Nzal’Abantu Concerts

BandaBanda Agency Presents Zoë Modiga

Nzal’Abantu Concerts

BandaBanda Agency is Excited to  present Zoë Modiga’s ‘nomthandazo’ in an intimate setup at The Market Theatre at The John Kani Stage, this will also mark the first official performance of Zoë Modiga at the Market Theatre.

We are so excited to have curated a show dedicated to the spirit of Nzal’abantu ( Fertility) . Nomthandazo was launched on the 1st of June, and this will be an opportunity for Zoë Modiga to perform songs from her catalogue in dedication to women month.

We have two shows the first one being on the 23rd and the second on the 24th of August. Both shows will take place in the evening.

Date: 23 August 2024 (7pm)

Date: 24 August 2024 (7pm)

Venue Market Theatre (The John Kani Stage)

Address

booking@bandabandanow.com (For Media Inquiries)

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South African Heroes Awards 2024 (No Under 13s)

South African Heroes Awards 2024 (No Under 13s)

The 6th annual South African Heroes Awards (SAHAs) is a celebration of unsung heroes. The awards recognise and celebrate the work done by community builders in South Africa. These awards celebrate ordinary South Africans who are doing extra-ordinary things to uplift their communities. On 21 September 2024, the heroes and heroines will be celebrated in style at a prestigious ceremony at John Kani Theatre, Market Theatre with headline performance by the legendary Zola 7. Hosted by actress Linda Njotini-Ubobuako, the South African Heroes Awards 2024 ceremony will be a night to remember – a night of celebration, fun & dance. Bring out your best outfits in honour of your heritage.

Red Carpet starts at 17h00
The Awards Ceremony starts at 19h00

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The SAHAs have the following categories:

Youth Empowerment – uplifting young people through various programmes,
Business Empowerment – helping start-ups/small businesses to help them succeed,
Specialized Care – people who take care of vulnerable groups like orphans, disabled persons, abused people, widows, homeless, etc.,
Community Service – voluntary community work in different NGOs to benefit fellow community members, e.g., community policing forums,
Community Health – health centres initiated and run by community members as well as primary health care,
Rural Development – projects that uplift rural communities,
Women Empowerment – programmes meant for the upliftment and empowerment of women
Community Journalist of the year – submitted with at least 4 community uplifting/building stories.
Community Media of the Year – Telling community empowering stories.
Community Builder of the Year – voted for by fellow nominees in recognition of their outstanding work.

Honorary Awards:

Green Award – honours people who run projects/programmes for environmental preservation.
Ubuntu Award – honours veteran community builders whose projects have produced other noticeable community builders and high achievers.
Art of Giving – honours those who are uplifting communities through art.
Language Preservation Award – honours those who take pride in preserving indigenous languages.
Leader of Influence – honours exceptional leaders who lead by example and have a trail of positive influence.
Rights Activist of the Year – gives honour to those who fight tirelessly for human rights.
Aid Giver of the Year – honours exceptional first responders in times of disaster & distress.
Iconic Impact – honours an icon who has lived and continues to live their lives giving of themselves to others to ensure they succeed in life.
Excellence in Public Service – honours those in public service who deliver with excellence and go beyond the call of duty.
International Achiever – represents South Africa with pride abroad, changing and impacting lives.

The Ugly Noo Noo

The Ugly Noo Noo

A South African Theatre classic lands back at The Market

The Market Theatre announces the return of Andrew Buckland’s masterpiece of comic physical performance, the acclaimed one-man show, The Ugly Noo Noo. The extraordinary text, which arguably changed the face of South African theatre for many thousands of practitioners and audience members alike, was first presented 36 years ago at the Market Theatre.

The Ugly Noo Noo tells the story of a man’s encounter with an insect. Not just any insect but the notorious Parktown Prawn which inhabited the suburbs of Johannesburg particularly during the 80’s and 90’s. Using sharp satirical commentary, an explosive performance style and Buckland’s unique stage presence, this play takes the audience on an unforgettable journey through the compost heaps and dark underbelly of suburban life in the big city.

It examines in splitting comic detail the relationship between fear and power in our everyday lives. Respected arts critique of the day, Barry Ronge, praised the play for making audiences “howl with laughter at the sheer sensual pleasure of theatrical performance.”

Directed by Janet Buckland, this groundbreaking play has garnered 17 national and international awards, including a Fringe First and a Perrier Pick of the Fringe shortlisting at the Edinburgh Festival.

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The accolades over the years have honoured its script, direction, and outstanding performance. Drawing inspiration from the irrational fear evoked by the Parktown Prawn, The Ugly Noo Noo delves into how fear is manipulated in times of struggle and difficulty, while also addressing universal human truths. Its relevance and humour endure, making its main theme of irrational fear as compelling today as it was in 1988.

