Dear Greg Homann / Board of the Market Theatre

 

We, the undersigned members of the artistic and broader community, write to express our deep disappointment and concern over the recent appointment of a white director for the upcoming production of Barbershop Chronicles at the Market Theatre.

 

Barbershop Chronicles is a work rooted in the lived realities, traditions, and cultural expressions of Black men across the African diaspora. It is not simply a play—it is a vessel of Black voice, pain, pride, humour, and healing. Appointing a white director to helm such a profoundly Black narrative sends a clear message: that the gatekeepers of this institution continue to overlook, sideline, or undervalue the many qualified Black directors who are not only capable of telling these stories but are deeply of them.

 

We ask: In a country like South Africa—whose history and ongoing struggles are bound to the violence of erasure and exclusion—how could such a decision be made in good conscience?

 

This is not just about one play or one appointment. It speaks to a broader pattern of systemic inequality in the arts: where institutions proclaim to support transformation and inclusion, yet continue to uphold colonial frameworks of storytelling and leadership.

 

We respectfully but firmly demand that the Market Theatre:

 

1. Reconsiders this appointment in light of the cultural and ethical implications of the decision;

2. Commits to prioritising  Black directors for works that centre the Black experience;

3. Opens a transparent dialogue with the artistic community about its future vision, hiring practices, and commitments to genuine transformation.

It is time to move beyond the aesthetics of diversity and toward the practice of justice. Anything less is a betrayal of the communities whose stories you claim to champion.