The story of June 16th at The Baxter

Rise ‘76: The Story of June 16th is coming to The Baxter Theatre from 8 to 30 May. This is the latest work by acclaimed two-time Fleur du Cap award-winning playwright and director Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni.

On the commemoration of 50 years since the 16 June youth uprisings, this powerful work draws on firsthand interviews and historical records to bring an intimate, human perspective to one of the most defining moments in South African history. The production will move to The Market Theatre’s Mannie Manim from 5 to 28 June.

Mashifane wa Noni developed the script by synthesising insights from over 40 individuals, working with archival records and literature to ground the fiction in harrowing reality. “With an event of this magnitude, thousands of details can easily fall through the cracks. So, with this play, I’ve only picked up what I think are only a couple of crumbs – but the crumbs do give us an idea of the various flavours of that terrible day,” said Mashifane wa Noni.

Instead of focusing on the “heightened bigger picture” story that we know from history textbooks about the uprising, she explained that she was interested in the smaller ripple effects. “To explore this, the play adopts a documentary style storytelling lens that zooms into the lesser-explored domestic moments like listening in on a teaching staff meeting as they discover all the textbooks are in Afrikaans, catching a glimpse into a secret student logistics meeting or witnessing someone getting arrested before they could even take their morning bath.”

“It is an honour and a privilege to be a part of this collaboration.”

Rise ‘76: The Story of June 16th transports audiences to Molefe Secondary, a fictional school in Soweto, during the tense weeks leading up to June 1976. As the mid-year exams loom, student leaders Bafana and Kedibone find themselves in a heated confrontation with their principal, Mr Alfie Ndlovu, over the forced implementation of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction.

The production captures the friction between the Department of Bantu Education, the South African Police and a generation of learners pushed to their breaking point. What begins as a localised academic dispute quickly evolves into a tragic turning point that would alter the course of the nation forever.

The production is anchored by a stellar ensemble cast featuring Alex Sono, Ben Albertyn, Botlhale Mahlangu, Zilungile Mbombo, Mfuneli Ntumbuka, Sbuja Dywili and Deon Lotz. Bringing the atmosphere of 1976 to the stage is an expert creative team, which includes Leopold Senekal (set design), Noluthando “Texture” Lobese (costume design), Franky Steyn (lighting design), Xolelwa Nhlabatsi (AV design) and Jannous Nkululeko Aukema (sound design).

50 years later

The play marks a significant cultural moment for both The Baxter Theatre and The Market Theatre, emphasising a shared commitment to preserving South African history through the performing arts. This co-commission and co-production between the two iconic theatres holds added significance for The Market Theatre, which opened its doors on 19 June 1976 – three days after the uprising began.

Reflecting on the importance of the partnership, Mashifane wa Noni added, “It is an honour and a privilege to be a part of this collaboration between these two institutions in commemorating this history defining event. What drew me to joining this project was not only the opportunity to reflect on something 50 years later with the hindsight of today, but also the challenge of telling a story that almost every South African knows and finding ways to experience it anew.”

• 8 to 30 May in The Baxter Studio with evening performances at 19:30, Saturday matinees at 15:00 and weekday matinees for schools from 11:00.
• Bookings are now open via Webtickets or at Pick n Pay stores.