This return of the work to The Market celebrates the remarkable contribution of this pioneering piece to South African Theatre. Artistic Director of the Market Theatre, Greg Homann, says, “It’s a privilege for us at The Market to be able to welcome this play home, retaining Andrew Buckland in the role alongside the works relevance to our current world of fear and uncertainty.” Homann adds, “This season provides an opportunity for an audience who know the work to relive its brilliance, while giving a new audience a chance to witness the unique skills and stage presence of this elder of South African Theatre.”

The fact that the The Ugly Noo Noo is still being played today is a testament to the extraordinary nature of the show and its creators, affirming that more than three decades later, this is theatre that remains as enthralling and funny as ever.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see Andrew Buckland in his seminal role at The Market Theatre from 15 August to 1 September 2024. Bookings are open via Webtickets.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Lusanda Zokufa (Brand and Communication Manager at the Market Theatre Foundation) at lusandaz@marketheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641 or 072 367 7867.

For reduced price block bookings (of 10 or more) and school groups, contact Anthony Ezeoke (Audience Development) at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950 or Mamello Khomongoe mamellok@markettheatre.co.za 0815729612

Prayers

Prayers

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY SOLLY RAMATSWI DRAMARTUGE & MENTOR DIRECTOR J BOBS TSHABALALA

Zwakala Festival winner arrives on the Barney Simon stage

Dive into the electrifying depths of one man’s tumultuous journey through the maze of desire and self-discovery in this riveting theatrical experience. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions as our protagonist, a young firebrand, bares his soul and grapples with the wild and unbridled force of his sexual cravings.

Haunted by the untamed urges that bind him in a web of sexual immorality, he confronts the shadows of his own existence. Is his relentless pursuit of pleasure merely a diversion, a desperate escape from the chilling embrace of self-awareness and the haunting spectre of loneliness?
Prepare for a night of gripping revelations and soul-stirring conflicts as this young man unearths the hidden truths within himself, weaving a narrative that blurs the lines between pleasure and salvation.

In a world where shadows dance on the edge of desire, witness the electrifying drama unfold as he grapples with the age-old question: Can one find light from within, even in the darkest corners of the soul?

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Prayers, this year’s winner of the Market Theatre’s annual Zwakala Festival, will enjoy a two-week run starting from 25 September 2024 in the Barney Simon Theatre.

Prayers is an edgy play written and directed by Solly Ramatswi that tells the story of a young man who is forced to self-reflect amid the expectations of society on the youth. He is conflicted between conforming to the socialisation of boys and fighting his unbridled sexual urges. The crux of the brave and bold play is the navigation of this maze. The inciting question that the play grapples with is, “Can one find light from within, even in the darkest corners of the soul?”

The staging of Prayers in the Barney Simon Theatre, named after the founder and first artistic director of the Market Theatre, bears profound symbolism. Barney Simon was a champion of creating opportunities for community-based theatre-makers to showcase their works on big stages. His mode of enabling the stories of ordinary South Africans resonates with the spirit of the Zwakala Festival, a platform on which Prayers was discovered in January this year.

Writer and director, Solly Ramatswi, gives the play its purposeful direction, which leaves the audience empathising with the dilemma faced by the protagonist, portrayed by Vusi Nkwenkwezi. The Limpopo-born Ramatswi shares that his storytelling techniques are inspired by his grandmother. His theatre-making approach is to incorporate imagery, music and movement.

Ramatswi has won several poetry slam championships and has used sign language in poetry performances to raise awareness about disability.

As a Zwakala Festival winner, Prayers went through further development and mentorship in preparation for its two-week run, guided by award-winning playwright, J. Bobs Tshabalala. Tshabalala will be familiar to audiences as he is the writer of Poet-O-Type and Khongolose Khommanding Khommissars, both of which have enjoyed successful seasons recently at The Market Theatre. He has scooped the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Theatre, a Naledi Theatre Award and other recognitions. He worked alongside Ramatswi to further sharpen the script and direction in preparation for the play’s upcoming run. 

The star of the show is Mpumalanga-born and Gauteng-raised Vusi Nkwenkwezi, who won the Most Outstanding Performance Award at this year’s Zwakala Festival. Nkwenkwezi is an award-winning actor, creative director, mentor, teacher and director of SHRAC 11 Community Development. He will be recognised by TV viewers for his role in the KFC commercial, “Streetwise Bozza”, as a too-timing gang honcho. He is also an alumnus of the Market Theatre Lab, where he completed his drama studies in 2017.

Come immerse yourself in this captivating and relatable play that shines the light on a young man’s path to self-identity in the jungle of contradictions and expectations. Tickets for the show range from R100 as part of the Market Theatre’s half-price special on a Wednesday to R200, with bookings of 4 or more at only R120 via Webtickets.

