people

  • Mark Fleishman

    Mark Fleishman (Artistic Director and Managing Trustee) (BA, Perf. Dip (Speech and Drama) MA (UCT), PHD (UCT)) is Professor in the Drama Department at the University of Cape Town. He is an award winning director and has directed most of Magnet Theatre’s productions since 'The Shows Not Over 'til the Fat Lady Sings'. He also functions as a writer, not only of theatre texts but of many published academic articles, mainly on South African theatre and is an internationally respected theatre maker and academic.

  • Jennie Reznek

    Jennie Reznek (Artistic Director and Trustee)  (BA Perf. Dip in Speech and Drama, UCT; Ecole Jaques Lecoq, Paris; MA ,UCT) is a graduate of University of Cape Town Drama school and studied in Paris with Jacques Lecoq for two years (1984 -1986). She is a director of Magnet Theatre and  has lectured in movement at University of Cape Town. She has worked as an aerialist and clown in the circus; a movement director and choreographer; a puppeteer with Handspring Puppet Company and is responsible for the bulk of the  creative and teaching programs of the company.

  • Mandla Mbothwe

    Mandla Mbothwe is an Artistic Director of Magnet Theatre and drives the Culture Gangs Programme. He is an acclaimed South African playwright, researcher, director, art teacher and theatre practitioner.  A previous Artistic Director at the Steve Biko Centre and former Creative Manager at Artscape Theatre Centre he has created theatre productions of high quality, in South Africa and abroad, dealing with cultural and historical themes. Some of his noteworthy work includes Isivuno sa maphupha (Harvesting of dreams), Ingcwaba le ndoda lise cankwedlela (The grave of the man is next to the road), Umyenzo we zandi (Eden of sounds), Inxeba lo mphilisi (The wound of a healer), Voices of Women, Ukutshona ko Mendi (The sinking of the Mendi), Biko’s Quest, G7-OkweBokwe, Biko-Rising and Iyazika to mention but few.   The theatre stalwart has won several awards including the Handspring Puppetry Award for Best Visual Theatre (2010), Fleur du Cap Award with Mark Fleishman and Jennie Reznek for Innovation in Theatre (2010), Fleur du Cap Award for Innovation in Theatre (2013) and Eastern Cape Arts & Culture Award for Outstanding Contribution in Drama (2013). Mbothwe is a Founder and Artistic Director at Mud and Fire Parables. Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Cape Town, Co-Artistic director at Magnet Theatre and co-Artistic director at Mbothwe and Doni Collectives.  He completed his master’s degree in Theatre and Performance with distinction at University of Cape Town.

  • Jenny Hewlett

    Jenny Hewlett (Administrator) graduated from the University of Johannesburg with a Diploma in Fine Art. She worked as a set painter for Artscape (formerly CAPAB) and as a freelance artist and designer. Jenny was a business owner, a builder, a project manager and client manager before joining Magnet Theatre in June 2015.

  • Themba Stewart

    Themba Stewart (Production and venue manager) graduated from University of Cape Town as theatre maker in 2008. He has since worked as a freelance production manager, designer, writer, director, installation artist and performer. Themba has run multiple shows in theatre festivals, venues and site specific spaces in the country and internationally. These include Infecting the City Festival (Multiple years - Technical manager 2014); Live Art festival; Magnet Theatre’s  - I Turned away and she was Gone and Every year every day I am Walking ; Jay Pather’s  - Body of evidence and Qaphela Caesar; Jemma Kahn’s In Boccaal Lupo. As a director, Themba wrote and directed Red Aloes in collaboration with the powerhouse team of Iman Isaacs and Richard September; performed at Magnet Theatre in 2017 and restaged at Zeitz Mocaa in 2019. Recently, as an Artist, Themba (in collaboration with Qondiswa James) installed two light installation works for the Spier Light Art festival 2019/2020. Themba has worked with Magnet theatre since 2011 and has been a production, tour, stage and venue manager for shows in Cape Town, nationally and abroad.  

  • Yonela Sithela

    Yonela Sithela completed a year’s theatre training on 2009, of Performing Arts and graduated at New Africa Theatre. She also became part of the Lab on the following year which was In 2010 she joined the New Africa Lab and performed in the Robben Island Story.   In 2011 she did Bash Or Be Bashed at Artscape, directed by Thoko Ntshinga and Indonga Ziwelene by Ntombesizwe Tena. Yonela was a member of the Fulltime Training and Job Creation programme at Magnet Theatre between 2012 and 2013. In 2014 She did SECRET FLAMES performed at Water Front School Of Theatre directed by Sisipho Mbopa and BLOOD STAIN at ArtsCape directed by Bulelani Mabutyana. On 2015 she has done AMAZA at ArtsCape, directed by Thoko Ntshinga and done NOMALI MASAMBE directed by Peggy Mmatato. She has been part of the EPWP at Magnet Theatre and now she works as a Culture Gangs facilitator in the townships. In 2016, She was part of the “Miriam Makheba and the Musical’’ production that performed here in Cape Town and toured America.

  • Zukisani Nongogo

    Zukisani Nongogo is a UCT graduate, specialising in Theatre-making in the Drama Department`s PDT program. He is an Expanded Public Work Program intern and a Culture Gangs facilitator at Magnet Theatre. Most recently, he has successfully completed the extended education practitioner training programme at the University of Stellenbosch and, was awarded as the Human of the After School Movement by the Western Cape Government`s After school programme office.

  • Nomsa Mbothwe

    Nomsa Mbothwa is the current Training Manager at Magnet Theatre. She graduated with Btech degree in Public Relations Management. She is a proud mother of two children and wife. Her true passion lies in touching people`s lives. She has worked in the Advertising and, Banking Industries. She believes her true calling is to simply make a small difference in young people`s lives – Magnet Theatre has been the tool to do just that

  • Palesa Mohola

    Palesa Mohlala is a 22 years old. She graduated from Magnet Theatre in 2018 and, now is part of the company`s EPWP internship. She enjoys writing, poetry, theatre-making and theatre-plays. She is also part of the 2017/18 graduates who were nominated for Best SA Scripts for G7: Okwe-Bokhwe by Fleur de Cap.

  • Yamkela Sotapu

    Yamkela Sotapu is a CPUT graduate from Gugulethu. He holds a National Diploma and Btech Degree in Public Management and a SAP ERF Certificate focusing in Finance, Logistics and Report. He served as the LifeChoice- Schools Peer Educator, He was award for serving as a Young historian, High School Guardian/Prefect. He was the HCI Foundation Peer Mentor and a Class Representative for Public Law. Yamkela is now part of Magnet Theatre`s EPWP internship programme.