On Monday, 15 September, The Market Theatre revealed its collaboration with the TX Theatre Hub in a pioneering effort aimed at breaking down barriers between mainstream platforms and fringe creations, while enhancing community storytelling.
As part of this partnership, the Market Theatre proudly announced that it will host the TX Theatre Hub at The Market Theatre, featuring a festival of five works scheduled from 24 to 28 September.
The festival boldly seeks to showcase both new and existing works from emerging and established voices, foster talent, and link traditional narratives with contemporary expressions for the enjoyment of audiences.
The festival is set to take place over a span of five days, featuring a captivating production that showcases art at its finest, including elements of comedy, drama, and puppetry within an exhilarating lineup. The featured works consist of Masai Sepuru’s ‘Dark Magic’, Moruti Abednigo ‘Dlamini’s ‘Stevovo the Puppeteer’, ‘Madi Phatleng’ by Sithole, as well as ‘Behind Van Vuuren’s Farm‘ by Mxolisi Masilela.
Mxolisi Masilela, the Founder of The TX Theatre Hub, characterised the partnership between The Market Theatre and the Tembisa-based theatre hub as both “timely and necessary,” further explaining: “It bridges the divide between mainstream and fringe productions, brings fresh energy to the sector, ensuring that stories born in the township reach wider audiences, while affirming their place in the national cultural conversation.”
Masilela stated that both theatres [TX Theatre and The Market Theatre] are poised to gain from this significant partnership. He remarked that the TX Theatre embodies the future of theatre production: bold, authentic, and deeply connected to the community. Furthermore, it has evolved into a venue for emerging, independent artists to create works that resonate with contemporary issues, frequently utilizing limited resources yet showcasing boundless creativity.
“This collaboration matters because each theatre needs the other. Together, they create a powerful pipeline that ensures artistic excellence is not confined by geography or resources,” he explained.
In addition to the festival’s top five performances, there are two interactive discussions aimed at enhancing audience involvement. The first discussion will feature Mxolisi Masilela alongside Greg Homann, the Artistic Director of The Market Theatre Foundation, as they explore the connections between theatre, history, and activism. The second discussion will serve as a reflective session on the key themes that have emerged from the festival, providing audiences with a close-up view of the narratives. Attendance for all discussions is complimentary.
Greg Homann emphasised the commitment of The Market Theatre Foundation to support community-based creatives, a legacy that spans nearly five decades.
“The Market Theatre Foundation regards fringe theatre as the future of storytelling. We have chosen to collaborate with The TX Theatre Hub, which is doing immensely important work in amplifying the often-unheard voices in our communities. This partnership is a continuation of the longstanding investment we have made in developing the next layer of South African theatre, creating new entry-level opportunities, empowering young theatre-makers with meaningful creative roles, and introducing fresh voices to our loyal audiences. We have done this in the past through initiatives such as the decades-old Zwakala community theatre festival and our recent introduction of Kippies Fringe, which allows us to maintain our legacy as a crucible for fearlessly honest performances,” Homann said.
As The TX Theatre Hub and The Market draw near, narratives from townships that are typically showcased initially in modest community spaces will now share the same stage that has elevated numerous acclaimed theatrical productions in South Africa. This increased visibility will significantly contribute to illustrating that creativity originating from townships is fundamental rather than peripheral to the artistic future, sustainability, and relevance of the nation.
The TX Theatre Festival also receives backing from the National Arts Council (NAC) and the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
NOTE: Don’t miss the heart and soul of township storytelling, from 24 – 28 September 2025 at The Market Theatre. Tickets are available on Webtickets for R140 per show, with weekend day passes priced at R200. Buy one, get one free special for the first 21 tickets per show applies.