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For enquiries, please contact Bongiwe Potelwa (Publicist at the Market Theatre Foundation) at bongim@marketheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641.

For reduced price block bookings (of 10 or more) and school groups, contact Anthony Ezeoke (Audience Development) at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950 or Mamello Khomongoe mamellok@markettheatre.co.za 0815729612.

Mandisi Dyantyis “Intlambululo : Ukuhlambulula”

Mandisi Dyantyis “Intlambululo : Ukuhlambulula”

Join us for an intimate evening with Mandisi Dyantyis and his 7 piece band, for a presentation of his most recent compositions. This multi-award winning artist, will showcase an entire brand new repertoire of songs that mostly have never been performed to a paid audience before This new chapter offers new songs and stories to the growing Mandisi Dyantyis Songbook and is not the be missed for the loyal Dyans.

Born and raised in Gqeberha, Mandisi grew up singing in church and began playing the trumpet at age 8. He attended the University of Cape Town, where he joined the institution’s Big Band. In 2005, Mandisi emerged from the University of Cape Town with a BMus Honors Degree in Jazz Studies. In 2024, he earned his Masters degree with distinction. Mandisi has performed with acclaimed musicians including Jimmy Dludlu, the Abdullah Ibrahim Big Band, Robbie Jansen, Max Vidima and Moreira Chonguiça.

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Kwa’Mnyamandawo

Kwa’Mnyamandawo

New play sheds light on inner-city housing crisis

Kwa’Mnyamandawo, the latest new work by Kwasha! The 7th Theatre Company, homed at The Windybrow Arts Centre, is making its way to The Market Theatre Foundation’s Ramolao Makhene Theatre for a short run. The devised work excavates the challenges within the inner city.

Kwa’Mnyamandawo is told through the eyes of an eager and zealous junior investigative reporter who, concerned by the housing crisis and other social ills in Hillbrow decides to utilise her skillset to get to the bottom of what is going on. What she discovers not only shocks her but makes her realise the extent to which corrupt police officers and public officials utilize abandoned buildings systematically to trade illegal goods and substances.

Working with a local tour guide, she is able to enter ‘intimate’ yet somewhat dangerous public spaces which would normally not be accepting of her presence. In so doing, she sees first-hand how rough and tough the streets and surrounds of the inner city Hillbrow are, learning what it takes for those to survive in a place they have no choice but to call home.

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As a socially focused play, Kwa’Mnyamandawo offers insights into the lives of those who live on the margins of society, excluded from meaningful participation in civic activities and who are all but forgotten by mainstream society. The occupants navigate their existence in crowded spaces which offer little to no room for children to play or for healthy social activities. The production not only highlights the plight of inner-city residents whose lives are characterized by rampant crime and harsh living conditions, but it also serves as a powerful indictment on public officials who have allowed these things to happen.

The dynamic production is brought onto the stage by Kwasha! The 7th Theatre Company which was established in 2018 as a collaboration between the Market Theatre Laboratory and the Windybrow Arts Centre. This reparatory system of making theatre has over its several years of existence provided a brilliant home for new, emerging talent. It is a space for entry-level professional theatre-makers to experiment, grow, develop, harness and sharpen their skills as they embark on a career in the world of theatre performance.

In its six previous iterations, Kwasha! Theatre Company has showcased devised and innovative productions as well as several adaptations at spaces such as the National Arts Festival (NAF) and internationally. Three of those productions won much sought after and highly competitive Standard Bank Ovation Awards. These were The Little Prince, which won in 2018, and Currently (G)old and Rhinocerus which both won in the NAF 2019 edition.

After their one year with Kwasha!, several actors from the company have been cast into different productions and have enjoyed work at theatre houses in various roles. This is testament to the robust, relevant and cutting-edge sharpening of their skill through their enriching time as part of this programme.

Devised by the Kwasha! The 7th Theatre Company cast, Kwa’Mnyamandawo has Thabang Chauke as the director, Joel Leonard as mentor with costume and set design by Chloe Wittstock.

Be the first to catch this original production at the Ramolao Makhene Theatre at The Market Square in Newtown from 18 to 21 July for four performances only.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Lusanda Zokufa (Brand and Communication Manager at the Market Theatre Foundation) at lusandaz@marketheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641 or 072 367 7867.

For reduced price block bookings (of 10 or more) and school groups, contact Anthony Ezeoke (Audience Development) at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950 or Mamello Khomongoe mamellok@markettheatre.co.za 0815729612

 

 

 

Amaxelegu

Amaxelegu
An edgy new play about bedroom dynamics heats up The Market!

