curated by the Artistic Director, with guidance from Vanessa Cooke, Zane Meas, and Nthati Moshesh, the talks will reflect on the Theatre’s radical history, while engaging in conversations around artistic legacy, cultural activism, mentorship, storytelling, production innovation and the evolving role of theatre in contemporary South Africa.

The Company at The Market (Saturday 20 June: 11am)

Join Vanessa Cooke and Janice Honeyman alongside Momo Matsunyana for the first in a series of four FREE intergenerational conversations under the title, 50 Years Bold. This once-off talk shares the story of The Company – an independent group of theatre-makers – who found a home at the fruit market that grew into the internationally renowned Market Theatre that we know today.

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Artistic Directors at The Market (Saturday 20 June: 13:45pm)

Join Malcolm Purkey, James Ngcobo, and Greg Homann facilitated by Mxolisi Masilela for the second in a series of four FREE intergenerational conversations under the title, 50 Years Bold. This once-off talk with the current and past Artistic Directors of The Market Theatre shares what it is like to lead the creative life of one of South Africa’s iconic cultural spaces.

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Playwrights at The Market (Sunday 21 June: 11am)

Join John Kani, Paul Slabolepszy, and Gcina Mhlophe facilitated by Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni for the third in a series of four FREE intergenerational conversations under the title, 50 Years Bold. In this once-off conversation with current and past playwrights who have premiered their work at The Market Theatre, they share their reflections on telling the South African story through the medium of theatre.

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Actors at The Market (Sunday 21 June: 13:45pm)

Join Zane Meas, Motshabi Tyelele, Christo Davids and Kate Liquorish for the final talk in a series of four FREE intergenerational conversations under the title, 50 Years Bold. These celebrated actors of the stage and screen sit together to reflect on their journey of telling the South African story at The Market Theatre and beyond.

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The Market Theatre Foundation Exhibition – Lindelani Buthelezi Gallery

The Market Theatre Foundation Exhibition in the Lindelani Buthelezi Gallery traces the 50-year evolution of the Foundation, charting its journey from the founding of The Market Theatre in 1976 to the growth of its wider creative family. Through archival material, posters, photography and rare images, the exhibition explores the emergence of The Market Photo Workshop, The Market Theatre Laboratory, and the addition of The Windybrow Arts Centre, revealing how each space and programme now contributes to shaping South Africa’s cultural landscape.

The exhibition is free. No reservation required.

Vision / Voice / Legacy Exhibition

This is a contemporary visual arts exhibition celebrating the icons, voices and cultural architects who continue to shape South Africa’s future. The exhibition brings together sixteen contemporary artists commissioned to create original works inspired by some of South Africa’s most influential cultural figures. The exhibition explores the intersection of legacy, identity, leadership, activism, sport, music, fashion and popular culture while creating an intergenerational conversation between the heroes of today and the dreamers of tomorrow. In partnership with the Riky Rick Foundation, the exhibition embraces the spirit of artivism—the intersection of art, culture and social impact. The featured icons include Ricky Rick, Thuso Mbedu, Anele Mdoda, Trevor Noah, Zozibini Tunzi, Julius Malema, Black Coffee and more.

The exhibition is free and open all day from 08 – 29 June 2026 at The Market Theatre.

RISE ’76 – Mannie Manim Theatre

The Market Theatre has teamed up with the Baxter Theatre to co-produce a brand new play, RISE ’76: The Story of June 16th,  that honours the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising – a milestone that coincides with the week in which The Market Theatre first opened its doors in 1976. It is written and directed by multi-award-winning playwright and director, Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni.

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People of The Market

People of The Market is a wall of names that honours the thousands of individuals who have shaped the life of The Market Theatre over the past five decades. From actors, directors, writers and designers to technicians, administrators, front-of-house staff and producers, the project recognises the many people whose work and presence helped build the Theatre’s legacy. The aim of the initiative is to create the most comprehensive record possible of all those who have worked for or at The Market Theatre across its 50-year history. During the birthday weekend launch and throughout the rest of 2026, digital pads will be available for the public, former staff, artists and collaborators to submit suggested names for inclusion.

The growing installation can be visited during the Theatre’s open hours.

The Market Theatre Tours

Guided tours across the birthday weekend will offer the public a rare behind-the-scenes journey through one of South Africa’s most iconic cultural spaces. Audiences will have the opportunity to explore rehearsal rooms, backstage corridors, dressing rooms, technical areas, and other hidden corners of the Theatre that many never get to see. The tours promise an intimate glimpse into the stories, creativity, and community that continue to define the theatre’s legacy.

Tours are ticketed at R20 on Webtickets and via the Box Office. 

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Food and Craft Market

An added part of our 50th  birthday weekend festivities is our two-day Food and Craft market, made possible thanks to the support of Proudly SA. Running from 10am to 9pm on Saturday and 10am to 6pm on Sunday, audiences can look forward to a variety of food and crafted items, adding flavour, colour and texture to our celebrations.

The Proudly SA-supported market enhances the festival feel of an exciting weekend line-up, which includes behind-the-scenes tours, special performances, surprise guest appearances, talks, exhibitions and more. Come join us!

The two-day Food and Craft market is also a preview of The Market Theatre Foundation’s upcoming regular market days which will follow in the coming weeks, aimed at bringing together artists, designers, crafters, storytellers, food vendors and social impact entrepreneurs.

For fifty years, our stages have been the home of the South African story, fearlessly centring the rich artistic life that has shaped a nation. Join us for a special weekend-long celebration as we journey across the decades that have forged this iconic space.

ENDS

The Market Theatre Foundation is an agency of the Department of Sport, 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.

WEEKEND PROGRAMME

Saturday 20th June

 

10:30am to Close       

MTF Exhibition (Lindelani Buthelezi Gallery)

People of the Market (wall of names)

June 16th Exhibition (Mannie Manim foyer)

 

11am – 12pm             

TALK 1: 50 Years Bold – The Company at The Market

Vanessa Cooke & Janice Honeyman facilitated by Momo Matsunyana (Barney Simon Theatre)

 

12pm – 1pm               

Children of the Buffalo Thorn Tree – Market Laboratory Student Production (Ramaloa Makhene Theatre)

 

12:15pm – 1:30pm     

Guided Tour

 

1:45pm – 2:45pm       

TALK 2: 50 Years Bold – Artistic Directors at The Market

Malcolm Purkey, James Ngcobo, and Greg Homann facilitated by Mxolisi Masilela (Barney Simon Theatre)

 

3pm – 5:30pm            

Rise ’76: The Story of June 16th (Mannie Manim Theatre)

 

7pm – 9:30pm            

Rise ’76: The Story of June 16th (Mannie Manim Theatre)

 

 

Sunday 21st June

 

10:30am to Close       

MTF Exhibition (Lindelani Buthelezi Gallery)

People of the Market (wall of names)

June 16th Exhibition (Mannie Manim foyer)

 

11am – 12pm             

TALK 3: 50 Years Bold – Playwrights at The Market

John Kani, Paul Slabolepszy, and Gcina Mhlophe facilitated by Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni (Barney Simon Theatre)

 

12:15pm – 1:30pm     

Guided Tour

 

1:45pm – 2:45pm       

TALK 4: 50 Years Bold – Actors at The Market

 Zane Meas, Motshabi Tyelele, Christo Davids and Kate Liquorish (Barney Simon Theatre)

 

3pm – 4:30pm            

Let’s Meet at The Market (John Kani Theatre)

 

3pm – 5:30pm            

Rise ’76: The Story of June 16th (Mannie Manim Theatre)