The Market Theatre Presents The Bold Play Thandeka

Thandeka: A Theatrical Exploration of Teenage Pregnancies During COVID-19

The Market Theatre Kippies Fringe, which has delivered exceptional developmental works throughout the year, nears its glorious end with a number of productions scheduled for November. The month’s programming is themed around reflection and renewal, calling for personal and collective meditation.

One of the productions lined up for this artistic goal is Thandeka, a play that promises a bold theatrical exploration of teenage pregnancy. The play, which has showcased in other parts of the country, is set to land in Jo’burg for an unmissable run. Set during the COVID-19 lockdown and the 2021 unrest, Thandeka carries themes of love, family, mental health, hope, and absent fathers resonate throughout. In the process, it offers audiences an intimate look at the human cost of societal challenges too often left unspoken.

From 20 – 23 November 2025 in the 50-seater iconic Kippies venue designed for small-scale productions, audiences can expect to be pulled into a frank conversation about, and confrontation of, the realities of teenage pregnancy in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. According to research, teen pregnancies went up during COVID. In Gauteng alone, the department of health reported a 60% increase in teenage pregnancies during the COVID-19 period. More than 23 000 girls under 18 years of age are reported to have given birth between April 2020 and March 2021. Just over 900 of these teen girls were under the age of 14.

Written by Happy Gladness Simelane and directed by Tebogo Machaba, this 60-minute isiZulu drama combines heartfelt storytelling with powerful performances to shed light on love, loss, and resilience in contemporary society.

Director, Tebogo Machaba explained:

“Performed as a one-hander with live music, Thandeka tells the story of a young woman whose life changes forever after falling pregnant at 19. Cast out by her father, she journeys from KwaZulu-Natal to Johannesburg in search of love, belonging, and a better future. Along the way, she encounters kindness, tragedy, and ultimately, the strength to confront her past.”

Don’t miss this captivating play that sheds light on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable lives.

Show Information:
Thandeka

Venue:
Kippies Fringe at The Market Theatre

Dates & Times:
20 – 23 November 2025
Thursday and Friday at 19h00
Saturday at 15h30 & 19h30
Sunday at 15h30

Tickets:
Priced from R80 – R150

Bookings:
Can be made through Webtickets

Age Restriction:
PG

Duration:
60-minute (no interval)