Amaxelegu​ is a brand-new play by award-winning actor, writer, director, theatre-maker, performance artist and all-round creative powerhouse, Qondiswa James. This edgy three-hander has emerged out of the Market Theatre’s Play Development Programme which was launched last year, and that focuses on unearthing and developing “fresh, urgent, or compelling” stories under the guidance of Artistic Director, Greg Homann.

​In Amaxelegu, Qondiswa ​James curates a provocatively risqué yet relatable and beautiful story focussing on the bedroom dynamics of a young couple and their interactions with the woman who ‘cleans up after them’. The title roughly translates in English to “Messy People”. The play, which is mostly in English, includes some Xhosa. It’s a play about love in the time of non-monogamy, a journey into the complexity of present-day relationships. 

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It is set in the bedrooms of the characters in a non-descript city in South Africa. ,They navigate the transactions of class and gender as they move between various private and domestic contexts. Amaxelegu features an impressive cast which includes Shalima Mkongi, a UCT, AFDA and Waterfront Theatre School graduate in the role of ‘Thabisa’. Mkongi has several notable theatre and film roles under her belt including The Crucible, Cincinatti, Justice Served and Diamond City, in addition to being a sought-after voice actor. It also features Luxolo Ndabeni in the role of ‘Azola’. Ndabeni is a South African State Theatre product best known for roles in Lockdown (S1), Surviving Gaza and Gomora (S4). Audiences can look forward to how the two will portray the private and social dynamics of the play’s central relationship as Thabisa and Azola navigate their day-to-day lives within the backdrop of gender and class as young, upwardly mobile-middle-class black South Africans.

In the role of ‘Mama Priscilla’ is the veteran award-winning film and television actor, Nambitha Mpumlwana​ who is well-known for her work on screen in multiple, award-winning and memorable productions from Generations to Invictus, from Yizo-Yizo to Tsotsi and much more in between. Nambitha Mpumlwana recently featured in the hit-production, The Cry ​of Winnie Mandela ​at The Market Theatre, playing ​struggle icon, political activist, liberation fighter, and the first-first lady of democratic South Africa, Winnie Mandela. 

Qondiswa ​James has built an impressive oeuvre of work since bursting onto the scene. She has studied and worked with an enviable array of playwrights, directors and theatre houses. Her directorial works include​, Emhlab’Obomvu​, performed at the National Arts Festival in 2016 and​, Silindile​, which was part of the UCT New Voices in 2017. She as awarded the Theatre Arts Admin Collective’s Emerging Theatre Directors Bursary in 2018 for, A Faint Patch of Light, a powerful re-interpretation of the legendary playwright Athol Fugard’s Statements After An Arrest Under The Immorality Act. That play was nominated in 2019 for 2 Fleur du Cap Awards for Best New Director and Best Actress.

​More recently, Qondiswa James was part of the Centre for the Less Good Idea’s ​innovative and groundbreaking project “On Air: Visual Radio Plays​”​, which was an experiment with aural and visual interpretation of theatrical works with the play, Emalehleni. Qondiswa James’ star continues to rise. This time she brings her fearless imagination and boundless talents to the Market Theatre stage.

Completing A​maxelegu’s formidable team is set and costume design​er Onthatile Matshidiso, sound designer Jannous Nkululeko Aukema​, AV designer Jurgen Meekel and Andrea Rolfes, and lighting designer David Themba Stuart​.

This is a fresh and bold production which will heat up those cold winter nights. Head to The Market Theatre this August and be the first to catch this sizzling new play directed and written by one of South Africa’s next wave of brilliant young theatre artists.

Age Advisory: 16 (SNL)

Language: English (with some Xhosa)

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Lusanda Zokufa (Brand and Communication Manager at the Market Theatre Foundation) at lusandaz@marketheatre.co.za or (011) 832 1641 or 072 367 7867.

For reduced price block bookings (of 10 or more) and school groups, contact Anthony Ezeoke (Audience Development) at AnthonyE@markettheatre.co.za or 083 246 4950 or Mamello Khomongoe mamellok@markettheatre.co.za 0815729612

Katanga, January 17

Katanga, January 17

Script by lesego rampolokeng and bobby rodwell

Katanga, January 17 engages with the assassination of Patrice Lumumba and explores its aftermath in the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially his Pan African vision.

Written by Lesego Rampolokeng and Bobby Rodwell the play moves from the 1961 assassination of liberation leaders Patrice Lumumba, Joseph Okito and Maurice Mpolo, to the present day reality of child soldiers in the eastern DRC.

“As my father ran in 1961, when his father, Joseph Okito was assassinated, the children of the Congo are still running,” Joseph Okito.
Using English, KiSwahili, Lingala and French acclaimed South African and Congolese actors Billy Langa, Charly Azade, Khutjo Green and Nji Alain weave the narrative through word and movement to tell the story of a critical moment in the history of the Congo, and the African continent as a whole.

