Shows

The Mountaintop

Starts: 12 Jun 2013
Ends: 21 Jul 2013
Booking info

The Mountaintop, a production that was crowned with the Olivier Award in 2010 for best new play on the London stage, and staged on Broadway with acting luminaries Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Basset, comes to the Market Theatre stage in June.

The South African staging of the play is directed by Warona Seane, and features powerhouse performances from acting veterans Sello Sebotsane and Mwenya Kabwe.

Critics the world over have unanimously praised the production:

“…Even before the first flash of lightning — and there will be plenty of that before evening’s end — an ominous electricity crackles through the opening moments of “The Mountaintop”… I felt a spark of Dr. King-like divinity in his rousing climactic oratory.” (New York Times).

“… fearless… dizzying… prophetic….” (San Jose Mercury News).

The Mountaintop will be staged at the Market Theatre from 12 June to 21 July 2013 for 6 weeks only.

The Epicene Butcher and Other Stories for Consenting Adults

Starts: 28 May 2013
Ends: 09 Jun 2013
Booking info

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Genre: Storytelling
Age Restriction: 16 (sex, strong language, violence)
Venue: Kippies

Brought onto our shores is a 12th century old Japanese art of storytelling known as Kamishibai (directly translated as “paper story”), colourfully used to tell seven stories as far and wide as that of Nelson Mandela, to those with a bit of hentei, all in one show.
Co-written by Gwydin Beynon and Jemma Kahn, who also shares the stage with performer Klara van Wyk, known as the “Chalk Girl,” the three have captivated audiences from Japan to Amsterdam, recapturing this age old art now practiced by fewer than 100 Kamishibai performers in its native land, and thought to also be the predecessor of manga and anime.
Jemma Kahn studied Kamishibai under the veteran performer Roukda Genji, with whom she travelled and performed extensively throughout Japan. InThe Epicene Butcher, Kahn performs seven eclectic Kamishibai stories that take in such divergent themes as heaven and hell, pornography, gothic tragedy and the dream life of cats.
We are proud to present this cross-cultural theatrical oddity at the legendary Market Theatre, after the show’s runaway successes as The National Arts Festival and Amsterdam Fringe Festival 2012 and Musho! International Theatre Festival 2013.

Directed by: John Trengove

Watch the YouTube video on The Epicene Butcher and other stories for consenting adults.

Keep an eye out for more updates coming soon!

Awards:
Silver Ovation Award, National Arts Festival
Best of International Fringe, Amsterdam Fringe Festival
Critics’ Choice, Amsterdam Fringe Festival
Best Origional Script, Musho! International Theatre Festival
Audience Favourite, Musho! International Theatre Festival

Mothe To Mother

Starts: 20 May 2013
Ends: 09 Jun 2013
Booking info

Poignant and powerful, Mother to Mother comes to the stages of Johannesburg for the first time. This intimate portrayal of a mother struggling to come to terms with the actions of her son is written by celebrated author Dr Sindiwe Magona, and is a deeply moving story of forgiveness and reconciliation. The production has toured widely, receiving 4 and 5 star reviews at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and playing to sold out houses at the Afrovibes Festival in the Netherlands and the UK. It is now the turn of Johannesburg audiences to enjoy this deeply empathic encounter, which explores how one unforgiving moment in an ordinary day has repercussions beyond the imaginable.

This tour-de-force monologue makes for powerful and profoundly moving theatre delivered with dignity, sensitivity and humour by consummate actress, Thembi Mtshali-Jones. The play was first conceived by Thembi, who approached Magona with the suggestion of transforming the novel into a monodrama. Janice Honeyman’s extensive experience in adapation was an important ingredient in developing the piece for the stage. Honeyman brings her diversity, sensitivity and skill as a director to this moving drama, a beautifully imagined personal testimony from the mother of a killer to the mother of the victim.

The Line (Alexandra Tour)

Starts: 14 May 2013
Ends: 19 May 2013
Booking info

The Line will be staged for one week only in Alexander township’s Thusong Youth Centre from 14 - 19 May 2013. Performances will start at 19h00 and tickets will cost only R30 for pensioners and school pupils, and R60 for adults.

