A Conversation with Claudine Ullman

Claudine Ullman is an actress, improviser, stand-up comedian, public speaker, facilitator, and the founder and managing director of the Jittery Citizens. Having completed her Bachelor’s of Arts at Wits University, Claudine travelled widely, refining her craft at some of the top international performance schools. In 2012, she formed The Jittery Citizens Improvised Comedy Troupe, performing alongside South Africa’s top theatre/comedic talent. The Jittery Citizens are now considered to be Johannesburg’s premiere Improvisation troupe and have performed to packed houses in various venues across South Africa. Claudine is also an established theatre creator and performer, having toured with her one-woman show Curled Up in 2011, as well as having recently completed a successful run at the Grahamstown Arts Festival in Wretched. In 2019, she debuted her one-woman show Artificially Infeminated, which has since gone on to tour nationally and internationally. She also makes up one-third of The Thunderbirds comedy trio. 

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A Conversation with Diaan Lawrenson

For 13 years, actress and producer Diaan Lawrenson charmed South African audiences by starring on 7de Laan. Since leaving the series, she has gone on to star in critically acclaimed films such as Raaiselkind, Sink and her latest film Susters which is now playing in select theatres. An accomplished theatre actress, she is also the co-founder of Jester Productions, a multimedia production company that she founded alongside her husband, and fellow actor, Jody Abrahams, which focuses on facilitating, developing and producing original South African concepts.  Continue reading

A Conversation with Daneel van der Walt and Alicia McCormick

For months Cape Town has been buzzing about the upcoming historic all-women production of The Taming of the Shrew, which is set to take the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre by storm. Fierce and formidable theatre veterans, Daneel van der Walt and Alicia McCormick have been tapped to lead the company by playing sparring partners Petruchio and Kate, respectively. We sat down with them to chat about the history-making production, debuting at Maynardville and the importance of working with women.
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A Conversation with Julia Anastasopoulos

Julia Anastasopoulos is an artist, illustrator, designer and actress. In 2014, she launched her “bite-sized do-it-yourself” web series, Suzelle DIY, which instantly took South Africa by storm. During the course of her career, Julia’s work has spanned several artistic mediums including a successful career as a stage actress, theatrical set and costume designer and illustrator. Her work has been exhibited locally and abroad and has included a series of large illustrated print murals for the City of Cape Town Micity Bus stations. She is a twice-published author and is also the creative director of Sketchbook Studios, which she co-founded with her husband Ari Kruger. But it’s Julia’s latest project, Tali’s Wedding Diary, that has everyone buzzing. We sat down with her at Sketchbook Studios to chat all about creating these iconic characters.
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A Conversation with Mel Jones

Mel Jones is a mother, comedian, award nominated producer, MC and entertainer. She is currently starring as The Enchantress in Enchanted*, a new international cirque production which runs for a strictly limited season at the newly constructed Enchanted Spiegeltent in Green Point.   Continue reading

Meet the Cast of Rent part 2

Following its run in Cape Town, The Stephan Fourie Theatre Company’s production of Rent is making its way to Johannesburg. We sat down with the three principal actresses in the show, Nadine Suliaman, Emily Adair and Namisa Mdlalose who play the roles of Mimi, Maureen and Joanne, respectively. You can read part one of our chat with the female ensemble of Rent by clicking hereContinue reading

Meet the Divas of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

The internationally renowned production of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is finally making its South African debut. We had the opportunity to sit down with the three Divas of the show: Candida Mosoma, Londiwe Dhlomo-Dlamini and Thembeka Mnguini, to chat about the show, their fears of flying and their personal definition of what it means to be a diva. To see the Divas in action performing It’s Raining Men on the Expresso Show click here. Continue reading

A Conversation with Christie Hollander

Christie Hollander is the founder of ReVel Entertainment, a Cape Town based production company focused on live conceptualization, production management and recruitment in the entertainment industry. Christie, also a performer, is passionate about the development and growth of the arts industry and has made a considerable contribution to the arts community by advocating for the importance of communication between all sectors of the arts.  Continue reading