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
Marí Borstlap is a theatre director, writer and designer. Following a successful run at the Vrystaat Arts Festival earlier this year, her most recent directorial endeavour, Winterboom, begins performances at Aardklop on October 3rd. We sat down to chat about the show and her perception on the current climate for female theatremakers.
To read this conversation in Afrikaans please click here. Continue reading
When The Fugard Theatre announced their plans to bring King Kong back to the South African stage, the pressure was on for them to find a woman bold enough to step into the iconic role of Joyce. After a two year search which spanned the world, Nondumiso Tembe was finally cast in the highly coveted role. Born in South Africa and raised in New York City, Nondumiso Tembe is the real deal. An accomplished stage and screen actress as well as a singer-songwriter and dancer, she has managed to excel in every medium that she has stepped into while remaining incredibly grounded and focused on her career. For a full biography, please click here. Continue reading
Magdalene Minnaar is one of those people who makes you question when she has time to sleep. She is the founder of Little Maestros and Biblioteek Productions, where she also serves as Artistic Director. She is an accomplished actress and singer, having performed the coveted role of Christine Daaé in the international touring production of The Phantom of The Opera as well as performing alongside Josh Groban during his tour to South Africa last year. Currently she is directing Calling Us Home, a highly anticipated new musical which is about to take South Africa by storm. We sat down to chat about the many hats that she has worn during her career. Continue reading
Buhle Ngaba prefers to simply define herself as a storyteller. She is an award-winning actress, theatre-maker, author of The Girl Without a Sound and founder of KaMatla NPO and Maru Factory. Currently Buhle is starring in Nadia Davids’ What Remains which begins performances in Cape Town following a sold out run at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. We sat down to chat about her career and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Continue reading
Actress and artist, Jemma Kahn returns to the Alexander Bar with In Bocca al lupo, her latest Kamishibai endeavor. Following the breakout success that was Epicene Butcher and We Didn’t Come To Hell For The Croissants, Jemma has become a pioneer of not only the Kamishibai style in South Africa but for boldly creating her own boundary-pushing work. Continue reading
Theatre legends Diane Wilson, Kate Normington and Michele Maxwell have joined forces to star in The Fugard Theatre’s production of Funny Girl. With over a century’s worth of experience between the three of them, they have graced South African stages playing all the iconic roles that theatre has to offer, all while collecting every top accolade along the way. What is interesting to note is the bond that has formed between these three women during the run of the show, leading us to believe that the “sisterhood of the poker ladies” will continue to live on far beyond this production.
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Nicole Franco is a stage and screen actress currently starring in the Broadway and West End smash-hit, The Play That Goes Wrong which is currently playing at Theatre on the Bay following a sold out run in Johannesburg. A returned season of the production has just been announced for Joburg later this year. In addition to acting, Nicole also works as a second language teacher. We sat down to discuss this hilarious new play and her diverse career. Continue reading
Jennie Reznek is multihyphenate. She is a performer, theatremaker, director, choreographer, lecturer, co-founder, trustee and director of Magnet Theatre. She has also worked as an aerialist and clown in the circus. We sat down with her at the Magnet Theatre offices to discuss her career, the challenges of founding a theatre company and the moments that have inspired her. Continue reading
The World Cup of children’s theatre is headed to South Africa. Internationally renowned children’s theatre organisation ASSITEJ proudly presents it’s 19th world congress and performing arts festival, The Cradle of Creativity, a 10 day event that celebrates the very best of children’s theatre from around the world. We spoke to Festival Director, Jaqueline Dommisse about the festival and her career as a theatremaker. Continue reading
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