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Award-Winning Theatre Duo Returns to The Market Theatre with Poetic Revival

Award-Winning Theatre Duo Returns to The Market Theatre with Poetic Revival

The team behind last year’s much acclaimed production of Khongolose Khommanding Khommissars (KKK) return to The Market Theatre, this time with Poet-O-Type. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the play, the award-winning “Theatre Duo” – Billy Langa & Mahlatsi Mokgonyana – and playwright J. Bobs Tshabalala, collaborate on this new staging.

Poet-O-Type follows the journey of a talented student of poetry as he contends with the varied and at times contradictory lessons of his mentor. Part ode to poets and wordsmiths, the play explores the life of artists who are trying to make a living by weaving words as they navigate the underground poetry-in-performance scene in pursuit of recognition and admiration. The play is funny, witty, full of language play, and is crafted by a team with a deep love of words.

This revival of Tshabalala’s play, exactly a decade after its debut, is directed by Mahlatsi Mokgonyana, working alongside original cast member, Billy Langa (Tswalo, The Life and Times of Michael K) who reprises his role as the mentor. Artistic Director of The Market Theatre, Greg Homann, shares, “One can see why this role, which was seemingly made for Billy, has evolved and grown as the show has matured under Mahlatsi’s direction.” 

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Mokgonyana and the creative team deliver a tighter and slightly restructured production since the original version staged ten years ago.

Alongside Langa, is the prodigiously talented newcomer Trevor Lynch who was seen last year on the John Kani stage at The Market in the end-of-the-year comedy, A Marry Little Christmas. The production’s other creative collaborators include Kozo Zwane whose music and soundscapes create the world of the play and Ernest ‘Ginger’ Baleni whose movement direction elevates the theatrical style of the work. This is a cast and creative team at the top their game.

The dynamic two-hander sizzles with energy and an inviting playfulness as the two actors spar with words, which Tshabalala conjures with deft craft and sharpness.

Tshabalala, who was recently awarded the Naledi Award for Best New South African Script for Khongolose Khommanding Khommissars (KKK), has written with Poet-O-Type a play that accessibly enters a heightened poetic space where words, their meanings, double-meanings, and even wholesale lack of meaning become the silver thread. The relatable dialogue is clever and witty but never indulgent. This dynamic makes the production appealing to a wide audience, as well as being the perfect production for school-learners grappling with figures of speech in poetic language. This is a play that will engage an audience in an entertaining way, while nurturing an understanding of language and poetry.

Performances take place at The Market Theatre from 11 to 28 July at the theatre’s usual time, and with the possibility of school performances by special arrangement from Wednesday to Friday at 11am.

The Cry of Winnie Mandela

The Cry Of Winnie Mandela

The Cry Of Winnie Mandela is a compelling journey through history, emotion, and the enduring strength of the female South African spirit.

Based on the popular novel by poet, novelist, and essayist Njabulo Ndebele, The Cry of Winnie Mandela is a poignant theatrical production brought to life by The Market Theatre. This thoughtful new play of resilience is adapted by Alex Burger and directed by the award-winning MoMo Matsunyane who is the current Standard Bank Young Artist Winner for Theatre.

Through the imagination of a literary professor, the action centres on the stories of four women who reflect on a period of waiting during the absence of their men. Between intense emotional moments and cleverly injected humour, the dynamic theatrical adaptation weaves together their private accounts, exposing the shadows, isolation, and complexities of their evocative experiences. A series of intimate and powerful conversations unfold as the characters reveal the profound impact of this period of their life, delving into the depths of their longing and uncertainty as they forge their stories to that of the life and times of Winnie Mandela.

The universal theme of waiting is a central motif, allowing the audience to reflect on the historical struggles of women while drawing parallels to their own contemporary lives.

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You are invited to join these resilient women as they gather, share their stories, sing, and metaphorically drink their “tea” – a potent blend of strength and vulnerability.

Don’t miss this powerful exploration of love, resilience, courage, and the indomitable spirit of women.

A cast of six with five females and one male:

1.     Rami Chuene

2.     Ayanda Sibisi

3.     Nambitha Mpumlwana

4.     Siyasanga Papu

5.     Pulane Rampoana

6.     Les Nkosi

Creative Team:

  1. Set & LX Designer: Wilhelm Disbergen
  2. Costume Designer: Onthatile Matshidiso
  3. Sound & AV Designer: Vangile Mpumlwana

Creative Team

Creative Team
Alex Burger

Alex Burger is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and playwright.

