Mzansi Theatre Review

Maria McCloy, an icon of South Africa's music, fashion and entertainment industry. There are some people in the entertainment industry whose names become so familiar, so deeply woven into the culture, that it becomes difficult to imagine the industry without them. Maria McCloy was one of those rare people. If you spent any amount of time in South Africa’s music, media or fashion circles over the past three decades, chances are Maria knew you, worked with you, dressed you, introduced you to someone important, promoted your work, played your music or simply encouraged you when the industry became too loud or too lonely. And she did it all with class and style. Maria McCloy, who passed away on Tuesday evening at Johannesburg’s Milpark Hospital following heart failure, was more than a publicist, DJ or fashion creative. She was a connector of worlds. A bridge between artists and audiences. A trusted voice behind the scenes of some of the country’s most defining cultural moments sinc...

The cast of "Marabi", Gabisile Tshabalala (as Martha) and Katleho Moloi (as Ginger George). Photo: Ngoma ka Mphahlele. South Africa’s iconic musical theatre production Marabi has returned to The Market Theatre in a powerful revival that launches the venue’s year-long 50th anniversary celebrations. Anchored by an all-star cast, the production reclaims its place as one of the country’s most important theatrical works, blending searing social commentary with rich musical expression. Set in the harsh Doornfontein yards of the 1930s, Marabi follows the lives of an ordinary family of first-generation black migrants to Johannesburg , uprooted from a stable rural existence and thrust into the uncertainty of city life. Bound together by an evocative musical score, the play meditates on love and loss, while showing how music and memory act as a bridge between the past and the present. Adapted from Modikwe Dikobe’s seminal novel Marabi Dance , the story unfolds through the eyes of J...

The cast of pantomime, Pinocchio, on stage at the Joburg Theatre. Credit: enroC  If you heard loud laughter, saw a suspicious number of pointy noses, or spotted a grown adult arguing with a cricket this weekend, don’t panic— Pinocchio has officially returned to Joburg Theatre, and the city may never recover. South Africa’s most cherished holiday theatre tradition is back, brighter and more mischievous than ever. Legendary theatre maker Janice Honeyman returns for her 38th annual pantomime, bringing an all-new, laugh-loaded production of Pinocchio . This year’s production is a spectacular carnival of stagecraft—packed with music, dance, circus magic, puppet shows, techno-trains, pirate ships, and an unforgettable cast of characters. From the gentle Papa Geppetto to the mischievous Pussy Galore and the wise, ever-patient Jiminy Cricket, audiences will journey alongside Pinocchio through wonder, temptation and transformation. The holiday favourite has burst back onto the stage in a s...

Multi-talented artist, Lerato Mvelase, performing music from the Sophiatown era during the Jazz, Thearre and the Spirit of Sophiatown, which primiered at the Market Theatre on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied When dance icon Gregory Maqoma announced his retirement in 2023, many, including myself, felt a pang of sadness. The stage would lose his magnetic presence, his artistry that had, for years, redefined the boundaries of dance. Yet, in one of our conversations, Maqoma revealed his deeper calling: to return to his first love, nurturing the next generation of talent. That promise was fulfilled in his latest world-class production, Jazz, Theatre and the Spirit of Sophiatown , which premiered at the Market Theatre on Tuesday, September 16. It reminded us, once again, why Maqoma remains in a league of his own. " It’s about the memories. It’s about the movement, and it’s about the meaning." This one-night-only production was specially curated as a prelude to the 2025 Standard Bank Joy...

Veteran actor Themba Ndaba plays the lead in "Breakfast with Mugabe" at The Market Theatre. Picture: Ngoma. Robert Mugabe, the former President of Zimbabwe, is perhaps one of the most polarising political figures of recent African history. His journey from an esteemed independence leader to a controversial tyrant is a story interwoven with policy, power struggles, and persistent criticism. Mugabe's legacy remains a topic of vigorous debate, especially when scrutinised through the lens of Western perspectives that often found him more enigmatic than amenable. Inspired by accounts that Mugabe once privately consulted a white psychiatrist, Breakfast with Mugabe is a fictionalised narrative that weaves a compelling dialogue between the fictional Dr Andrew Peric and the formidable Mugabe. This striking production marks a significant moment for multitalented director Calvin Ratladi, the 2025 Standard Young Artists Award winner for Theatre, as he steps into new creative realms...