AFDA Johannesburg’s Live Performance Department is proud to announce that two compelling student productions will be featured as part of the Pitso Ya Kalaneng 2026 Wits Theatre Festival this February, one of South Africa’s most dynamic performance platforms for emerging theatre makers. Audiences will have a rare opportunity to experience a double bill “2-for-1” theatre event, showcasing bold storytelling and vibrant theatrical innovation.
The AFDA Johannesburg entries are presented as a powerful pairing with two original productions drawn from the creative explorations of our talented students:
“The Liminal Space”
Originally staged as part of the 2025 AFDA SA Season by then-2nd-year students (now in their 3rd year), The Liminal Space, is an intense psychological journey into a surreal world between reality and perception. Six South African strangers find themselves trapped in a mysterious threshold controlled by the unsettling therapist Father Lucius. Faced with warped time, identity, and reality, they must confront the buried traumas that have shaped their lives, armed only with six lifelines and the will to survive.
The Liminal Space pushes boundaries, exploring memory, trauma and human resilience in an immersive theatrical experience.
“The Riot”
Performed by 3rd-year students on the verge of graduation, The Riot delivers a gripping political drama rooted in contemporary student protest culture. When a demonstration at DAFA University spirals into chaos and the activist Refilwe Dube is murdered, her closest friends — Hlukanisa, Samantha, and AJ — are detained as suspects. What follows is a harrowing interrogation at Brick-Stone Police Station, where their once-unshakeable bond begins to crumble.
Inside the station, corrupt officials maneuver to hide their complicity as the Seven Deadly Sins emerge symbolically, twisting truth, fear, ambition, and survival instincts. What started as a righteous call for justice becomes a desperate fight to maintain identity and hope when everything seems stacked against them.
The Riot poses a powerful question: When a system is rotten to its core, who must be sacrificed to keep power intact?
Festival Dates, Times & Ticketing
Audiences are invited to experience both productions in one ticket, a budget-friendly “2 for 1” theatre event at the Wits Theatre, celebrating creativity, risk-taking and the bold voices shaping South African theatre.
Performance Schedule (February 2026):
- Wednesday, 4th at 15:30
- Thursday, 5th at 12:45
- Friday, 6th at 16:15
Tickets are available online via Webtickets: webtickets.co.za
The inclusion of The Liminal Space and The Riot in the Pitso Ya Kalaneng 2026 festival shows AFDA Johannesburg’s commitment to developing bold, relevant and socially conscious performance work. As part of an exciting festival lineup that celebrates new voices and fearless storytelling, these productions reflect the depth and diversity of AFDA training, from imaginative narrative structures to urgent, contemporary themes.