Market Theatre (Johannesburg)

The Market Theatre, based in the downtown bohemian suburb of Newtown in Johannesburg, South Africa, was opened in 1976, operating as an independent, anti-racist theatre during the country's apartheid regime. It was named after a fruit and vegetable market that was previously located there. It was also known as the Old Indian Market or the Newtown Market, which closed after 60 years. The Market Theatre was renamed John Kani Theatre in 2014 after the renowned South African stage actor John Kani.

Market Theatre
The John Kani Theatre
General information
Address	56 Margaret Mcingana Street Johannesburg South Africa 2001
Country	South Africa
Inaugurated	21 June 1976
Website
www.markettheatre.co.za

History

Structure

In 1974, a group of theatre people formed The Company. The founders included Mannie Manim and the late Barney Simon. They began fundraising to restore the neglected complex that housed the old produce market in downtown Johannesburg.

The original steel structure had been shipped from Britain and constructed on site. The steel arches and cathedral-like dome built in 1913 that housed the Indian Fruit Market were considered one of the most important pieces of organic architecture in South Africa. On Sundays, the main hall of the complex was used for symphony concerts.

Renovation began, with much of the work being done by the artists themselves. Today most of the original Edwardian architecture remains, as do a number of the original signs. It houses both Museum Africa and The Market Theatre complex.

Importance during apartheid

By the 1970s, there was heavy international pressure for South Africa to reform its apartheid laws. It was during this turbulent time, on 21 June 1976, that the Market Theatre opened its doors, with Barney Simon as its artistic director. The first production, under his direction, was The Seagull by Anton Chekhov with Sandra Prinsloo in the cast. In time the non-racial Market Theatre became known internationally as the "Theatre of the Struggle." It was one of the few places in the 1980s that blacks and whites could mix on equal terms. "The strength and truth of that conviction was acknowledged (...) In providing a voice to the voiceless, The Market Theatre did not forego artistic excellence, but, rather, made a point of it."

A multitude of anti-apartheid plays were staged, including Reza de Wet's multi award-winning, Diepe Grond, and Woza Albert, Asinamali, Bopha, Sophiatown, You Strike The Woman, You Strike A Rock, Born in the RSA and Black Dog – Inj’emnyama. The Market Theatre's cultural contribution to South Africa's emergence as a democracy in 1994 is significant.

In 1987, Janet Suzman made her directorial debut, staging a production of Shakespeare's Othello at the theatre. Suzman offered the titular role to John Kani, who sought the blessing of Mongane Wally Serote before accepting. Kani accepted and the play attracted both white and black audiences. It was significant too in the context of apartheid South Africa, to feature a black and white romantic relationship.

Awards

In 1995, the Market Theatre was the recipient of the American Jujamcyn Award to honour a South African theatre organisation that had made an outstanding contribution to the development of creative talent in the history of the country's theatre. During its history, the Market Theatre has received 21 international awards and more than 300 South African awards, which include Fleur du Cap and Naledi Theatre Awards.

Facilities

The Market Theatre complex houses three theatres: the Barney Simon Theatre (opened on 21 June 1976), the Main Theatre (opened in October 1976) and the Laager Theatre (named in 1979). In addition to hosting productions, the theatres are also used for conferences, seminars, presentations and product launches.

Barney Simon Theatre

Named after one of the co-founders of the Market Theatre, and a stalwart of the South African theatre industry, the Barney Simon Theatre was the first to open in the Market Theatre complex, while restorations to the historical building were still in progress. It has seating for 120 people.

Main Theatre

Four months after the Market Theatre opened with the staging of The Seagull, the Main Theatre opened to the public on 19 October 1976. The first production was Peter Weiss's Marat/Sade.

The Main Theatre is the largest of the three theatres of the Market Theatre complex and seats up to 387 people.

Laager Theatre

The first show to be staged in what was once a photo gallery in the Market Theatre complex was called Die Van Aardes Van Grootoor in August 1978. The theatre was named the Laager by prominent theatre personality and social activist Pieter-Dirk Uys in 1979.

A laager, also known as a wagon fort, is a fortification made of wagons joined together, usually in a circular shape, as an improvised military camp to safeguard those taking refuge inside. Pieter then found the name Laager appropriate for he too needed a safe place to perform under the apartheid regime.

Other

The Market Theatre complex also houses two art galleries, a jazz club, a cabaret venue,a bookshop, two restaurants (the Market Bar & Bistro and the historical Gramadoelas), a coffee bar, a theatre bar, a shopping mall, and a flea-market every Saturday.

Development

True to its roots, the modern-day Market Theatre remains dedicated to growing and cultivating the arts in South Africa through various initiatives such as the Lab and the Market Photo Workshop. The Market Photo Workshop is a school of photography that has been in operation for more than 20 years, with a special focus on introducing the art of photography to previously disadvantaged students.

