'Rise ’76: The Story of June 16th' is a powerful new South African work of historical fiction commissioned by The Market Theatre and The Baxter Theatre to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Youth Uprisings.
The play is a fresh reimagining of the events of that fateful day, created by two-time Fleur du Cap award-winning playwright-director Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni. 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 irrevocably shapes the course of history. Drawing on testimonies from over 40 individuals alongside archival material, literature and public record, 'Rise ’76' reimagines June 16 as a lived, intimate experience marked by courage, confusion and collective awakening.
The plays cast features Zilungile Mbombo, Deon Lotz, Mfuneli Ntumbuka, Sbuja Dywili, Ben Albertyn, Alex Sono and Botlhale Mahlangu.