Theatre spotlight: emotional journeys in 'Fatherhood', 'Sarajevo' and the hilarious chaos of 'Noises Off'

AFTER a very successful run at the Zwakala Festival, Fatherhood has made its way to the Market Theatre.

- DEBASHINE THANGEVELO

Performed by a youthful cast, it explores the collective crisis of absent fathers.

Written by Mike Dzova and directed by Archie Oupa Matsetela, under the mentorship of award-winning playwright and director Ntshieng Mokgoro, this production shines a spotlight on the mothers who have had to fill the void of runaway fathers.

To provide some context, a 2024 report on the State of South African Fathers revealed that a mere 35.6% of South African children live with their biological fathers, and 24% reside in households with no male figure present.

Matsetela describes this production as "a work that is as much urgent as it is edgy, innovative in how it confronts the emotional impact of fatherlessness and intergenerational conflict on families".