DIMBAZA SHACK THEATRE LAUNCH

For immediate release

Dimbaza Cultural and Creative Arts Festival
Dimbaza Shack Theatre Launch

For the longest time Mandisi Sindo and his company Khayelitsha Art Schools and Rehabilitation Centre - KASI RC have been working towards the betterment of the art sector in the townships and in the rural areas. 

After graduating in Community Theatre Practice at the University of Cape Town in 2011, Sindo took a decision to go back to the townships to nurture, train, empower and inspire young upcoming creative artists in theatre and performance. He began by implementing and innovating the first ever Shack Theatre MAKUKHANYE ART ROOM in 2012, and later in 2017 innovated his second Shack Art School and Theatre - KASI RC which became the mother body of his innovations. 

To prove the importance of his idea and innovation, Sindo continue to scoop awards in theatre for his critical thinking and methodology behind the innovation of Shack Theatre in South Africa. 

In 2017 he received the Fleur Du Cap Award for Innovation in Theatre, in 2018 he became the LEADSA Hero of the Western Cape for the Shack Theatrw Innovation, in 2019 he became the eTv and eNCA South African Heroes Recipient for his dedication in theatre and for his hardwork in improvising South African lives through theatre practice. In 2024 Sindo, received the Independent Theatre Maker Award - Community Builder of the Year. All this propelled in building the 3rd Shack Theatre and the first in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape - the Dimbaza Shack Theatre. 

Dimbaza Shack Theatre is a franchise by Khayelitsha Art School & Rehabilitation Centre – KASI RC, an organization based and working in the townships and the rural areas of South Africa. 

One of our projects that we pride ourselves with is the innovation of alternative art spaces where we build a shack in a design of a professional theatre to inspire young people and to transform people’s lives through arts. 

This dream was born after the realization of the lack of art centres in the marginalized communities. The Shack Theatre innovation is a brainchild of the South African Heroes recipient and a community builder – Mandisi Sindo. After identifying the community of Dimbaza as one of the communities that are badly affected by drugs, teenage pregnancy and substance abuse we decided to build a shack theatre for youth to realise their dreams. We have recently managed to build a safe and open space for youth in Dimbaza, Ndevana, Ginsberg and King Williams Town as a whole. The Dimbaza Shack Theatre is an inclusive art and cultural entrepreneurship space for young people in King Williams Town and beyond.

Our goal is to showcase the talents, exhibitions, and nurture skills of young and elderly people from the Eastern Cape who are interested in the arts, business and sport. This project aims to create jobs, promote nation-building, social cohesion, attract visitors and tourists to our communities and assist with economic ecosystem.

We are excited to announce that we will be launching this first-ever Shack Theatre in the Eastern Cape on the 27th – 29th March 2026 in Dimbaza, Zabalaza. We cannot do this alone, we are nothing without the support of the community and the creative artists from the Townships and the Rural Areas of the Eastern Cape. 

Dimbaza Cultural and Creative Arts Festival and Dimbaza Shack Theatre Launch Programme of the Weekend:

Friday, 27th March 2026, 5pm - 7pm: The Official Opening with invited guests, government officials, artists and community members to deliver speeches and open the festival and the space ngokusesikweni. ONLY INVITED GUESTS

Saturday: 10am till 4pm - FREE FOR ALL EVENT for community members artists, parents and children. Dimbaza Cultural and Creative Arts Festival extravagant showcase. This day will begin with an international act, engaging workshop with Henry O’Tawiah.

Saturday, 28th March: 5pm - 7pm: Dimbaza Comedy Night with Siya Seya, Phanjille Matshaya Mandisi, Liya Nqaba and local comedian(s).

Sunday, 29th March: FREE EVENT at 10am - 15h00: Poetry, Drama, Music, Comedy day and Storytelling: get your children, family and artists from the areas to come and enjoy the last day of creative arts with us. 

MC: Lonalinamandla Bawuti

Speaker: Bongile Mantsai

Programme curator: Liso The Musician

Managing Director: Mandisi Sindo

Project Coordinator: Masixole Jola Pita

International Guest: Henry O'tawiah

Festival Produced & Managed by KASI RC - Shack Art School & Theatre

DCCAF Supported by Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Umjita Artivist Entrepreneurs PTY LTD & SMTAX

Hosted by Dimbaza Shack Theatre - EC

#DST #ShackTheatre #KASIRC #ShackTheatre #makuhlekwe #Dimbaza #dimbazashacktheatrelaunch #artththeals #ddcaf #drdisi

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