NWABISA PLAATJIE AND THANDO MANGCU

DIRECTORS/ THREATRE MAKERS SERIES

Had the honour to style these two talented womxn, Thando Mangcu and Nwabisa Plaatjie

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Photographed and directed by Jabunewman 

Beat for the gods (makeup) by Natallie Kawondera

Assisted by Dada Khanyisa and Chris 

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 Thando Mangcu is an actor and theatre-maker from Johannesburg. She studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Cape Town (UCT), completing her studies in 2015. Mangcu brings versatility to her work as writer, director and actor. The Fall is a highly acclaimed, award winning production that recently completed its second run at The Baxter Theatre. Mangcu co-wrote and co-curated this piece which chronicles the 2015 #mustfall movements. Written and directed by Mangcu, Pieces is a futuristic comedy that explores existence in all its complexity.

When reflecting on winning the ETDB Mangcu says, “I had seen the impact (this accolade) made for my peers. It means that I can explore, as a theatre maker my areas of interest, limitlessly. I am most looking forward to deepening the skills I have learnt about theatre making and directing. I also look forward to new collaborations and creating new work whilst continuing the conversation and exploring various topics on intersectional feminism in an embodied way.” 

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Nwabisa Plaatjie takes up the reins as our second ETDB winner, staging her adaptation of The Native Who Caused All The Trouble from 30 July – 5 August. First performed at The Market Theatre in 1986, this play centres around Tshelilo, a Basotho man who questions land ownership in Cape Town in the 1930s. Written by Danny Keogh, Vanessa Cooke and Fink Haysom, Plaatjie is making interesting changes to this relevant text. Also graduating as a theatre maker from UCT in 2015, Plaatjie’s work archive already includes 3 original plays: Identirrhaging (UCT 2015), Aha! and 23 Years, a month and 7 days (created with the support of Magnet Theatre, 2016) 23 Years will open the Arena of The Young Arts Festival in Erlangen Germany in June.

Plaatjie says this about winning the bursary, “It’s an opportunity to create a piece of theatre with an intergenerational and racially diverse cast. A chance to engage with the land question, artistically. I am most looking forward to playing, experimenting, learning and developing my craft.” 

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