Johannesburg, brace yourself. The blues are about to roll in, smoky, sultry, and soaked in survival. From 5 to 22 February, The Market Theatre opens its doors to Blues In The Night, a production that doesn’t just sing; it bleeds, it aches, it seduces. Direct from Memphis, Tennessee, this Tony-nominated musical arrives on African soil for the very first time, in partnership with Hattiloo Theatre.
A Musical with Teeth
Conceived by Tony Award winner Sheldon Epps, Blues In The Night is a scorching, small-scale musical in which the soul of the blues wails out full and strong. Through 26 hot and torchy numbers, the show weaves the sweet, sexy, and sorrowful stories of three women entangled with a lying, cheating man. It is theatre that doesn’t whisper, it wails, riffs, and confesses.
Featuring glorious songs by legends such as Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Alberta Hunter, Jimmy Cox, and Ida Cox, the musical captures the pain and heartache of life and love, as well as the resilience and determination that define the very essence of the blues.
Meet the Cast
The ensemble is a vision in vintage glamour: sequined gowns, fur stoles, pearl strands, and a gentleman in a sharp three-piece suit. They look like they’ve stepped out of a 1930s jazz club, but their voices carry the weight of generations.
- The Leading Lady – Draped in elegance, she commands the stage with a voice that can whisper secrets and roar heartbreak.
- The Siren in Blue – Radiant and magnetic, she embodies the blues diva tradition, turning pain into power and vulnerability into fire.
- The Gentleman in Grey – Polished yet gritty, he anchors the production with charisma. His storytelling makes you lean in, then knocks you back.
- The Lady in Black – Poised and haunting, she threads harmonies through the ensemble like silk, leaving echoes that linger long after the curtain falls.
Together, they are not just performers. They are vessels. Each one carries the blues in their bones, channeling it across continents to meet Johannesburg audiences where they live, in the heart.
A Season of History and Heritage
This African premiere arrives as part of Black History Month, which marks its centenary in 2026. The milestone calls for reflection on memory, healing, culture, and the condition of Black bodies in a divided world. It also coincides with The Market Theatre’s 50th anniversary, amplifying voices that have too often gone unheard.
The timing is powerful. This season also marks the 70th anniversary of the historic 9 August 1956 Women’s March, spotlighting Black women’s struggles across the world and highlighting shared challenges. Playing alongside South Africa’s musical theatre classic Marabi, the curated season celebrates the influence of song and sound across the USA and South Africa in confronting injustice and giving oppressed people a vocabulary of resistance and hope.
Founder and CEO of Hattiloo Theatre, Ekundayo Bandele, and Artistic Director of The Market Theatre Foundation, Greg Homann, emphasize the common histories between the two theatres. “From South Africa to the U.S., generations of oppressed people have sung their way up against discrimination, racism, subjugation and dispossession as an unstoppable wave,” Homann shares. “This year as we proudly present Blues in the Night for its African premiere, we also celebrate music’s ability to remind us of our shared humanity despite our fractured times.”
Ekundayo Bandele adds: “Taking Blues in the Night to The Market Theatre in Johannesburg is an incredible honour for Hattiloo. I’m deeply proud to share our work on an international stage and to create a moment where Memphis artists can carry our stories, our sound, and our spirit across the world.”
Tickets: Secure Your Seat
Previews begin on 5 February, with opening night on 6 February and performances running until 22 February 2026.
| Ticket Type | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 50 for 50 Special | Sold Out | – |
| Preview (5 Feb) | R180 | Available |
| Group Booking (4+) | R140 | Available |
| Early Bird | R200 | Available |
| General Admission | R220 | Available |
Don’t wait for “just now.” Book today and be part of a night where the blues are sung live, felt deep, and impossible to ignore.
Purchase tickets at Webtickets: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1583067469
Curtain Call
Blues In The Night is not polite theatre. It is raw, it is real, it is unforgettable. Directed and choreographed by Emma Crystal, with musical direction by Dr. Ashley K. Davis, this production promises to leave audiences energised and inspired.
Johannesburg, the night belongs to you. Step into the Market Theatre and let the blues take you somewhere you didn’t expect to go.
