This Play at the Market Theatre Is Getting Rave Reviews and It Closes Saturday

There is a production running at the Market Theatre right now that people cannot stop talking about. It is called Under the Shade of a Tree I Sat and Wept, and it closes this Saturday 19 April. If you have not booked yet, you might want to move fast.

The play brings together two countries that know what it means to try to heal after violence. South Africa and Kosovo. It draws on real archives and new testimonies to explore what happens when a nation asks its people to forgive.

Two Countries, One Question

The production looks at Kosovo’s 1990 Blood Feuds Reconciliation Campaign and South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which marks 30 years this year. Both were attempts to move forward after deep trauma. Both came with a cost.

Directed by Blerta Neziraj, the show uses humour, sharp performance and striking visuals to take the audience into the heart of a commission hearing. It mirrors the pain that victims felt when facing the people who hurt them, and it asks hard questions about whether systems of violence can truly be broken.

An International Cast

The cast brings together performers from South Africa, Kosovo, North Macedonia and France. It includes Gontse Ntshegang, Amernis Nokshiqi, Ilire Vinca, Kensiwe Tshabalala, Arben Bajraktaraj, Les Made and Bongile Gorata Lecoge-Zulu.

After Joburg, the production continues its global tour to Norway, Italy, Portugal, Germany, France and New York.

What You Need to Know

• Show: Under the Shade of a Tree I Sat and Wept
• Where: The Market Theatre, Newtown
• When: Until Saturday 19 April 2026
• Time: 19:00
• Tickets: R110 via Webtickets
• Age: 13+

Why This Matters

This is not just another play. It is a South African and international collaboration tackling one of the hardest questions any country can face. The reviews have been overwhelming, and the fact that it is heading to stages across Europe and New York after Joburg says everything about the quality on show. You have until Saturday.