This year, The Market Theatre celebrates an incredible milestone: 50 years of culture‑defining storytelling. For five decades, music has been one of the theatre’s most powerful forces, shaping its legacy and amplifying voices that have gone on to influence the sound of the nation.
From the smooth melodies of Sibongile Khumalo, to the spiritual depth of Mandisi Dyantyis, the global resonance of Hugh Masekela, and the contemporary brilliance of Zoe Modiga, music continues to be central to The Market Theatre’s identity.
In a recent radio interview, Mandisi Dyantyis reflected on what performing at The Market Theatre meant to him.
“If people want to talk about God working, listen to this: Mandisi Dyantyis live at The Market Theatre. I grew up thinking of that venue as a place that said you’ve made it,” he said to Kaya FM’s Thabo Mokwele.
His words echo the sentiments of many artists across genres, who see the theatre as a dream stage for artistic breakthrough and career validation.
True to its history, The Market Theatre’s 50th anniversary programme honours this legacy with a series of musical productions featuring some of South Africa’s most exciting contemporary voices. This aligns with the theatre’s artistic philosophy as shared by Artistic Director Greg Homman, which is that every audience member should see a piece of themselves reflected on the theatre’s four stages.
This commitment to shared ownership and a programming culture that mirrors the nation’s diversity is what continues to make The Market Theatre peerless in the cultural sector.
Stepping into the anniversary year on a high note, the theatre has already hosted two amazing musical productions: Blues in the Night from Memphis Tennessee and local musical theatre classic, Marabi.
Up next, audiences can look forward to concerts by Maleh, Berita, Zawadi Yamungu, Zoe Modiga and others soon to be revealed.
Maleh will present a special one-night-only performance of her latest album, Dithapelo, inviting audiences into what she describes as her most vulnerable and spiritually resonant body of work yet. Her concert, The Dithapelo Experience, takes place at The Market Theatre on 28 March 2026.
Reflecting on the moment, the Lesotho-born songbird shares: “This is not just a concert. It’s an invitation into my story, my faith, and my healing. The Market Theatre felt like the right place to share this chapter. It holds history, honesty and heart. I hope people hear themselves in these songs — their questions, their prayers, their hope.”
Berita echoes this connection to the venue as she prepares for her concert, Echoes of the Soul, supported by the SAMPRA Development Fund and scheduled for 7 March 2026.
“This show,” she says, “is a homecoming for my music and my spirit. Moving into the John Kani Theatre allows us to truly honour the heart. I want to share the stories behind the songs and the moments in between that have echoed through my soul over the years.”
Zoe Modiga’s new album, The Vault, is an experimental alternative soul project that reveals the unknown in the award-winning creative’s processes. She’s presenting it at The Market Theatre on 23 April 2026.
“I am a musical chameleon who is excited to share that with people. I feel anchored in all we’ve been able to collectively create and build over the years, and I feel ready to expand on that through what has been a childlike exploration and fire beneath my feet.”
Also not to be missed is Zawadi Yamungu’s Ngimuhle Album Tour on 14 March 2026, which promises a fusion of traditional instruments with contemporary sounds to create a culturally rich musical experience.