Market Theatre

An "alternative" theatre space created by writer/director Barney Simon and producer/administrator Mannie Manim in 1976, long termed South Africa's unofficial "National Theatre" because of its pivotal role in the cultural politics of the Struggle years (1976-1994). = STILL TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY EDITED =

An “alternative” theatre space created by writer/director Barney Simon and producer/administrator Mannie Manim, both of whom had had wide experience of theatre before forming The Company -an independent company committed to non-racial theatre - in 1974. The wanted to use it as a home base for their own work, but gradually the theatre developed into South Africa’s most renowned theatre space, unofficially considered the country’s “national theatre” in the 1980s and early 1990s. Looking for this home, they were led to the site of the former "Indian" produce market in Johannesburg's vibrant inner-city suburb of Newtown and eventually named the theatre complex after that former enterprise on the site.

The building was converted and turned into a complex consisting of four theatres and two galleries - one for graphic arts, one for photographs. Both the conversion and the subsequent running of the complex were funded entirely by donations from the private sector. It was opened in 1976, operating as an independent, non-racial theatre during the country’s apartheid regime. It is named for the site on which it stands, which was originally a produce market, also known as the Old Indian Market or the Newtown Market, which closed after 60 years of trade and relocated to another part of the city.

Like the Space Theatre, it defied the Group Areas Act, which restricted theatres in "white" areas to whites only - both as audience and as actors. From the start the trustees of the Market Theatre Trust opened the stages and the auditoria to all who wished to come there, regardless of race.

It was not until the 1990s, with the demise of the apartheid regime, that the Market Theatre would formally receive state funding.

=Origins=

The Company
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_Theatre_(Johannesburg)

See The Company

A home
It happened that the old produce market, also known as the "Old Indian Market" or the "Newtown Market", which had been opened in 1913, had finally closed after 60 years of trade and been relocated to another part of the city.

The Company, looking for a home, put in a bid, along with many other individuals and companies (including Schalk Jacobsz, Des and Dawn Lindbergh, and **) for the front section the old  Johannesburg Indian fruit market in Newtown. They eventually won the tender in 1974 and began converting it.

The Market Theatre became the ‘home’ of The Company and on the 4th of January 1976 a fund raising production was put on which consisted of a compilation of readings by well known performers such as Janet Suzman, Michael McCabe and Ron Smerczak, with music by Keith Blundell. Danny Keogh was the stage manager for the production.

=Management=

=Structure=

The building of the theatre was done by Ozz Construction, from architectural designs by Rodney Grosskopff. It initially consisted of two stages, the Market Main Theatre (the circular old sales hall) and what was to be called Upstairs Theatre. Later the Market Café was opened (it later became The Laager), followed by other spaces such as ** and the Rehearsal Room.

In 2013 a major revamp was undertaken, with capital funding from the Department of Arts and Culture, to enlarge capacity and make it more comfortable. However, because the building is a protected Heritage Site within Johannesburg's culturally important Newtown Precinct, the overhaul could not change any structural features.

The Rehearsal Room
= The Market Theatre Laboratory =

Also known as The Lab or the Market Theatre Lab.

Originally founded in 1989 as a training facility attached to the Market Theatre with money from the Rockefeller Foundation. John Kani and Barney Simon were the founding directors and Mark Fleishman was the first administrator. Gradually the success of the Drama School led to other programmes initiated by the Laboratory. It also received substantial funding later from SIDA through the Stockholms Statsteater.

Other administrators have been Tale Motsepe and Vanessa Cooke,

Today the Market Theatre Laboratory is based in The Bus Factory – 3 Helen Joseph Street, Newtown.

The Market Theatre Laboratory Drama School
The school offered an intensive practical two year course in basic theatre and performance skills for marginalised aspirant actors.

The school used professional theatre practitioners as tutors as they would impart not only the theoretical background but also give of their practical work experience. It soon became a platform for young artists to meet, interact, engage and discuss issues affecting the arts industry and creative processes.

The school was renamed the Ramolao Makhene Drama School after the passing of the renowned actor, though the title does not seem to be used much. Their theatre, the Ramolao Makhene Theatre, was also named after him.

The National Fieldwork Programme
This programme has worked with hundreds of community groups over the years and its success is evident in the annual Community Theatre Festivals and Zwakala Festivals.

The Writing Programme
With the assistance of Zakes Mda the lab started a writing workshop, which led to the development of a number of new South African plays.

Fieldworkers Festival or Market Laboratory Community Theatre Festival
The project was started to prepare and present the work of 50 community theatre groups and present a showcase of these in a semi-professional setting. The second co-ordinator Tale Motsepe initiated the Community Theatre Festival (known then as the Fieldworkers Festival). This festival became an annual event with groups coming from all the provinces.