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 (Operations Manager and Grant 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.  

  • 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.

  • Asamkela Ketelo Culture Gangs Lead Facilitator

    Asamkela Ketelo is a dynamic and accomplished professional actor and theatre maker with a passion for  storytelling. A graduate of the University of Cape Town, he holds a degree in Theatre and Performance,  specializing in Performance Making. Hailing from Makhaza in e-Khayelitsha, Ketelo 's journey in theatre  began in his hometown.   

    In 2014, Ketelo 's exceptional talent landed him a lead role in the critically acclaimed production "1976: The  Diary of Maria," directed by the renowned Brian Notcutt. This powerful production captivated audiences and  was featured at the prestigious National Arts Festival, showcasing. Asamkela was part of Magnet Theatre Community Groups Intervention when it was operating in Khayelitsha.

    To further enhance his skills and artistic development, Ketelo embarked on the Magnet Theatre Training  Programme in 2017. Under the expert guidance of esteemed mentors Jennie Reznek, Mandla Mbothwe,  and Mark Fleishman, Ketelo honed his craft and expanded his repertoire, delving deeper into the art of  theatre-making.  Asamkela has been running the Magnet Theatre Culture Gangs since 2022.

  • Mluleki Titi Technical Assistant

    Mluleki Titi is a Theatre technician and designer. He worked as technical intern at Artscape Theatre (2017 -2018), where he developed skills in lighting, sound, audio visuals, stage management, set designing, technical maintenance. As theatre technician I was fortunate to be technician for National Arts Festival 2019, where he worked with different actors and producers in vast shows. He also work as Technical Manager of Makukhanye art room 2020. He has 2 years working as technical assistant at Magnet theatre where he focuses on lighting and sound, venue managing, stage management and production manager and assisting set designs.

  • Phakamani Waka FRF Videography Intern 2023/2024

    Phakamani Waka is a Photographer, Videographer, and Graphic Designer. He studied Art and Design at Cape College, Graduated from the course. He’s been freelancing as a photographer for a couple of years, gaining the necessary experience in time. As a result, He successfully hosted Khayelitsha’s community in his first ever Photo-exhibition as this has been his long-term dream to archive. Phakamani is a motivated driven soul, who wishes to spread love, hope and tell stories with his exceptional work of photography. He’s also motivated to knock on a few more doors to keep his legacy alive.

  • Sibuyiselo Dwyili FRF Administration Intern 2023/2024

    Sbuja Dywili is a published playwright, as well as an award- winning performer who has been seen both on screen and stage. His 2021 play Ganga Nyoko! Inzima Nyoko! published by Junkets Press and in which he performed, won the Zabalaza Festivals' Best Production, Best Actor and was nominated for three Fleur du Cap Awards, winning Best New Director. He performed in Tsotsi the Musical, Comfort Ye and Buzani Ku Bawo. In 2021, he was invited by Lara Foot of Baxter Theatre, to be under the Masambe Writing Residency, where he was supported to write his second play titled - Ngxi!, under the careful eye of Lara Foot. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Filmmaking, in which he majored in Directing, Screenwriting and Producing. Sbuja had the distinct privilege of being taught Musical Writing by the legendary David Kramer at Baxter Theatre. He graduated from a series of Filmmaking Workshops hosted by Tomas Films, from which he co-wrote and directed a short film shot with a 'cell phone' and garnered praise from the Tomas Films Producers. In 2022, Sbuja received raving reviews for his performance as Can Themba in Dr. Siphiwo Mahala's one man show, House of Truth, for which Sbuja was nominated in the 58th Fleur du Cap Awards as a Best Actor in a One Man Show. He is excited to join Magnet Theatre as an Administrative Intern and hopes that this opportunity will help shape one of the skills he wants to lead in, producing.

  • Smamkele Mentyisi FRF Facilitator/ Teaching Intern 2023/2024

      Smamkele Mentyisi is a writer and performance artist from Khayelitsha, Cape Town. He holds a BA (Hons) in Theatre & Performance Studies (Majoring in Theatre Making) from the University of Cape Town. Smamkele’s work explores queerness, masculinity and ancestral spirituality in a post-apartheid South Africa. The work utilizes, sonic psychedelia, image collages, and performative video installations. Smamkele has performed in Infecting the City , Body Politics , Live Art Acarde, Impulse CPT.