Cohort: 2020

Lindokuhle Melaphi is a 20 years old from Wynberg. She is a Theatre and Film actress who is currently based in Cape Town and has a huge interest in performing arts. Her vision and mission is to achieve all that is good and beneficial within the entertainment industry mainly in theatre & television and what people declare as impossible.

Molupe Lepeli, age 24 years old lives in Kraaifontein, born and bred in Matatiele, KZN. He grew up in Cape Town. He is a poet mostly writes in IsiXhosa and Sesotho and, he began writing when he was in high school inspired by Anele Kose. He is an actor and also writer, member of Light of Life Theatre from kraaifontein; a member of CYPHER (Cape Poetry Hub for Expression and Rhythm) under Lingua Franca Spoken movement.

He won 2^nd place poetry slam in Khayamandi Arts and Culture Festival (KACF) October 2016, cape town open book festival poetry slam champion for 2019. Performed ukuwa kwentaba, best of Zabalaza 2019. He was awarded as the best supporting actor zabalaza festival in Baxter Theatre – 16^th March 2019. Currently is one of Magnet Theatre trainees.

Bongani Dyalivana is 31years old from Khayelitsha. He made his first production debut with Theatre Arts Admin Collective with a collaboration with Young in Prison, with Ubuze Bam. The next production was Phefumla (Breath) – a collaboration with Norway and South Africa,  also directed by Thando Doni. Performed on a production called Love leave a Legacy – a Second Chance Theatre, UCT and Nicro partnership. Bongani has also involved in the following movies: The Slave of the Ship, The Forgiven (International Movie), The Slave of the Farm, Ukumnyama, Imali and Isakhumzi (Mzantsi Magic) .Ubuze Bam won an award for the Best Production  at  the Cape Town fringe, performed at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda and also at venues around Cape Town. The Slave of the Farm has won the best movie in London. Phefumla went to Norway festival and Assitej Festival.

Thabo Mkenene, is a 20 years old. He lives in Khayelitsha site B u182 Juwela street. He started doing theatre in 2015 at Makukhanye theatre room. What he loves the most about theatre is Physical theatre, because he can tell different stories with his body.

Litha Thembelani Xabadiya is 35 years old from Mandalay. He toured Germany (2009) as a singer with UWC Creative Arts Choir, hosted by Braunschweig T.U. Participating in the Maynardville open air festival (Shakespeare festival) as part of the Vumani choral project. He played a supporting role on Buzani kuBawo, an Artscape Xhosa setwork by Thoko Ntshinga, 2018. Played a lead role in Lwanda Sindaphi`s musical in drama “Songs of the Soil” both at Artscape Incubation season (2017) and Arts Tradefair the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, 2018.

Siphesihle Nkantini is 19 years old and matriculated in 2019. He takes to heart every opportunity to perform and also understands the theoretical underpinnings of every style in theatre. He took part in High school drama festival in 2017 and won the Best supporting actor award. Participated in Magnet Theatre`s Culture Gangs project in 2018 and, ITLP with Ithemba labantu. He also played as a main character performing FLAMES OF MY BLOOD at Somerset playhouse in Parel Vallei Playhouse drama festival in 2018.

Wendy Mrali is a 26 years old, born  in Eastern Cape and grew up in Cape Town living with both her parents. She is a member of Light of Life theatre organisation, she is a performing artist, theatre-maker and is multi-talented. Her shows include: Ukuwa kwentaba that was the best of Zabalaza in 2019 written and directed by Mthobisi Mpandle. Buzani kuBawo which was a school setwork staged in Artscape directed by Thokozile Ntshinga. Ityali which was part of Malibongwe Women’s Festival directed by Faniswa Yisa. She is now a Magnet Theatre trainee.

Donnay Arendse is a 22 years old and she aspires to be a multi-disciplined performer, flexible and always willing to mould herself into any vessel needed for performance. after high school she was fortunate enough to be exposed to quite of acting training, primarily being for camera work whilst also being exposed to theatre. In 2018, she co-wrote and performed in a play with my classmates ‘Color me crazy’  In 2019, she was part of a production called Silent Voices by Adong Judith, directed by Nwabisa Plaatjie which was performed at Theatre Arts admin. In September 2019, she had performed a solo show task, views, self-written and directed whilst under the supervision of Raezeen Wentworth. It was performed in Waterfront theatre school.

Kuhle Myathaza is a 24 years old from Du Noon, Milnerton. She is a very ambitious founder of an Arts group named Intsika yakwaXhosa formed in 2016. She is a stage director and poet.

She has been in several productions such as ‘Ndiyinkulu nje ndiyinkulu’, ‘Cengithongo’, Liphi lungelo lam’, Maqwengephila’, ‘Micheal Jackson’ and so on. Currently she is busy with another production called ‘Emerge footprint’. She has directed a few productions from her group such as ‘Ubukho bayo buincindi yekhala’, ‘Maqwengephila’ and ‘liphi ilungelo lam’.

Olwethu Qavile is a 22 years old, matriculated in 2018. She started Drama and dance in grade 10 at Chris Hani Arts and Culture focus school. At school she decided to be part of Drama high school festival, Culture Gangs outreach then in 2017. she did a music video with Stone Jest, after that was part of Indoni Dance, Arts and leadership Academy outreach.