Commissioned by The Market Theatre and The Baxter Theatre to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Youth Uprisings, two-time Fleur du Cap award-winning playwright-director Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni presents Rise ’76: The Story of June 16th a powerful new South African work of historical fiction.

Set in the fictional Molefe Secondary School in Soweto, the play traces a community on the brink, as students, teachers and families confront the devastating implications of Afrikaans being imposed as a medium of instruction. What begins as an ordinary school day unfolds into a moment that will irrevocably shape the course of history.

Drawing on testimonies from over 40 individuals, alongside archival material, literature and public record, Rise ’76 reimagines June 16 not only as a day of protest, but as a lived, intimate experience one marked by courage, confusion and collective awakening.
At its heart, the play reflects on how history is made: in classrooms, in conversations, and in the quiet, defiant choices of young people finding their voice. It is a story of resistance, memory and the enduring power of youth.

Rise ’76: The Story of June 16th premieres at the Baxter Theatre Studio from 8 to 30 May 2026, before transferring to the Market Theatre’s Mannie Manim from 5 to 28 June 2026.

Featuring: Zilungile Mbombo, Deon Lotz, Mfuneli Ntumbuka, Sbuja Dywili, Ben Albertyn, Alex Sono and Botlhale Mahlangu.


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