The Market Theatre and the Baxter Theatre have co-produced a new play titled “RISE ’76: The Story of June 16th” [1].
The production arrives as South Africa marks the 50th anniversary [1] of the Soweto Uprising, a pivotal moment in the struggle against apartheid. By dramatizing these events, the theaters aim to reflect on the enduring legacy of the youth-led protests and their impact on the nation's liberation.
Directed by Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni and featuring actor Alex Sono, the play is staged at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg and the Baxter Studio at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town [1], [3]. The narrative centers on the events of June 16, 1976 [2], when students protested the forced use of Afrikaans in schools.
This landmark collaboration between two of the country's most prominent theaters serves as a cultural bridge between Johannesburg and Cape Town. The production focuses on the human element of the uprising, ensuring the historical significance of the date remains central to the public consciousness five decades later.
The Soweto Uprising began 50 years [1] ago, sparking a wave of resistance that fundamentally shifted the trajectory of the anti-apartheid movement. The play seeks to honor those who participated in the original events while inviting contemporary audiences to examine how those struggles resonate in the present day.
Through the direction of wa Noni and the performance of Sono, the production utilizes the intimate setting of the Baxter Studio and the historic stage of the Market Theatre to convey the tension and tragedy of the 1976 events [3].
“The production arrives as South Africa marks the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising.”
The timing of this production coincides with a major national milestone, transforming a historical anniversary into an active cultural dialogue. By partnering two major regional theaters, the project ensures that the memory of the Soweto Uprising is processed not just as a political fact, but as a lived, artistic experience across different urban centers of South Africa.
