South African author Njabulo Ndebele’s The Cry of Winnie Mandela has been adapted into a stunning feminist theatrical production. Brough to life by The Market Theatre, the play is currently running in Johannesburg till April 21. If you’re in the area, we highly recommend you check it out!

The Market Theatre, founded in Johannesburg in 1976, was constructed out of Johannesburg’s Indian Fruit Market and went on to become renowned as South Africa’s “Theatre of the Struggle”. The Market Theatre challenged the apartheid regime, and during the past four decades, has evolved into a cultural complex for theatre, music, dance and the allied arts.

Based on the popular novel by poet, novelist, and essayist Njabulo Ndebele, The Cry of Winnie Mandela is a poignant play of resilience adapted by Alex Burger and directed by the award-winning MoMo Matsunyane who is the current Standard Bank Young Artist Winner for Theatre.

The play is a compelling journey through history, emotion, and the enduring strength of the female South African spirit.  Read the full synopsis below:

Through the imagination of a literary professor, the action centers on the stories of four women who reflect on a period of waiting during the absence of their men. Between intense emotional moments and cleverly injected humor, the dynamic theatrical adaptation weaves together their private accounts, exposing the shadows, isolation, and complexities of their evocative experiences. A series of intimate and powerful conversations unfold as the characters reveal the profound impact of this period of their life, delving into the depths of their longing and uncertainty as they forge their stories to that of the life and times of Winnie Mandela.

This powerful feminist play involves a cast of six with five females and one male: Rami Chuene, Ayanda Sibisi, Nambitha Mpumlwana, Siyasanga Papu, Pulane Rampoana, and Les Nkosi.

Dates: March 30 – April 21, 2024

Venue: Barney Simon, Market Theatre, Johannesburg

Buy tickets and check out showtimes here.