His plays include: The Crusaders (Oxford University, in progress) Fees Must Fall (Wits University, 2016), The Inkanyamba (Market Theatre Lab, 2015) and Whose Blood (The Old Operating Theatre London, 2012) which played to a fully sold-out run. His TV credits include head-writing Die Testament One & Two South Africa’s first TV show written for mobile viewing (Netwerk24, 2022 & 2019), Seasons 3 and 4 of the SAFTA-winning TV series Umlilo (eTv 2015-2016), Doubt (Mzansi Magic 2016), and Hard Copy Season 4 (SABC3 2016). He is currently developing multiple TV projects including co-writing a feminist TV series Here She Comes (Infinite Eyes Films), co-developing an African-American satirical series The Campaign (Mundo Loco Films), and writing a Scooby Doo investigation of systemic racism Reparation City.

In his other life, Alex has served as a senior advisor to the World Bank for over twenty years working in thirty-four countries and served as the Vice President of Community Affairs for AngloGold Ashanti – Africa’s largest Mining company (2011-2013). Alex holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BA magna cum laude from Harvard University in the Comparative Study of Religion.

Creative Team
Kgomotso ‘MoMo’ Matsunyane

Kgomotso ‘MoMo’ Matsunyane (b. 1988) is an actor, playwright, director and singer.

MoMo has been a professional actor since 2004 after making her television debut on Thetha Msawawa 2. She obtained an Honours Degree in Dramatic Arts from Wits University in 2012, majoring in Performance as well as Film and Television. She has performed in numerous plays, films and television shows over her 19 year long career and has been nominated for and won several awards including: The Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Theatre in 2023, Hlakanyana The Musical, which won a whopping 8 out of the 14 awards at the 2023 Naledi Theatre Awards. She was also Head Writer for this very musical.

Matsunyane also won for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role as Mawethu along with Best Ensemble and Best Production of a Musical. Other achievements include; Best Actress in A Leading Role and Best Breakthrough Performer nominee (Have You Seen Zandile? ;Naledi Theatre Awards 2014), Best Supporting Actress winner (Ankobia ; SA Theatre Magazine Awards 2017), Best Ensemble winner (Animal Farm; Naledi Theatre Awards 2015), Best Supporting Role nominee (Tsotsi The Musical; Fleur Du Cap Awards 2018) and Best Fringe Productions nominee (Unlearn and Dick Or Date?; Naledi Theatre Awards 2019)

Earlier in 2023, she acted in a new sketch comedy show called Republic Of South Ah directed by Kagiso Lediga and it is currently on popular streaming network Netflix. In June she co-directed Their Silence Left Us Nothing But Tokens in France, Lyon as part of a collaboration between the Market Theatre Laboratory and ENSATT. In the previous year Matsunyane was also festival director of the acclaimed Zwakala Festival and following its success, went on to mentor the director of the winning group as the show took to the stage in October 2023.

In 2022 she also performed in If A Tree Falls which was also directed by acclaimed director Janice Honeyman. In 2020, she performed in Switzerland in Converting Eviction a collaboration between Ntsoana Contemporary Dance Theatre and KMUProduktionen. In 2021 she was cast in Standard Bank Young Artist Award Winner for Dance, Lulu Mlangeni’s NAF production Kganya which made its live debut at the internationally acclaimed festival Afrovibes in 2022 and also enjoyed a run at The State Theatre in July 2023. Matsunyane hopes to grow her production company which has created a platform for her to independently write, produce and star in her own shows as she navigates this often challenging but equally rewarding industry.

Creative Team
Wilhelm Disbergen

Wilhelm Disbergen is a prolific theatre designer who regularly works in all major theatres in South Africa. He is a multiple winner at the annual Naledi Theatre Awards, and has also received a Fleur du Cap award for lighting design.

For theatre, his collaboration with State Theatre’s Artistic Director Aubrey Sekhabi started with Silent Voice, followed by Sekhabi’s three seminal freedom plays – Mantolo: The Tenth Step, Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu, and The Rivonia Trial. This was followed by three epoch making musicals – Hungry (a co-production with the SchauSpielHaus Hamburg), and the epoch making Marikana – The Musical, and Freedom The Musical.

Recent work in theatre include Eugène Ionesco’s The Lesson (dir Greg Homan) at the Market Theatre, an immersive production of Ariane Mnouchkine and Théâtre du Soleil’s 1789 (dir Phyllis Klotz and Smal Ndaba) at the Sibikwa Arts Centre, and Napo Mashenane’s ground-breaking musical Thaba Bosiu at PACOFS.

In 2018, he designed Jessica Nupen’s Don’t Trust the Border for Kampnagel, Hamburg. This was followed in the same venue by The Nose, a film/live performance hybrid (2021), and GEMeinsam (2022).