The Line, Gina Shmuckler`s verbatim play that explores the theme of xenophobia, and Woza Albert!, the South African classic (directed by Prince Lamla, 2013 Standard Bank Young Artist Award-Winner) will be bought into communities that have historically been denied thought-provoking, socially-engaged professional theatre productions. And one of the objectives of the DAC`s Mzansi Golden Economy is to make a diversity of cultural and artistic offerings available to all provinces in South Africa – especially those that have been neglected in the past.

“I am delighted that the Department has made it possible for the Market Theatre to tour these two amazing productions. This is reminiscent of an era in which productions were staged in church halls, school halls and community centres and it allows communities to engage with theatre in their spaces,” said Annabell Lebethe, CEO of the Market Theatre.

Recently, The Line received Naledi nominations for Best Production of a Play, Best New South African Script, Best Performances by an Actress in a Lead Role, Best Theatre Sound Design/Sound Effects and Best Theatre set design.

The Chester Missing Road Show with Conrad Koch

Starts: 30 Apr 2013
Ends: 02 Jun 2013
Booking info

Chester Missing, South Africa’s most famous, contentious political puppet from eTV’s Late Night News with Loyiso Gola has embarked on a blazing national roadshow and will be at The Market Theatre accompanied by his annoying ventriloquist Conrad Koch, and his puppet sidekicks Hilary the outrageous diva Ostrich and Ronnie the lunatic green monster on 30 April - 02 June 2013.

As a political analyst come weekly columnist for award winning news site ZA News - Mr Chester Missing has broken new ground with his outrageous, hard-hitting, funny and frank interviews with South Africa’s political elite. The interviewees including Gwede Mantashe, Zwelinzima Vavi, Helen Zille, Mosiuoa Lekota, Blade Nzimande, Patricia De Lille, Bantu Holomisa and others.
It is an unprecedented world-wide that a puppet like Chester Missing is able to talk so frankly and directly with the ruling party and oppositions alike.
Armed with a Master’s degree in Social Anthropology, Conrad Koch is recognised as SA’s top ventriloquist, unique at combining cultural insights with hilarious commentary and puppetry. He is constantly exploring new directions in the ventriloquial art form where the drama of politics lends itself to satire and the theatre stage.
The Chester Missing Roadshow is directed by award-winning Heinrich Reisenhofer and produced by Podium - The Comedy Merchants. It promises to be a riot of world-class ventriloquism, crazy characters, cutting-edge political commentary and hysterically funny situations.

Make your bookings today!
Bookings: Call Computicket on 0861 915 8000, on-line at Computicket or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet.

What the critics have said -
“Intelligent, unhinged ventriloquism at its very best” The Star
“Reviews will use descriptive words like ‘pioneering’, ‘master-class’, and ‘minirenaissance’ but it really is that outstanding” The Citizen
“Quite breathtaking: delightfully entertaining, intellectually stimulating and technically brilliant.” The Cape Times

YUTUBE LINKS - Interviews with -
Jackson Mthembu - www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBb-E788KGk
Terror Lekota - www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmOPFWy1rPo
Helen Zille - http://www.enca.com/videos/lnn-chester-missing-interviews-helen-zille
Mmusi Maimane - DA spokesman - www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmhAQuxbo7M
Gwede Mantashe - LNN interview with the Secretary General of the ANC
http://www.chestermissing.co.za/?p=78

TWITTER - Quotes
https://twitter.com/chestermissing

RT @ferialhaffajee - I love that puppet, even though his interviewing style makes Ms.Patta look like butter @chestermissing
Zwelinzima Vavi - Hahaha. I am scared of that fellow.
Helen Zille - is definitely SA’s top political commentator.
Derek Hanekom - Ok, I’ll take that one. I actually like this puppet!
COSATU – Chester Missing has once visited the revolutionary house….we embrace such creativity-freedom of expression in SA