Last updated on 25 June 2026
The Market Theatre has been far more than a performance venue in the past half-century of its existence. It has served as a living mirror, reflecting South Africa’s struggles, triumphs, and ever-evolving identity.
As the iconic Newtown institution marks its golden jubilee, theatre-makers, audiences, and cultural historians are reflecting on a legacy built on fearless storytelling, artistic excellence, and an unwavering commitment to documenting the South African experience.
Founded in June 1976, the Market Theatre opened its doors during one of the most pivotal moments in the nation’s history. Its launch coincided with the week of the June 16 Soweto Uprising, a convergence that would forever shape both the country and the institution itself.
“It opened its doors the same week as the June 16 uprising in Soweto. In many ways, the politics of the country and the relationship to the Market Theatre and the stories it needed to tell were fused together from day one,” said Artistic Director Greg Homann.
Over five decades, the theatre has staged some of South Africa’s most influential productions, including Woza Albert!, Born in the RSA, Sophiatown, Have You Seen Zandile?, You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock, and the globally acclaimed Sarafina!.
As part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations, the Market Theatre hosted a special commemorative performance that brought together members of the original Sarafina! cast. The reunion marked the first time in 35 years that these performers had shared the stage, having last performed together in 1991.
Speaking on behalf of the original cast, Nhlanhla Ngema, younger brother of the late Mbongeni Ngema, the creator of Sarafina! described the reunion as both emotional and significant.
“To reunite 35 years after our last performance together, in the very institution that helped launch this historic production, is a fitting tribute to my brother’s legacy and to everyone who contributed to making Sarafina! a global phenomenon,” he said
“We are honoured to be part of The Market Theatre’s 50th anniversary celebrations and to share this moment with audiences old and new.”
Sarafina! premiered at the Market Theatre in 1987 before becoming one of South Africa’s most celebrated cultural exports. The production shone an unflinching spotlight on the lives of young people under apartheid, amplifying the voices of a generation demanding freedom and equality.
The anniversary performance featured members of the original ensemble, including Baby Cele, Ntombikhona Dlamini, Lindiwe Dlamini, Sboniso Khumalo, Thandekile Mqadi, Kipizane Skweyiya, Nandi Ndlovu, Linda Mtolo, Lindiwe Hlengwa, Zandile Hlengwa, Dumisani Dlamini, Pat Mlaba, Nhlanhla Ngema, Congo Hadebe, Nkosingiphile Sithole and Mpume Shelembe.
Their return offered audiences a rare glimpse into a living archive of South African theatre history, honouring the artists who helped transform a local production into a global phenomenon.
Despite shifting political landscapes and changing audience demographics, Homann insists the theatre’s core mission has never wavered.“What has remained constant is our commitment to telling the South African story in all its diversity, and reflecting what is happening in the country in real time,” he said.
The late theatre pioneer Barney Simon once described the Market Theatre as “the newspaper of the day” during apartheid. Homann believes that the mandate endures, even as the institution navigates post-apartheid cultural shifts, funding realities, and the demands of a digital age.
“We continue to ask: what does it mean to be South African today, and how do we stage that conversation?” he added.
The anniversary celebrations featured exhibitions, public talks, and the unveiling of a commemorative names wall honouring the estimated 3,000 to 4,000 artists, technicians, directors, playwrights, and staff who have shaped the institution over five decades.
Among those marking the milestone was veteran actress Vanessa Cook, a founding member and the first actress to perform on the Market Theatre’s stage. Reflecting on the institution’s longevity, Cook admitted she still struggles to believe it has reached 50 years.
“You think of the Market Theatre, and it surely has had its day. No, it has not,” she said.
Cook recalls helping to physically prepare the space before its 1976 opening, including helping to build the upstairs theatre herself. She also reflected on the emotional weight of early productions like Born in the RSA, which laid bare the injustices of apartheid.
“It was telling stories that I know to be true, and I know to be unfair. Those things go into you, and you keep them in your heart,” she said.
As South Africa observes Youth Month, the theatre’s anniversary serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring link between art and social change.
The Sarafina! reunion reinforced that legacy, reuniting performers whose work gave voice to the aspirations and struggles of young South Africans during apartheid.
That tradition continues today with productions like Rise 76, which revisits the events of June 16 through the eyes of a contemporary young South African grappling with the uprising’s meaning in modern times.
For Homann, preserving the Market Theatre’s legacy isn’t about looking backwards, it’s about ensuring the institution remains a vital, responsive platform for tomorrow’s storytellers.
“The thing I always go back to is: what is the legacy, and how can it be interpreted for today?” he said.
Fifty years after opening its doors, the Market Theatre remains a cultural landmark and a necessary space for stories that challenge, inspire, and capture the complexities of South African life.
The celebration of the original Sarafina! cast stands as both a tribute to the past and a declaration that the stories which shaped the nation continue to echo across generations. – news@mukurukuru.co.za
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