Cohort: 2010-2011
Sipho Mahlatshana was born in Cape Town and matriculated from ID Mkhize High School in 2007. After that he was involved in theatre through Simenye Productions as well as Khalemintwana Productions. In 2008 he studied at New Africa Theatre where he got a chance to do stunt work on the film 24 (Season 7), he also performed in a production at the end of the year called Buckingham Palace. In 2009 he did a few more stage productions including Passionate Stranger adapted from Can Themba’s short story by Mbulelo Grootboom. He also tutored as a cellphone film-maker in township schools.
Aphiwe Menziwa was born in Mpumalanga and grew up in several different places including Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. He attended Usasozo High School in Khayelitsha where he did Drama as an extra-mural. In 2009 he did a one-year course at The Independent Theatre Movement of South Africa (ITMSA) also known as Saturday Varsity, run by Abduragman Adams and Tauriq Jenkins. He is also involved in a community group named Uthando Iwekamva Lethu Arts Organisation (UKAO) in Khayelitsha.
Nolufefe Ntshuntshe matriculated in 2004. She participated in the Ikhwezi Community Theatre Festival from 2005 – 2007 performing in Girl Child From The Ghetto. In 2008 she co-wrote and performed in a production called Aunt Doris, also for Ikhwezi Theatre Festival. Then in 2009 she performed in Only Love Can Mend a Broken Heart by Ntombesizwe Tena with Kwantu Emandulo Productions.
Maggie Fernando was born in Angola and describes herself as half Angolan, half Portuguese. She speaks English, Afrikaans and Portuguese. She matriculated in 2009 from South Peninsula High where she had studied Drama as a subject. She performed at Katalist Theatre in 2008 in The Proposal and would like to be able to study at UCT.
Lusanda Dayimani joined the community drama group Iqhude Theatre Organisation in 2001. While at school she performed in many High School Drama Festivals. She attended Chris Hani High School and since then has been freelancing as a performing artist. She is a busker at the Waterfront and will be taking part in PANSA in 2010.
Thembekile Komani graduated in 2006 at Simunye High School. He stays in “a small diverse community called Delft South”. He is involved with a community theatre group called Rainbow Arts Organisation. After matriculating in 2008 he went to study a one-year certificate in Performing Arts at New Africa Theatre.
Kay-Lee Esterhuizen was born and raised in the Ocean View community and matriculated in 2008 from Ocean View High School.
Since 2005 she has been volunteering to work with children in Ocean View as part of a Non-Profit Organisation called Living Hope. In 2009 she became a staff member and worked as a Life Skills Educator. In the same year she joined up with The Tercia Kindo Arts Project also an NPO where she did dance and drama.
Noxolo Bodlani was born in Boksburg, Johannesburg. She matriculated from Steynville High in 2006. After that she attended a one-year course at new Africa Theatre in 2008. She also performed in a production of The Suit by Can Themba, directed by Mbulelo Grootboom. She graduated from Dimensional Stunt School in 2009. In the same year she also did Costumes and Make-up on Ian Bruce’s Transit, which was directed by Claire Stopford for New Africa Theatre.
Mhlangabezi Mkorwana joined Masibambisane Youth Drama Group in 2001. He also attended a Performers Short Course co-ordinated by Community Arts Projects in 2003. In 2006 he attended a 20 000 Drums Facilitator’s workshop in North West and worked on Magnet Theatre’s Onnest’bo Schools Tour. From 2007 to 2009 he worked for Simelela Rape Survivors Centre as a performer and a facilitator. He has attended various Skills Development workshops including Mosaic’s – Men and Gender-based Violence, which enabled him to facilitate workshops in the community to raise awareness around Gender-based violence.