Market Theatre Laboratory

Market Theatre Laboratory (also known as the Market Lab or simply The Lab), is a successful training project founded in Johannesburg as an extension of the Market Theatre. It is also responsible for The Market Lab Annual Community Theatre Festival, a project intended to prepare and present the work of 50 community theatre groups and present a showcase of these in a semi-professional setting.

History

Originally founded in 1989 by Barney Simon, John Kani (associate artistic director) and Vanessa Cooke (director) as a training facility for performer and community theatre practitioners. It was attached to the Market Theatre as its educational arm, as a response to the needs of the community theatre sector for high quality training, and to provide a seedbed for the creation of new South African plays. Deeply embedded in the ethos of the Laboratory is its commitment to providing opportunities to talented youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who would not otherwise be able to pursue their passion for the arts.

The Lab received funds from the Rockefeller Foundation, and substantial funding later from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) through the Stockholms Statsteater. Mark Fleishman was the first administrator. Other administrators have been Tale Motsepe, Vanessa Cooke (?-2008), Motloung Motjamela (2008-2011), Dan Robbertse (2011-2013) and Clare Vaughn (2013-).

The Lab opened in October 1989 in a small warehouse under the highway in Goch Street (now Henry Nxumalo Street), Newtown, where professional tutors ran practical as well as theoretical courses for aspiring actors. The Lab quickly became a platform for young artists to meet and engage creatively and collaboratively, first in apartheid South Africa and later in the new democracy. Gradually the success of the Drama School led to other programmes initiated by the Laboratory, including the community theatre programmes which have resulted in the annual Community Theatre Festival and Zwakala Festival, which showcase performances from around the country and which have unearthed hidden theatrical talents.

For a while, the Market Theatre Laboratory was based in The Bus Factory – 3 Helen Joseph Street (formerly President Street), Newtown. Since 2017, it has been based at Market Square, 138 Lilian Ngoyi St, Newtown. It has developed into one of the premiere training facilities of its kind in Southern Africa. It has trained exceptional performers and theatre-makers including Olive Schreiner Award winner Phillip Dikotla, three Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year winners, Monageng Motshabi (2016), Prince Lamla (2013), and Mncedisi Shabangu (2014), and SAFTA award winners Harriet Manamela, Warren Masemola and Lindiwe Ndlovu. In addition, the Lab has been recognised on multiple platforms for creating excellent theatre that engages with human rights issues.

Programmes

The Market Theatre Laboratory Drama School/Ramolao Makhene 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.

In 2012, 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 (seating 172), 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.

The Barney Simon Residency Project

With the support of the Barney Simon Trust, the Market Theatre Laboratory also offers one residency a year to provide a space for theatre-makers to develop a new work, investigate artistic process, and take creative risks. The intention of this project, which provides a theatre-maker every year with funding; space; support and resources to develop a concept, is to support the development of new work, investigate artistic process, and take creative risks.

Fieldworkers Festival/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.

The Zwakala Festival

The Zwakala Festival is a festival of new writing which was founded by the Market Lab in 1991.

For more information, see Zwakala Festival.

Sources

Pat Schwartz, 1988;

Percy Tucker, 1997;

Loren Kruger, 1999)

http://markettheatre.co.za/

https://www.marketlab.co.za

http://markettheatre.co.za/view/laboratory/about-the-lab-and-drama-school

http://www.historicalpapers.wits.ac.za/inventory/AG3005.php

Feature written by Helen Grange, The Star, 20 September 2001.

Creative Feel, 20 June 2016.

'A monument to theatrical excellence', The Star Late Edition, 27 February 2017.

For more information

See also Market Theatre

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