MTF @ NAF: Confronting Memory, Struggle and Place

The Market Theatre Foundation returns to the National Arts Festival in Makhanda with two compelling productions – The Cry of Winnie Mandela and Children of the Buffalo Thorn Tree – that interrogate memory, power dynamics, how history is remembered and which voices are heard. Presented as the country marks the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, both works grapple with the ongoing work of transformation, the power of representation and the place black women and young people have in history.

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MTF Appoints New Partnerships Development and Engagement Manager to Drive Revenue Growth 

MTF Appoints New Partnerships Development and Engagement Manager to Drive Revenue Growth

The Market Theatre Foundation has appointed Precious Lieketseng Eze as its new Partnerships Development and Engagement Manager, effective from 1 April 2026.  

“We’re excited to have Precious as part of our dedicated team. As the cultural sector faces funding challenges, she will lead our efforts in ensuring sustainability, preserving our heritage and optimising our brand legacy through building and maintaining relationships, while attracting investment into our key programmes across all four artistic hubs of The Market Theatre Foundation,” said Chief Operations Officer, Lekgetho Makola. 

In her new role as The Market Theatre Foundation’s Partnerships Development and Engagement Manager, Precious will act as the driving force behind revenue diversification, leveraging the leading cultural institution’s brand legacy and social impact to build sustainable, high-value partnerships.

Precious, who joins MTF from the SABC where she was the public broadcaster’s National Sales Manager, brings with her over fifteen years of experience across high-value brands.  

At the SABC, her record includes accounting for big annual revenue targets, increasing new business, building and managing high-value portfolios with major brands as well as successfully negotiating mutually beneficial contracts. 

Her other previous roles include Account Executive at Times Media Group and Senior Account Manager at Kagiso Media, among others.  

 She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration specialising in Marketing and a Bachelor of Business Studies.  

                                                                                            ENDS 

The Market Theatre Foundation is an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. 

 For media enquiries, please contact Bongiwe Potelwa (Publicist at The Market Theatre Foundation) at bongiwep@markettheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641. 

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MTF @ NAF: Confronting Memory, Struggle and Place

The Market Theatre Foundation returns to the National Arts Festival in Makhanda with two compelling productions – The Cry of Winnie Mandela and Children of the Buffalo Thorn Tree – that interrogate memory, power dynamics, how history is remembered and which voices are heard. Presented as the country marks the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, both works grapple with the ongoing work of transformation, the power of representation and the place black women and young people have in history.

Read More

Naledi Theatre Awards: The Market Theatre Foundation celebrates over 40 nominations

Naledi Theatre Awards: The Market Theatre Foundation celebrates over 40 nominations

The Market Theatre Foundation proudly announces that work presented across its stages in 2025 have bagged 42 nominations across several categories at the 21st Naledi Theatre Awards. This achievement, announced in the 50th year of The Market Theatre, reaffirms the institution’s leadership in theatrical excellence, relevant programming and world‑class talent.

 

Renowned playwright Mike van Graan’s The Good White is nominated for Best New South African Script, alongside Modise Sekgothe’s Gabo Legwala and Neil Coppen/Mpume Mthombeni’s The Last Country.

The Good White’s Shonisani Masutha also earns nominations for Best Supporting Performance in a Play and Best Breakthrough Performance in a Play.

Audience favourite, Afropocalypse, originally devised by Daniel Buckland in collaboration with The Market Theatre Laboratory’s second‑year students, makes a striking professional debut with six nominations including Best Director, Best Cutting‑Edge Production, Best Ensemble, Best Breakthrough Performance in a Play, Best Costume Design and Best Choreography/Movement Direction.

Collectively, ensemble works seen at The Market Theatre – Afropocalypse, Life and Times of Michael K, The Fall and Fatherhood – have claimed four spots in the Best Ensemble category.

Furthermore, The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe, curated through a unique partnership with The Art Cave, makes a notable appearance in the fringe theatre category, securing two of the five nominations under Best Fringe Production and two under Best Performance in a Fringe Theatre Production. Lesedi Thuto Gaasenwe’s Sentebale, produced through the Barney Simon Residency at The Market Theatre Laboratory, is in the running for the same award as well.

