Soshanguve-born award-winning choreographer, writer, director and performer Mduduzi Nhlapho is the new associate artistic director for South African State Theatre.
In his new role, Nhlapho will offer support to the theatre’s artistic director in creative and administrative work.
His duties will also include directing and choreographing productions, devising education and children’s theatre programmes, providing dramaturgical support to productions, building local and continental collaborations, and managing the Kucheza Africa Festival and the Vavasati International Festival.
Nhlapho’s interest in the arts began at a young age when he was a member of community groups performing traditional dances and township theatre in Soshanguve, northern Pretoria.
He holds an Honours Degree in Drama and Film Studies from the University of Pretoria. During his days at the university, Nhlapho majored in four areas including research, and passed with distinctions in physical theatre, directing, and acting studies.
“My passion always lies in using theatre as a tool to alleviate social ills, and to have it accessible to all the people,” said Nhlapho.
“Now as the associate artistic director, I’m ecstatic and fully embodied as this dream dates far back. My role lies solely in reaffirming and repositioning the SAST [South African State Theatre] brand as the largest theatre complex in the southern hemisphere, as the trendsetter and the benchmark of Africa’s identity, artistic and intellectual excellence.”
Nhlapho has struck collaborations and partnerships with many theatre makers and institutions along his artistic journey.
State Theatre artistic director, Aubrey Sekhabi, said: “Having gone through all the programmes that we present, he is best suited for the job. He is young, committed, and talented,” said Sekhabi.
“It is exactly what the industry needs … energy, talent, and discipline. I am happy for him and I wish him luck with this new post. We definitely have an artistic director in waiting.”
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