The Market Theatre will commence its 50th anniversary celebrations on a high note with the return of Marabi, a classic of South African musical theatre, which will run from the 19th of January to the 15th of February.
Directed by Arthur Molepo, a member of the original cast, the production features music by Mpho Molepo, and Molepo Theatre Projects in collaboration with The Market Theatre.
Marabi is a vibrant township music genre from early 20th-century South Africa, set in the challenging Doornfontein yards of the 1930s. The play narrates the unique story of an ‘ordinary’ family, first-generation black migrants to Johannesburg, who have relocated to the city, leaving behind a tranquil and predictable life. Seamlessly woven together by captivating music, the play delves into themes of love and loss, as well as the ways in which music and memory bridge the past and the present.
Marabi also outlines a traditional South African musical theatre production, Marabi Dance, which is based on Modikwe Dikobe’s novel set in the 1930s within the townships of Johannesburg. The narrative progresses through the character of July Mabongo, who grapples with his ancestral responsibilities, financial hardship, and the challenges of urban existence. Mabongo’s daughter, Martha, becomes romantically involved with Ginger George, a charming marabi musician, challenging conventions and igniting familial discord.
Athur Molepo, the Director of the revival of “Marabi”, expressed to the media team of Market Theatre during its landmark year that this production serves as a significant tribute to South Africa’s cultural heritage. He emphasised that it is not merely a classic story presented with a new voice and sound, but rather a chance to connect generations of artists, foster social cohesion, and safeguard our nation’s musical legacy.
“This piece speaks to the power of music as a trancsendent force, using rhythm to guide us back to our roots,” he explained.
As The Market Theatre celebrates its 50th anniversary with this distinctly South African production, it exemplifies the theatre’s esteemed heritage as the ‘people’s theatre’.
George Homann, the Artistic Director at The Market Theatre Foundation, stated, “Our 50th celebrations will be guided by our principles of fearless storytelling, shared ownership, and programming that reflects our nation’s diversity.”
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He elaborated that Marabi is a hallmark of South African theatre that will appeal to both the legacy audiences of the theatre and new visitors of all ages, providing them with insight into a period that shaped the essence of the city.
“It’s a perfect play to sit as our 50th Anniversary season premiere, as we look back at the past and set the tone for the future,” he enticed.
Homann additionally observes that similar to how marabi emerged from the struggles of one of Johannesburg’s most challenging environments to establish itself as the city’s signature cultural sound and movement, The Market Theatre was also created in the aftermath of one of apartheid’s most tragic events: June 16, 1976.
“We opened our doors in the same week as the Youth Uprising, which rooted The Market to a legacy of using artistic expression to resist oppression. It feels especially fitting, then, to begin our 50th-anniversary year with a production that celebrates how music and dance have shaped our social life and created a sense of home for generations of migrants navigating a fast-paced and unfamiliar city,” he concluded.
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Note: Tickets for the performance can be purchased on Webtickets through The Market Theatre’s official website, featuring special festive season pricing of R150, which is available until 11 January 2026. Additionally, discounted bookings for groups of four or more, as well as half-price tickets on Wednesdays, are also available for purchase.