Kopano Ya Batho – Market Lab Alumni Festival – Road to 40.

Market Theatre Laboratory and Ons Kom Productions host a three-day Alumni Festival, 21–23 August 2026 at Ramolao Makhene Theatre, Market Square.

The Market Theatre Laboratory has partnered with Ons Kom Productions to gather the talented people who have graduated from The Laboratory for a three-day inaugural Lab Alumni Festival, taking place from the 21 – 23 August 2026 in the Ramolao Makhene Theatre. The festival is aimed at celebrating the legacy of The Market Theatre Laboratory and the generations of artists it has produced.

Throughout the three unmissable days, the festival will showcase productions from alumni who have graduated as far back as 2001, and as recent as 2023. Again, audiences can expect to view films independently created by Alumni, creative panels and eight productions, some which have had over a decade of audiences and some that are still new to our Ramolao stage.

The 2026 festival is curated by Lab alumnus Jaden Mokwa Oratile Mosadi, who approached The Market Lab with the idea of calling Alumni back home and developing the people’s gathering—Kopano Ya Batho.

Cherae Halley, Head of The Market Theatre Laboratory, says they hope this annual festival begins to strengthen Alumni relations and remind all graduates of the network among them for further opportunity and celebration. “The Market Lab continues to be a space for young and independent artists to showcase their new explorations and works-in-progress. This Alumni Festival will create space for its alumni to be celebrated and to stage their work at home; at the very training institution that inspired their creative genius.”

Curator Jaden Mosadi says, “We co-created this festival to acknowledge our alumni who went out and made beautiful work. This is more than a celebration, but an evaluation of the quality we uphold in the industry as The Market Laboratory.”

The festival has already kicked off with pre-festival workshops that have been hosted by Alumni and friends of The Market Lab.

Don’t miss this packed weekend, with works that provoke, entertain and display the heart of South Africa’s storytelling.

Festival line-up:

Friday, 21 August
17:00: Mshovara by Thabiso T Rammala & Darlington Makhobozi. Directed by Thabiso T Rammala.

19:00: Circle by Tau Maserumule. Directed by Dambua Nqumashe.

Saturday, 22 August
13:00: Lekgora Leng by Katlego Jack Moloi. Directed by Aalliyah Zama Matintela.
15:00: Imfihlo by Sifiso Zimba. Directed by Sam Sparara Modieginyana.
17:00: The Thing Between Us by Thabang Chauke & Tumelo Namtweya-Phiri. Directed by Thuli Nqcaweni. Dramaturge by Aalliyah Zama Matintela.
19:00: Ideas Cannot Be Bombed by Lawrence Simelane. Choreographed by The Blaq Spider Pantsula.

Sunday, 23 August
14:00: Mind the Scarf by Mirriam Mayet. Directed by Mirriam Mayet in Collaboration with Zikka Zimba Productions.
16:00: Gauteng (For Ebenezer) by Melusi Molefe & Qondiswa James. Directed by Qondiswa James & Melusi Molefe.

Tickets for each show are out on Webtickets selling for R100 and R80 student/pensioner discount.

Safe, secure and affordable underground parking available at Newtown Junction.

The Market Theatre Laboratory is a division of The Market Theatre Foundation, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

For media enquiries, please contact Bongiwe Potelwa (Publicist at The Market Theatre Foundation) at bongiwep@marketheatre.co.za or 011 832 1641 ext 224.

For reduced price block bookings (of 10 or more) and school groups, contact Anthony Ezeoke at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za and 083 246 4950, or Khanyisa Titus at khanyisat@markettheatre.co.za and 065 955 7182.

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