The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe presents Roti Queen by Shika Budhoo and Dhaveshan Govender,a South African Indian identity story from 24–27 September.

The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe presents Roti Queen, a one-woman theatre production written by Shika Budhoo and Dhaveshan Govender, directed by Govender and performed by Budhoo.

Following successful runs at the Red Mango Arts Festival, the Umhlanga Saree and Sweetmeat Festival, Westville Theatre and Durban’s 031 Theatre Festival, Roti Queen comes to Kippies Fringe from 24–27 September 2026. The production explores identity, family, sacrifice and self-discovery through a distinctly South African Indian lens.

At a time when conversations around marriage, caregiving and women’s roles continue to shape public life, Roti Queen opens a window into what happens behind closed doors. As families navigate shifting expectations, financial pressure and emotional labour, the play reveals the quiet sacrifices, compromises and resilience that often hold them together.

At the centre of the story is Amrita, a Durban wife and mother preparing for her nineteenth wedding anniversary dinner. As she kneads dough, flips rotis and listens to Bollywood music on the radio, memories begin to rise and long-buried questions surface. Through humour, dance, multiple characters and live roti-making on stage, the play moves between laughter and reflection, revealing the hidden emotional worlds beneath everyday routine. Audiences have described it as “utterly authentic, riveting and highly entertaining”, “powerful and poignant” and “storytelling at its epitome”.

Speaking about the work, performer and co-writer Shika Budhoo says: “Every time I perform Roti Queen, I’m reminded why these stories matter. I’ve met so many women whose strength and sacrifice often go unseen, and Amrita carries pieces of all of them. The show is demanding from the Bollywood choreography to cooking rotis live on stage, but telling this story makes every challenge worth it. If we don’t tell our stories, who will?”

Shika Budhoo is an actor, writer and performer whose work spans theatre, film, radio and literature. Her credits include Shika-Land, the feature film Kalushi, the radio programme Lollipop Lane, and the novel Aiyo Rama Wedding Drama. She is joined by award-winning writer, actor and director Dhaveshan Govender, known for King of Old Trafford, Twelve and Aya’s Boy. Together they bring a distinctly Durban voice to the stage, blending humour, cultural authenticity and emotional depth.

Beyond the stage production, the published play text of Roti Queen is available through MicroMega Publications (www.madeindurban.co.za). The publication invites readers, students, educators and theatre practitioners to engage with the work beyond performance, while supporting the inclusion of contemporary South African stories in classrooms and creative spaces.

Experience a heartfelt, funny and unmistakably Durban story brought to life through theatre, dance and live roti-making. Catch Roti Queen at The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe this September and discover why audiences across KwaZulu-Natal continue to embrace this celebration of family, resilience and home.

Performance schedule: Thursday, 24 September 2026 – 19:30. Friday, 25 September 2026 – 19:30. Saturday, 26 September 2026 – 15:30 & 19:30. Sunday, 27 September 2026 – 15:30.

Tickets are out on Webtickets selling for R100. Bulk tickets can be purchased at The Market Theatre box office: 4 tickets at R350 and 8 tickets at R670.

The Kippies Fringe is an initiative of The Market Theatre, a division of The Market Theatre Foundation.

For media enquiries, please contact Bongiwe Potelwa (Publicist at The Market Theatre Foundation) at bongiwep@markettheatre.co.za or 011 832 1641.

For reduced price block bookings of 10 or more and school groups, contact Anthony Ezeoke (Audience Development Specialist at The Market Theatre Foundation) at anthonye@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950.

Bongiwe Potelwa
bongiwep@markettheatre.co.za
079 967 3441
The Market Theatre Foundation
http://www.markettheatre.co.za