It was just three days after the June 16 Student Uprising in 1976 when the Market Theatre in Newtown, Johannesburg, opened its doors as an anti-racism theatre space.
The theatre was founded by Barney Simon and Mannie Manim as a platform to tell struggle stories. It hosted anti-apartheid plays like Woza Albert, Asinamali, Bopha, Sophiatown, You Strike the Woman You Strike a Rock, Born in the RSA, Black Dog – Inj’emnyama, and on Saturday it celebrated a milestone, its 45 years of its existence.
The celebrations featured Es’kia Mphahlele’s classic play Father Come Home, which was translated by Rami Chuene into Sepedi, calling it Tate etla Gae.
Market Theatre artistic director James Ngcobo said they would salute anyone who has ever written work for the institution. The institution will be doing Joburg Monologues, written by young people on how they view life. Also part of the programme will be John Kani’s internationally acclaimed play Kunene.
“As part of celebrations, we will bring back some of the old plays like Blood Knot, which was last staged at the Market Theatre 35 years ago. We have been staging shows written in different languages. We just had a surprise with the Afrikaans play which was sold out. It just showed that the work resonated with both young and old,” he said.
“When it comes to Joburg Monologues we plan to take stories written by young writers and attach them to very well-known, seasoned actors, who will be reading them.”
Newly appointed chairman of the board Phil Molefe gave his maiden speech, saying the theatre was built on tears and struggle. Molefe said since many people in townships watched theatre productions at different halls, the establishment brought change in storytelling.
“With the establishment of the Market Theatre, Barney Simon and Mannie Manim showed that they had a vision and were determined to make sure SA is integrated to another level. It started as anti-racist theatre and as a platform to tell the stories of struggle production. After watching a show at the Market Theatre we felt inspired to take it to the street …that was the mood. As it celebrates 45 years, we {as the whole team} would like to take the institution to greater heights. We want to see the institution becoming a cultural centre for SA and the African diaspora,” said Molefe.
Kani, whose show The Island was staged at the Market Theatre in 1977, recounted how the institution made a difference.
“I remember coming here after my tour in Australia. Mannie kept saying to me ‘this is going to happen’ and I thought this was a great opportunity for Joburg,” he said. Since then Kani has brought many shows to the Market Theatre that include Sizwe Banzi is Dead, Missing, and Nothing but the Truth, among others.
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