The Rockefeller Foundation provided the seed money to start the Market Theatre Laboratory, a drama school founded by Barney Simon and Dr John Kani. The Lab opened in October 1989 in a small warehouse under the highway in Goch Street, Newtown, and is dedicated to developing community theatre and skills training in the arts.

From 1994, the Lab and later the Market Theatre formed a long-term partnership with the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and Stockholm City Theatre. The Lab holds two annual festivals, the Community Theatre Festival and the Zwakala Festival.

In 2010, the Market Theatre Laboratory moved to the Bus Factory, 3 President Street, Newtown, where the Market Photo Workshop is also located.

Selection of featured artists

Over the years, the Market Theatre hosted performances by a number of internationally acclaimed artists, including Athol Fugard. The great South African actress Yvonne Bryceland and collaborator of Athol Fugard was also involved in the evolution of the Market Theatre as a centre of theatre against apartheid In October 1987 Janet Suzman directed a multi-racial production of Othello at The Market Theatre. Suzman also directed Bertolt Brecht's Good Woman of Setzuan (renamed The Good Woman of Sharpeville).

Other theatre-makers to come out of the Market Theatre through the guidance of Barney Simon and Mannie Mannim include: Paul Slabolespzy, Janice Honeyman, Vanessa Cooke, Gcina Mhlope, Lara Foot, Clare Stopford, John Kani, Malcolm Purkey, Andrew Buckland, Sue Pam-Grant, Pieter Dirk Uys, Aletta Bezuidenhout, Neil McCarthy, Maishe Maponya, Robert Whitehead, Percy Mtwa, Reza de Wet, Danny Keogh, Mbongeni Ngema, Winston Ntshona, Fiona Ramsay, Ramaloah Makhene, Maralin Vanrenen, Robert Colman, Jerry Mofokeng, Robyn Orlin, Bill Flynn, Lucille Gillwald, Thoko Ntshinga, Selaelo Maredi, Basil Jones, Adrian Kohler, Kessie Govender, Joanna Weinberg, Fatima Dike, Sello Maake Ka Ncube, Val Donald-Bell, Wilson Dunster, Elize Cawood, Yael Farber, Nicky Rebelo, Irene Stephanou, Jacqui Singer, Lionel Newton, Nomsa Nene, Jennie Reznek, Mark Fleishman, Marcel van Heerden, Dale Cutts, Patrick Curtis, Megan Wilson, Martin Le Maitre, Chris Pretorius, Timmy Kwebulana, Motshabi Tyelele, Nadya Cohen, Terry Norton, Dawie Malan, Wesley France, Ron Schmerzak, Dorothy Ann Gould, Micheal Maxwell, Michelle Maxwell, Arthur Molepho, Sarah Roberts, Nandi Nyembe, John Oakley-Smith, Sandra Prinsloo, Franz Dobrowsky, Yvonne Bryceland, Peter Se Puma, Leila Henriques, Thembi Mtshali, James Whyle, Lesly Nott, Saira Essa, Elaine Proctor, Seputla Sebogedi, Russell Savadier, Jennifer Ferguson, Walter Chakela, Adrienne Pearce, Toni Morkel, Matthew Krouse, Bobby Heaney, Bo Petersen, Sean Taylor, Gina Benjamin, Sue Kiel, Megan Kruskal, Dawid Minaar, John Lebwaba, Bill Curry, Camilla Waldman, Craig Higginson, Jenifer Steyn, Tony Bentel, Gerrit Schoonhoven, William Kentridge, Bruce Koch, Lindsay Reardon, Mnscedisi Shabangu, Phillipa Yaa De Villiers, Barie Shah, Jana Cilliers, Jamie Bartlett, Ellis Pearson, Phyllis Klotz, Small Ndaba, Greg Latter, Gilda Blacher, Sue Steele, Dan Robertse, Christo Leach, Minky Schlesinger, Nomhle Nkonyeni, Melani Dobbs, Busi Zokufa, Gideon de Wet, Nicholas Ellenbogen, Mario Schiess, Grethe Fox, Leonie Hofmeyr, Fats Diebeco, Kurt Engelhof, Charles J Fourie, Marlene Bloom, Marius Weyers, Charlotte Butler, Doris Sihula, Kate Edwards, Warrick Grier, Joe Stewardson, Bruce Laing, Jamie Bartlett, James Mthoba, Ian Roberts, Marie Human, Judith Cornell, Benji Francis, Johan Engels, Shelag Holiday, Beverley Melnik, Patrick Shai, Deon Stewardson, Barbra Rubin, Sandra Duncan, Barry Berk, Bes Finney, Graham Hopkins, Jeremey Crutchley, Lida Meiring, Erica Rodgers, Joss Levine, Mike Huff, Ruphin Coudyzer and many more.

See also

• "The Suit", a short story by Can Themba, first adapted into a play by Barney Simon and Mothobi Mutloatsi and performed at the Market Theatre in 1994.

External links

• The Market Theatre
• The Theatre That Reflects the Soul of Johannesburg
• South Africa Info