IN CONVERSATION WITH CHERAE HALLEY
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Cheráé Halley is a distinguished actor, theatre maker, lecturer, and applied theatre facilitator, currently serving as Head of the Market Theatre Laboratory in Newtown, Johannesburg. Her appointment in 2023 marked a new chapter for The Lab — one rooted in social relevance, experimentation, and deep community engagement.
She holds both honours and master’s degrees in Dramatic Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand, and has taught and coordinated postgraduate courses at several institutions across the country. Her areas of focus include Drama in Education, Theatre of the Oppressed, Playback Theatre, and theatre as a form of activism.
What sets Halley apart is the way she uses theatre as a tool for social transformation. Throughout her career, she has tackled issues such as HIV/AIDS awareness, disability, gender equity, sexual harassment, LGBTI rights, human rights, and oppression through applied drama in communities. She also co-directs the Drama for Life Playback Theatre, Africa’s only accredited school of Playback Theatre, which fosters storytelling that encourages empathy, dialogue, and healing.
Under her leadership, the Market Theatre Laboratory offers multiple pathways for aspiring theatre-makers. These include a competitive two-year full-time course, a part-time weekend programme, and platforms for community practitioners to present their work. The Lab’s Ramolao Makhene Theatre also provides a professional stage for productions, while initiatives like the Dlala Wena Saturday Showcase give young artists a space to experiment and receive feedback.
Halley’s vision is not only to build upon the Market Theatre Laboratory’s legacy but also to deepen its impact — nurturing artistic excellence while ensuring accessibility, social relevance, and platforms for marginalised voices. Her leadership ensures that The Lab continues to be a space where theatre interrogates, heals, and inspires.
She holds both honours and master’s degrees in Dramatic Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand, and has taught and coordinated postgraduate courses at several institutions across the country. Her areas of focus include Drama in Education, Theatre of the Oppressed, Playback Theatre, and theatre as a form of activism.
What sets Halley apart is the way she uses theatre as a tool for social transformation. Throughout her career, she has tackled issues such as HIV/AIDS awareness, disability, gender equity, sexual harassment, LGBTI rights, human rights, and oppression through applied drama in communities. She also co-directs the Drama for Life Playback Theatre, Africa’s only accredited school of Playback Theatre, which fosters storytelling that encourages empathy, dialogue, and healing.
Under her leadership, the Market Theatre Laboratory offers multiple pathways for aspiring theatre-makers. These include a competitive two-year full-time course, a part-time weekend programme, and platforms for community practitioners to present their work. The Lab’s Ramolao Makhene Theatre also provides a professional stage for productions, while initiatives like the Dlala Wena Saturday Showcase give young artists a space to experiment and receive feedback.
Halley’s vision is not only to build upon the Market Theatre Laboratory’s legacy but also to deepen its impact — nurturing artistic excellence while ensuring accessibility, social relevance, and platforms for marginalised voices. Her leadership ensures that The Lab continues to be a space where theatre interrogates, heals, and inspires.