In performance categories, Gontse Ntshegang (Breakfast with Mugabe) and Mpume Mthombeni (The Last Country) compete for Best Lead Performance in a Play: Female, while Modise Sekgothe (Gabo Legwala) and Themba Ndaba (Breakfast with Mugabe) gun for the same honour in the male category.

Albert Khoza (The Black Circus of the Republic of Bantu) and Bo Petersen (Pieces of Me) are nominated for Best Performance in a Solo Production.

The Market Theatre Foundation also maintains a strong presence in the directing category, with four of six nominations coming from work presented at The Market Theatre: Calvin Ratladi (Breakfast with Mugabe), Neil Coppen (The Last Country), Lara Foot (Life and Times of Michael K) and Daniel Buckland (Afropocalypse).

The full list of nominations associated with The Market Theatre Foundation can be found at www.naleditheatreawards.com.

ENDS

The Market Theatre Foundation is an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

 For reduced price block bookings (of 10 or more) and school groups, contact Anthony Ezeoke (Audience Development) at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950.

For media enquiries, contact Bongiwe Potelwa (Publicist at the Market Theatre Foundation) at bongiwep@markettheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641.

Related Posts

MTF @ NAF: Confronting Memory, Struggle and Place

The Market Theatre Foundation returns to the National Arts Festival in Makhanda with two compelling productions – The Cry of Winnie Mandela and Children of the Buffalo Thorn Tree – that interrogate memory, power dynamics, how history is remembered and which voices are heard. Presented as the country marks the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, both works grapple with the ongoing work of transformation, the power of representation and the place black women and young people have in history.

Read More

New Producer to Support The Market Theatre’s Ambitious Artistic Vision

The Market Theatre Foundation Welcomes the Appointment of Its New Council

The Market Theatre Foundation (MTF) is pleased to announce that the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Hon. Gayton McKenzie, has appointed new members to its Council in terms of Section 5(1)(a) of the Cultural Institutions Act (Act 119 of 1998).

The newly appointed Council is legislatively mandated to provide oversight and strategic direction in the implementation of the institution’s bold creative vision.

This appointment comes at a significant moment in the MTF’s history, as The Market Theatre, one of its main artistic hubs, celebrates 50 years of fearless storytelling this year. The collective expertise of this Council covers a wide range of critical competencies, spanning governance, law, research, artistic practice, community engagement and more that are integral to the success of the organisation.  

As The Market Theatre Foundation looks ahead to many more years of intentional partnerships, artistic excellence, cultural representation and community impact, we welcome the skills set the new Council comes with.

The Market Theatre’s year-long anniversary celebration will be filled with compelling productions, exhibitions, conversations and community engagement projects that will honour our past, energise our present and build on the re-imagination of our future.

The nine-member MTF Council is constituted as follows:

  • Florence Masebe – Chairperson
  • Siphe Potelwa
  • Nalini Maharaj
  • Francois Smit
  • Rami Chuene
  • Mamollo Monica Miya
  • Venessa Pretorius
  • Shenay Lottering
  • Bernedette Muthien

Tshiamo Mokgadi, Chief Executive Officer of The Market Theatre Foundation, extends her best wishes to the newly appointed Council members and looks forward to a meaningful and collaborative term ahead.

ENDS.

The Market Theatre Foundation is an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

For media enquiries, please contact Bongiwe Potelwa (Publicist at The Market Theatre Foundation) at bongiwep@markettheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641.

Related Posts

MTF @ NAF: Confronting Memory, Struggle and Place

The Market Theatre Foundation returns to the National Arts Festival in Makhanda with two compelling productions – The Cry of Winnie Mandela and Children of the Buffalo Thorn Tree – that interrogate memory, power dynamics, how history is remembered and which voices are heard. Presented as the country marks the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, both works grapple with the ongoing work of transformation, the power of representation and the place black women and young people have in history.

Read More