Why Young Actors Should Respond to Opportunities Like the Ticket to the Moon Casting Call By Thami akaMbongo Manzana  In South Africa, opportunities for young actors remain incredibly scarce. Many of us work in an industry that is largely unregulated and project-based , meaning most performers survive from one gig to the next . Unlike other professions with predictable employment, actors often face long periods without work, income, or stability. For this reason, when a structured opportunity such as a Young Touring Company emerges, it deserves serious attention and support from the theatre community. The reality is that having a contract where you know that for a certain period you will receive a regular payment brings something many artists rarely experience: security . Even if temporary, it allows a performer to plan their life, manage responsibilities, and focus on developing their craft without constantly worrying about the next job. Another important aspect of such companie...

  🎭 CASTING CALL FOR JOHANNESBURG-BASED: YOUNG TOURING COMPANY 2026/27 🎭 A dynamic Young Touring Company based in Johannesburg is looking for versatile young performers to join their  2026/27 repertory touring season . The company stages a range of productions including several William Shakespeare works such as Romeo & Juliet , Othello , and Macbeth , as well as other theatre productions performed across Southern Africa and internationally . WHO THEY ARE LOOKING FOR?  • Male and female actors under the age of 35 • Actors based within a 10km radius of Johannesburg CBD (due to very early call times) • Performers skilled in acting, singing, and dancing • Actors who are comfortable performing Shakespearean text • Passionate lovers of theatre with strong discipline • Committed team players who can work well in a repertory company ABOUT THE COMPANY This is a touring repertory company , meaning actors will perform in multiple productions throughout the season.  ...

Understanding the UNESCO Cultural & Creative Industries Classification  South Africa’s Cultural and Creative Industries require clear policy direction on how the sector should be classified and coordinated, particularly whether government structures and programmes should operate through broad sector domains or through more specific subsectors within those domains. This decision is important because classification shapes how the sector is organised, supported and measured.  A domain-based approach may encourage coordination across related cultural activities such as performance, audio-visual media, design and heritage, while a subsector approach may provide more focused attention to the specific needs of individual industries. However, the absence of a clear framework risks creating confusion in policy implementation, funding allocation and sector governance, making it essential for South Africa to define how its Cultural and Creative Industries domains are structured. Why ...

THE VOICES BEHIND 10 SOUTH AFRICAN SOPRANOS REVEALED Johannesburg, South Africa – The highly anticipated stage production 10 SOUTH AFRICAN SOPRANOS has officially revealed the remarkable women who will take to the stage at Joburg Theatre on 28–29 March 2026. This powerful production celebrates the depth, diversity and excellence of South Africa’s classical vocal talent, bringing together ten exceptional female performers in a unique theatrical experience that showcases the beauty and emotional power of the soprano voice. Audiences can expect a compelling production featuring soaring vocal performances, dramatic storytelling and a celebration of women who continue to shape South Africa’s classical music landscape. The 10 SOUTH AFRICAN SOPRANOS featured in the production are: Bongiwe Nakani-Mcetywa Born in Lady Frere in the Eastern Cape and raised in Khayelitsha, Bongiwe Nakani-Mcetywa is an award-winning soprano and UCT alumna. She won prizes at the Shock Foundation Singing Competitio...

Sector Clusters Must Not Repeat the Mistakes of the Past By Thami akaMbongo Manzana  The recent announcement by Gayton McKenzie and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) regarding the launch of 17 Cultural and Creative Industries sector clusters at the end of the financial year has raised more questions than answers within the cultural sector. While the intention to reorganise and strengthen representation in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) may appear progressive, the lack of clarity around the process is beginning to generate concern among practitioners across the country. At present, several fundamental issues remain unanswered. It is unclear when the terms of the current sector councils are coming to an end , and there has been no clear communication about how the proposed Provincial Interim Structures will function or what mandate they will carry once these sector clusters are launched. Without transparency on these critical aspects, the process risks a...

Minister Gayton McKenzie: Defends Cuts to Major Festival Funding, Outlines Transition Plan. By Paul Noko Asinamali: a play tells the story of five black prisoners who tell the stories of their lives and their road to prison under the apartheid regime. It was inspired by events that surrounded the 1983 rent strike in the Lamontville township, led by the martyred activist Msizi Dube. In the current leadrship we told stories how prison shaped the thinking of decisions made that affect the creative industry. Hearing the minister one can only say Asinamali. Minister Gayton McKenzie of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture has reaffirmed the government's decision to reduce funding for major cultural festivals, including the National Arts Festival, KKNK, CTIJF, and Aardklop. The move, announced in 2025, aims to promote financial independence among arts organizations and shift resources toward emerging and rural promoters. In a recent statement, Minister McKenzie emphasized that these...

  A Spiritual Journey Beyond Language: Review of Sétimo Juramento (The Seventh Oath) Botho Arts Festival Boutique Edition One of the most remarkable aspects of the Botho Arts Festival Boutique Edition is its ability to create a meeting point for different theatrical voices, cultures, and artistic languages. This year, the festival achieved something particularly significant by presenting a production all the way from Maputo, Mozambique — Sétimo Juramento (The Seventh Oath) . The inclusion of this production signals an important cultural exchange between South Africa and Mozambique. It is also a testament to the growing relationship between the Botho Arts Festival and the organizers of the International Winter Theatre Festival (FITI) in Maputo. One can only hope that this collaboration continues to grow into a more formal partnership where productions from both countries travel annually between these festivals. Such exchanges enrich audiences, artists, and the theatre ecosystem ac...

  Profile: Johannes Geshwin Sekhaolelo — The Voice Behind Shattered Innocence At the Botho Arts Festival Boutique Edition in Limpopo , emerging theatre voices continue to demonstrate the depth of storytelling that exists within the province. Among them is Johannes Geshwin Sekhaolelo , the writer and director of Shattered Innocence , a compelling theatrical work that explores the fragile intersections between truth, silence, and the painful consequences of ignorance. Sekhaolelo represents a growing generation of theatre-makers who are committed to using the stage as a mirror of society — confronting uncomfortable truths while also opening pathways toward healing. A Storyteller Exploring Human Fragility In Shattered Innocence , Sekhaolelo presents a powerful production  that carefully unpacks the fragile cycle of life where ignorance becomes both the cause and the consequence of pain. Through intertwined lives bound by secrets and silence, the production slowly peels away layers...