Sophiatown can refer to the famous freehold area of that name in Johannesburg, or to an improvised play about the area, created by the Junction Avenue Theatre Company (also referred to as Sophiatown the Musical in some cases).

Sophiatown - the area

Sophiatown, founded in 1900, was the closest place to the Johannesburg city centre occupied by black South Africans for much of the early 20th century. What made it particularly significant was that it was a freehold area, where all races could live and/or interact, and soon became a home to writers, journalists, artists, politicians – notably serving as the black intellectual heart of the city. It was the first area to be targeted by the Nationalist Government for the removals instigated under the Apartheid policies they had introduced.

Sophiatown, its features and its history have been the theme and setting of a large numnber of books, novels, plays and films, among them:

Freedom Square and Back of the Moon (Gibson and Kentridge, 1986)

Sophiatown (the play, Junction Avenue Theatre, 1986)

Back of the Moon (Gibson, 2019)

Sophiatown - the play

The original play

An influential workshop play about Sophiatown, it was devised by the cast under the guidance of director Malcolm Purkey and first performed the cast.

Based on a true prank in which Nat Nakasa and Lewis Nkosi had advertised in Drum magazine for a Jewish girl to come and stay with them in Sophiatown. The play deals with the “what if” of this situation, and setting it in a household representative of a spectrum of township dwellers, a microcosm of the Sophiatown milieu of the 1950s as seen from the perspective of the 1980s.

The original text

First published as a single text in 1994, then republished with other plays in 1995. Published by David Philip and also in At The Junction by Wits University Press. Also published as Sophiatown! in Drama for a New South Africa by Indiana University Press.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1986: First performed at the Market Theatre, Johannesburg on 18 February 1986, a Junction Avenue Theatre Company production directed by Malcolm Purkey, with sets designed by Sarah Roberts and William Kentridge and poster by Kentridge, starring Ramolao Makhene, Arthur Molepo, Megan Kruskal and Minky Schlesinger. The play quickly transferred to the Grahamstown Festival and went on to a phenomenally successful run over the next number of years, winning numerous awards and touring internationally. Doreen Mazibuko also joined the production, as well as Gladys Mothlale and Madidi Maphoto. Siphiwe Khumalo.

March 21 -31, 1990: Presented by PEMADS in collaboration with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs and performed at the Ford Little Theatre in Port Elizabeth. Directed by Natania Kleinhans. Starring Winston Soya as Jakes, Monty Jola as Mingus, Walter Gunguluza as Mr Fahfee, Siphokazi Majodina as Lulu, Judith Ngwenda as Mamariti, Vuyokazi Matambeka as Princess, Mariette du Toit as Ruth Golden, and Elroy Bramwell as Charlie. Wella Matomela was the Penny Whistler and Tando Nobadula and Buzwe Lisa were the dice players.

1994: In a production at the Market Theatre, Jakes was played by Patrick Shai, also starring Yael Farber, Ramolao Makhene and Arthur Molepo as Mingus.

1996: Rhodes University Drama Department production directed by Andrew Buckland, in May 1996, including Yael de Jong as Ruth and Shane Manilal as Mingus.

2016: A new production staged at the Market Theatre opening 30 March, directed by Malcolm Purkey. Sarah Roberts designed the costumes and sets for this production and Arthur Molepo is the musical director. It was part of the celebrations surrounding the 40th anniversary of the Market Theatre

2017: The 2016 production was revived at the Market Theatre by Purkey, with a cast that consisted of: Arthur Zitha (as "Fahfee"), Barileng Malebye ("Princess"), Christine van Hees ("Ruth Golden"), Hlengiwe Lushaba ("Madlala Mama"), Joel Zuma ("Charlie"), Sandile Dlangalele ("Mingus"), Sechaba Ramphele ("Jakes") and Tshepiso Tracey Tshabalala ("Lulu").

2018: The play was performed as Sophiatown the Musical at the South African State Theatre, Pretoria, from 13 April to 13 May. Directed by Aubrey Sekhabi with Thabiso Tshabalala ("Jakes"), Caitlin Clerk ("Ruth"), Terrence Ignacious Ngwila ("Mingus"), Kenneth Mlambo ("Fahfee"), Simphiwe Ndlovu ("Princess"), Madge Kola ("Mamariti"), Zamah Ngubane ("Lulu") and Bongani Masango ("Charlie"). The technical crew consisted of Zakhele Mabena (Musical Director), Bafikile Sedibe (Choreographer), Mandla Mtshali (Lighting Designer), Lungile Cindi (Costume and Set Designer), Irene Mathe (Senior Stage Manager and Costume Designer), Kea Moeketsane (Assistant Director) and Busisiwe Masemola (Costume Coordinator/ Dresser).