He lit 21 seasons for the Cape Town City Ballet. A highlight was lighting and staging Olivier award winning Muthuthuzeli November’s Ingoma (2021). For Joburg Ballet, he designed Big City, Big Dreams, Whispers of My Soul (chor Redha), and The Nutcracker (chor Angela Malan), last performed at the end of 2023 at the Teatro at Montecasino and The Playhouse in Durban.

At the National Arts Festival, he designed new works for three Standard Bank Young Artists – Moffie for Bailey Snyman (2012), Sabela for Thandezile Sonja Radebe (2017), and Purgatory for Kristi-Leigh Gresse (2022). At the 2018 festival, he designed Black Privilege for Nyamza, the featured artist of the festival. He teamed up again with Snyman for Gas Lands (2019), and Nyamza for Pest Control (2020) and Hatched Ensemble (2023).

Creative Team
Onthatile Matshidiso

Onthatile Matshidiso is production designer and arts educator with 12 years’ experience in using clothes to tell stories. Born in Tlhabane, Rustenburg and now based in Johannesburg, Onthatile grew up in a community that valued the arts in childhood development.  In her household, Onthatile was inspired by her mother who saw the value of a carefully selected wardrobe as a tool of self-expression. Her father taught her meticulous precision in technical drawing.

Onthatile drew inspiration for fashion illustration from fashion spreads in publications such as Elle and True Love Magazine.

Onthatile is a Wits School of Arts graduate with majors in Production Design and Writing. In 2015, she was nominated for a Naledi Award in Costume award, for Matsemela Manaka’s Egoli. Onthatile has served as production design lecturer for The Wits School of Arts’ and for the Market Theatre Laboratory.

Recent credits in costume design include: The Terrified Talabalushi, The Lesson, Tata Etla Gae, and Nina Simone- 4 Women.

A cast of six with five females and one male

Rami Chuene

Rami is one of the leading actresses in South Africa, with 25 years of onscreen storytelling. She is most well-known for her roles in popular local soapies, The Queen, Muvhango, Scandal!, 7de Laan and Backstage. Rami is currently in the popular series, Giyani: Land Of Blood. Some of the TV dramas she has been in include, Inkaba, Harvest, The Republic, Abomzala, It’s Complicated, Justice For All, BET’s daily drama, ISONO, and British/American series, Strike Back. Her roles in movies include Life Above All and Hijack Stories. She appeared in the Netflix Original series, How To Ruin Christmas: The Wedding and its sequels, How To Ruin Christmas: The Funeral and How To Ruin Christmas: The Babyshower.

Rami is also a singer and recording artist, her album From Fear To Love was released in 2014. She is a published author and her memoir, We Kissed The Sun And Embraced The Moon, was published in 2015. She has recently translated veteran author, Professor Es’kia Mphahlele’s novel, Father Come Home, into her native language, Sepedi. In addition to being an actress, singer and author, Rami is a sought after speaker, voice-over artist and MC who has hosted many stage, corporate and TV shows and events. Rami is passionate about being a philanthropist and doing good through her foundation, Rami Chuene Foundation.

Ayanda Sibisi

Ayanda Sibisi was born and raised in KwaNdengezi, Durban. She obtained her National Diploma in Drama studies at the Durban University of Technology. She’s an actress, musician and the Development Executive Producer at Eyethu Films. In a nutshell, Ayanda is an all-around creative who is enthusiastic about arts and passionate about storytelling. Her tv roles include The Herd as MaMzobe the cynical witch, the hilarious romantic comedy “Hawema!” where she played the role of Lindi the go getter. She portrayed the role of Fikani’s mother on 7 de Laan and has had a handful of guest appearances on The Queen, Rockville and SABC1’s 13 Weeks to find Mr Right. She was a contestant on the highly competitive television show Top Actor.

As a theatre practitioner she has worked on various musicals. In 2011 she joined the cast of Cinderella at the Playhouse Theatre. She starred in the stage musical piece Beauty and the Beast as Madame De La Grande Bouche where she got nominated for the best newcomer at the Mercury Durban Theatre Awards. She played the king’s most trusted adviser Rafiki in the internationally acclaimed Lion King at the theatre of the wild in Disneyland, Hong Kong. In 2018 she took on the role of Church Lady Jarene in Alice Walker’s musical version of The Color Purple which received 13 nominations and won 7 of those awards at the Naledi awards in 2019. In 2022 she was nominated for best music video at the 15th Crown Gospel Awards for her hit gospel Amapiano song called Bayede which is currently on high rotation on several radio stations across the country. Her most recent musical production was Third World Express where she starred as the lead (The Queen).

Ayanda is currently putting final touches of her first studio album which will feature a massive storm of hits. There is no stopping this formidable talent and her time is NOW!!

