Emerging Directors
Six emerging directors will present their shows, receive mentorship and attend writing and directing workshops
Binnie Christie
BINNIE CHRISTE – She said she said
Binnie is an enthusiastic young theatre-maker creating fresh, local work. She has numerous skills including acting, comedy, improvisation, singing, directing, writing and marketing. She has done several performances and crew work at Wits and with other theatre companies and she has written and directed two plays. Binnie is a graduate in Dramatic Arts from Wits.
‘She Said, She Said’ is a modern-day absurd play with tons of dark comedy, witty banter and word play. It dismantles theatrical boundaries through its’ punchy text, unique style, innovative staging and challenging performances. The play explores the idea of being in two minds and butting heads with yourself, and will appeal to any woman who’s ever had to stop herself from snooping through her boyfriend’s things.
Dineo Matabese
DINEO MATEBESE - The Boy
Dineo is a trained filmmaker who has recently fallen in love with theatre. She has written and directed one theatre play and is currently working on finishing her first novel and feature screenplay and hopes to travel extensively in Africa and South- East Asia.
The boy is about A night-shifter, he trolls the sometimes violent, always drug-infested streets of the capital city exchanging his services of the night for money. Decided he has had enough of being taken advantage of by the local pimp, he plans to leave the city.
PRIVILLAGE MUTENDERA – What makes a woman
PRIVILLAGE MUTENDERA – What makes a woman
Actress, director and writer, she has been nominated three times for an outstanding best actress of the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) in Zimbabwe. She has also directed and written plays performed at SADC women in theatre and dance festival 2010.
"We do not have a lot of female directors in theater in my country. I believe it will be a good opportunity for me especially in this era we live in as we are equals with our counter parts thus dependence syndrome is done away with as well as equal opportunity - as they say 'empower a woman empower a nation.'"
Palesa Matabane
PALESA MATABANE – Senohe
Palesa’s skills include script writing, radio training in news reading, interviewing and voice over ads, Voice and speech training, acting, movement and teaching training. She has masters in Drama and Film Studies in progress University of Pretoria and vast experience on and off the stage.
A king consults a young girl said to have great power...“ ‘Come let us go to the Seer’ because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.” 1 Samuel chapter 9 verse 9.
A play that questions the life of the abused icon, Khono Mantsopa, the prophetess. In 1795 a girl was born a girl who would come to be known as Mantsopa the prophetess. Hailed as a Christian, before the dawn of Christianity to the Basotho, she saw visions of the future. Here we see her, her past, future and present; or do we only see her visions playing in the echoes of time?
Donna Steel
DONNA STEEL – Femme Fatale
Donna completed her MA cum laude in Drama and Performance Studies from UKZN Howard College Campus. This versatile performer and director has co-written plays which have been performed into the international stage.
On the morning of her murder trial, 18-year-old Ayesha refuses to plead guilty for killing her husband. Alongside fellow murderesses Marici and Idlozi, these three female spirits revisit the shocking, amusing and frightening moments in their lives that led to their unorthodox crimes.
Through a sinful blend of comedy and horror, we invite you to encounter the modern day femme fatale: women driven to harm those they love.
“I was telling one of last year’s directors, Chuma Mapoma, about how I had wanted to direct this production ever since I first read the script. She enthusiastically told me I HAVE to take it to the Women’s Theatre Festival, and told me about her fantastic experience. When I saw the slogan on the callout for applications, I knew it was exactly the right platform. The Olive Tree Theatre is a home away from home for passionate, creative spirits.”
Nomvuyo Hlophe
NOMVUYO HLOPHE – Paradise Falls
Nomvuyo’s current of level of study is MTech Degree in Drama at Tshwane University of Technology. However she has worked with various theatre houses as both an actress and director in the past 6 yrs.
Paradise Falls is set in an isolated place, where very few people live. A man who has a rather strange and yet so interesting personality is father to a young girl, Samantha. Samantha is a naive young girl who has a very curious nature, and loves catching butterflies.
“I’m a new young mum, and it has been an incredible 12 months, filled with the joys and challenges of being a mother, student and still trying to peruse or establish myself as an emerging director. To say the least it’s an interesting road that I know was designed for me and I shall travel on it, with my full armour on”