New script ideas on stage for 11th Teksmark at the Baxter

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS - Presented by the KKNK and NATi, with support from The Baxter Theatre Centre, University of Johannesburg (UJ) Arts and Culture and the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds, Teksmark is a unique script development platform designed to encourage the creation of new South African theatre and connect playwrights with potential investors and industry stakeholders.

Both emerging and established playwrights participate in the initiative, which gives theatre professionals an opportunity to engage directly with new work and its creators.

Following a record number of proposals, a panel selected the scripts to be presented as playreadings during Teksmark.

Representatives from theatres, festivals, production houses and other potential investors are invited to attend, meet the playwrights and explore opportunities for further development and production.

Free playreadings

Attendance at the Teksmark sessions is free, with audiences in the Pam Golding Theatre at The Baxter Theatre Centre able to experience new work by 16 playwrights.

This year’s programme places a particular emphasis on cabaret, satire and comedy, with many of the works offering strong social and political commentary.

Veteran director Marthinus Basson opens Teksmark Baxter 2026 on Thursday, 10 September, from 09:30 to 11:00 with an introduction to cabaret. New cabaret ideas and sketches by Llandi Beeslaar, Karli Heine, Ilse-Lee van Niekerk, Faith Kinniar and Vihann van Rooyen will be presented during the session.

The second session, from 12:00 to 13:30, features the first three scripts: Nell van der Merwe’s Helmond-strik (a cabaret), Lukhona Mkunyana’s Dom en die donker dinge and Moeniel Jacobs’s Hi, Jack.

The day concludes with Session 3, from 14:30 to 16:30, featuring Richard van der Westhuizen’s Doringdraad, Beyers de Vos’s Die Masjien, Mike van Graan’s Form the River (Thames) to the Sea (Point) and Jeanne-Marié Koekemoer’s Ontaard.

Friday’s programme begins with Session 4 from 09:30 to 11:00, featuring Esther von Waltsleben’s Kind regards en so, Dean Balie’s Straatpraatjes and Henriëtta Gryffenberg and Janine Opperman’s Pêrels en pekanneute.

The fifth and final session, from 11:30 to 13:30, presents Stephanie Hough’s Why my Ulusu, Reuben Murphy’s TILT, Steyn du Toit’s Skaal and Peter-John Titus and Nico Scheepers’s Oralkind.

From first idea to the stage

Teksmark gives playwrights an opportunity to introduce their new script ideas before presenting a short excerpt as a playreading.

The excerpts are directed by theatre practitioners including Tara Notcutt, Nicole Holm, Petrus du Preez and Sylvaine Strike, while several playwrights will also direct their own work.

The playreadings feature a strong cast of South African performers, including Antoinette Kellermann, Marion Holm, Royston Stoffels, Nicole Holm, Frazer Barry, Abduragman Adams, Mbulelo Grootboom, Nicky Rebelo, David Muller, Erica Wessels, Wian Taljaard, Carlo Daniels, Eldon van der Merwe, Henriëtta Gryffenberg, Wilhelm van der Walt, Nelandi Boshoff, Karli Heine, Geon Nel, Frieda van den Heever and Cantona James, among others.

The format gives audiences a glimpse into works still in development, while creating a space for playwrights and industry stakeholders to explore the potential of taking these new ideas to full production.

Planting the seeds for new theatre

Attendance at Teksmark is free, and theatre lovers, industry professionals and other interested parties are invited to be part of the process of developing the next generation of South African theatre productions.

Following the Cape Town programme, the third Teksmark Joburg will take place at the University of Johannesburg on Wednesday, 21 October. A second Teksmark Oudtshoorn is scheduled for November 2026 in the Klein Karoo.

More information about the playwrights, performers and attendance arrangements will be announced soon.

For the complete Teksmark Baxter 2026 programme and more information, visit kknk.co.za or contact the KKNK office at [email protected], 044 203 8600 or WhatsApp 065 285 2337.

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