By Jabu Kumalo
The long-held belief that men don’t talk, that they bury their fears, pain and disappointments deep within, is delightfully dismantled in the hilarious and heartfelt stage production Barber Shop Chronicles.
The international hit, now showing at the Market Theatre, is written by Nigerian-born British playwright Inua Ellams and directed by Sibusiso Mamba.
Contrary to the stereotype, men do talk, and when they do, they can talk about anything and everything. Given a safe, judgment-free space, men and boys are able to open up about their joys, hurts, hopes and vulnerabilities. Barber Shop Chronicles captures these intimate and unfiltered conversations with humour, warmth and authenticity.
Speaking in an interview, a visibly excited yet reflective Sibusiso unpacked the emotional and creative weight of directing a play of this scale.
“Of course it is intimidating,” he said. “It’s a frightening responsibility to present so many characters, over thirty roles played by ten actors. Creating versions of each character that audiences can feel and connect with is a huge challenge. Intimidating is definitely the word. But challenges are what we look for.”
One of the most demanding aspects, he explained, was the play’s constant “criss-crossing” across the African continent, Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos, Accra and back to London. “There’s a thin line between being terrified by something exciting and being excited by the possibilities,” he added.
Sibusiso, generous in praise for his collaborators, said directing is never a solitary task. He credited musical director Tshepo Mngoma for capturing the soul of the production, and the entire team for elevating the storytelling.
“As a director, you are never doing anything on your own. The first thing you do is assemble people you admire, who will uplift the vision. Working with a brilliant choreographer and an exceptional creative team made it possible to take audiences on this journey clearly, without confusion. The last thing I wanted was for people to feel lost.”
He believes the production honours the essence of Ellams’ script. “We’ve shared our ideas with the author. I truly hope he feels that we’ve brought the core message of his play to life, clearly and powerfully.”
Barber Shop Chronicles is an exploration of Black masculinity, vulnerability and connection. Set in six barbershops across Africa and the UK, the play reveals how these spaces serve as community hubs where connection, correction and camaraderie thrive.
Reflecting on men’s emotional struggles, Sibusiso said the work resonated deeply with him. “Growing up, I witnessed pain manifesting as rage from men in my family. It made me want to understand how men deal with anger and hurt. When I first encountered Inua’s play years ago in the UK, it hit me hard because it asked the same questions I’ve been asking. We still
live in a society that expects men to be strong, emotionless, as if vulnerability is weakness. That narrative is dangerous.”
Market Theatre artistic director Greg Homman said the production reinforces the theatre’s commitment to championing African storytelling. “This piece strengthens our mission of telling stories that reflect not just local issues, but the broader African experience.”
According to Sibusiso, audiences have connected with the piece “in unexpected and surprising ways”.
“As a team, we’ve told the story clearly and taken the audience with us across the continent,” he said. “We’ve done our very best to present it with clarity and heart.”
While the production is vibrant, moving and full of potential, it may feel slightly long for some audiences. However, its emotional honesty and vivid storytelling more than compensate.
Barber Shop Chronicles runs until 30 November 2025 in the John Kani Theatre at the Market Theatre.
