The Market Theatre, founded in 1976 and built out of Johannesburg’s old Indian Fruit Market, is internationally renowned as South Africa’s “Theatre of the Struggle.” During the apartheid era, it fearlessly challenged the oppressive regime by providing a platform for non-racial, progressive, and often politically charged plays, offering a voice to the voiceless and fostering artistic excellence amidst repression.
Today, the Market Theatre Foundation operates as a cultural complex encompassing multiple theatres, the Market Theatre Laboratory for training, and the Market Photo Workshop. It remains a dynamic cornerstone of South African performing arts, actively promoting new works, music, and dance, and continuing its legacy of using culture to advocate for social change and dialogue.
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