Siyasanga Papu

Siyasanga is a multitalented actress and songstress who has been involved in productions in both theatre and film for over almost 20 years. In 2005 she was part of a production called NewTown. She went on to perform in Relativity: Township Story which played at multiple South African art festivals, later showcasing in Vienna (Austria), the Scotland Fringe and then touring 10

different cities in the UK .

Her other theatre work includes The Wizard of OZ, Jock of the Bushveld, and SATATOO. She played the lead in MARIKANA The Musical for which she got a Naledi Award nomination. She went to get yet another Naledi Award nomination in 2019 for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for the show she did called Santa Clause is coming to town. In 2022 she joined the cast of the award-winning play called Xova where she played the lead role of Zukiswa. In 2017 she was invited by Dr. Jonas Gwangwa to sing a special rendition at ex-president Thabo Mbeki’s 75th birthday celebration. She did a Cape Town tour of the famous 50s musical called KING KONG The Musical.

She has been in Usindiso (2007), Rhythm City (2008-2009), AMANDLA, 8 MINUETS, 1606, while playing lead on some films for the small screen such as 10 Steps to Make Him Propose, Forget About It and Iizintombi Zodwa. She appeared as Mpumi, a journalist, on Generations The Legacy on SABC 1. Siyasanga was also in the TV series called THE HERD 1&2 broadcast on Mzanzi. She portrayed the role of Fezeka in Isibaya in 2018 and has just finished the 4-year run of Gomora where she portrayed Pretty Molefe – one of the lead characters for which she got a Royal Soapie Award nomination.

She currently has a 5 piece band called MOLO based in Pretoria.

Pulane Rampoana

Puli is a versatile artist with over 17 years of experience in the industry, excelling as an actor, singer, dancer, and vocal coach. She has graced international musical shows like Dreamgirls, Cabaret, and Rocky Horror, while making significant contributions to local productions such as The Hill, Mosali Eo U Nneileng Eena, Jock Of The Bushveld, and Reik Na Die Sterre.

Her musical journey includes noteworthy performances like Bidvest 2015 with Vicky Sampson and Swing City. Puli has shared the stage with acclaimed artists like Thandiswa Mazwai and Ernie Smith, showcasing her talent at Embassies around Pretoria for events attended by government delegates, ambassadors, and ministers. A highlight in her musical career was performing at an event attended by African Jazz legends Ntate Caiphus Semenya and Mama Letta Mbuli.

Beyond music, Puli actively engages in television and radio, contributing as a translator, producer, actor, and voiceover artist. Her recent television series, Lioness, remains available for viewing on DStv.

Nambitha Mpumlwana

Nambitha Mpumlwana is a South African actress best known for her leading roles in the television series Shado’s, Interrogation Room and The Lab; and for her role in the Oscar-winning South African feature film Tsotsi.

She quickly established an acting and presenting career in South Africa starting as a continuity presenter for SABC television before joining the SABC 2 wildlife show 50/50 as a presenter.

Nambitha presented the SABC 2 shows Lebone and Practical Parenting, as well as the SABC 3 show Money. She has performed in the feature films Tama Ba? Tama Na! (1993}, Crazy Joe’s Coco,

Land of a Thousand Hills, Beyond Borders (2003}, Country of My Skull (2004}, Red Dust (2004)

and Tsotsi (2005).

In October 2007 Nambitha won the Golden Horn award for Best Actress in a TV Drama at the second annual SAFTAs for her role as Pearl Lusipho in the SABC 3 drama series The Lab. She has also been nominated for a SAFTA Golden Horn for Best Actress in TV Soap for Generations (1993). In November, 2009 Nambitha returned to 7de Laan in her role as Zandile.

She has performed in numerous theatre productions, including The Dead Wait, Black Age, Whale, In Search of Dragon’s Mountain, Love and Other Strange Things, Beauty and the Beast of Oracle, Apart, The Power of Harriett T, Business of Health, See Here! It’s Africa and The Caribbean.

Les Nkosi

Les Nkosi is a passionate creative-change-practitioner through arts therapies, research and facilitation as well as an entrepreneur. He holds a Master’s degree through Wits University. His experience in facilitation and behavior-change spans well over 20 years. Les spent most of his career in the arts playing roles of support, either as a producer, director or a friend of an artist.

Les is a recipient of Wits University’s Marshal Kander Award for Most Outstanding Research. He has forged relationships with the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies (WiCDS) in creating meaningful transformation processes in race relations and change.

His portfolio of work on screen incudes, playing varying roles of support in popular television including Scandal, Working On It, Stout, The River, Generations the Legacy, The Docket, Sokhulu and Partners, and Isibaya. His theatre work includes directing Come As you Are (CAYA) at the Soweto Theatre and

Jobe at the Joburg Theatre. The Cry of Winnie Mandela will be Les’ first stage role as an actor – he is exceptionally excited to be part of this production.