The Creative Team

Luc Albinski makes his playwriting debut with Nobody Told Me, bringing to life a powerful story rooted in his family’s history. With a deep passion for historical narratives and personal stories, Luc has poured years of meticulous research into this work, uncovering the remarkable courage of his grandmother who saved lives in the Warsaw Ghetto. His dedication to authenticity and emotional depth shines through in this compelling theatrical experience that honors the voices of those who came before.

Renos Nicos Spanoudes holds the Degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Education, Honours and Masters from Wits University. He is currently Head of Arts and Culture and Dramatic Arts at King David High School Victory Park. On Hellenic Radio, 1422MW, he also presents a weekly programme, SATURDAY’S ROLE WITH RENO, on the arts industry including interviews with practitioners spanning theatre, movies, art, dance, crafts, music, creative writing and wellness. He has received local and international accolades for his plays, poetry, directing and acting – Verwoerd’s Assassin, Dimitri Tsafendas in ‘Strange Lands’ by Professor Anton Krueger, Advocate George Bizos in ‘Rivonia Trial’ by Aubrey Sekhabi and Paul Grootboom and the SA Greek Cypriot diasporan themed pieces he penned, ‘The Apple Tree’, ‘Soil’ and ‘Broken Plates’, to name but a few. His directing accolades include Gilan Gork’s ‘The Mentalist’, Taryn Papadopoulos Louch in Irene Stephanou’s ‘Meze, Mira and Make-Up’ and Costa Carastavrakis in ‘Desperately Seeking Souvlaki’ and ‘Costa’s Corner Kefi’ – at Daphne Kuhn’s Theatre on the Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton and other venues in Johannesburg. Renos lectures at The University of Pretoria (TNT211 DIRECTING) and at WitsPlus PGCE (Arts & Culture / Creative Arts / Dramatic Arts Teacher Training). At JATA, The Johannesburg Academy for Theatre Arts, Renos runs a weekly Acting Class for Adults. He is the Chairman of the Naledi Awards Board of Judges and was invited to perform extracts from ‘Strange Lands’ and the late Victor Gordon’s play, ‘Odyssey’ about Mandela’s iconic Human Rights Lawyer, the deceased Advocate George Bizos at The Dramaturgical Conference at the Aristotelian University of Thesalloniki in 2023. Most recently, to critical acclaim, he has directed School of Rock and Legally Blonde Jr. at King David High School Victory Park as well as an extract of Garth Mason’s ‘Tall Ships’, at UJ’s TeksMark. He further reprised the roles of Tsafendas and Bizos (It’s All About Memories) at the 2024 Wits Drama For Life 16th Conference and Festival ‘(Re)Building the Table: Arts under (Re)Construction’. A seasoned Actor, Director, Writer, Facilitator, Examiner, Voice-Over Artist and Moderator, he is currently the Theatre in Context Lecturer and Facilitator at The Market Theatre Laboratory.

Renos is now a Dramatic Arts educator at King David One in Linksfield and is thrilled to be part of Luc Albinski’s, Nobody Told Me.

In 2005 Liezl completed her BA Honours degree in Live Performance at AFDA where she won the best actress award for her role in the short film Hollywood in My Huis that was screened on Mnet, Dstv and SABC 2. In 2006 she performed in ‘Surfacing’ an original piece devised and directed by Yvette Pelser that premiered in Grahamstown. Also in 2006 Liezl was invited to perform with Theatresports in Cape Town and The Bonfire Theatre Company. In May 2006 she joined FTH:K (from the hip: khulumakahle) as a first year trainee and completed SLED’S level 1 and 2 sign language course, facilitated various workshops and performed in South Africa’s first professional Deaf and Hearing clowning production, GUMBO directed by Tanya Surtees. In 2007 GUMBO did a national tour of South Africa including various performances and workshops at schools and institutions across the country.

In 2007 GUMBO also performed and offered workshops at the Festival of Fame in Johannesburg, the Grahamstown Festival as part of the Cape Town Edge, the Hilton Arts festival and various schools festivals and toured internationally to Germany performing and offering workshops in Munich, Berlin and Freiberg. Also in 2007 Liezl performed in FTH: K’s integrated end of year production ‘NUFF SED’ devised and directed by Rob Murray. Also in 2007 Liezl organised and led a one week integrated residency with Lysander Barends in Lady Grey and was invited back in 2008.

In 2008 Liezl formed part of the creative collaboration ‘A Conspiracy of Clowns’ a special project of FTH: K with Rob Murray to originate, devise and perform in ‘Pictures of You’. ‘Pictures of You’ premiered at the National Arts festival as part of the Cape Town Edge, performed and offered workshops at the National Schools Festival and OUT THE BOX festival in Cape Town. Liezl also performed in GUMBO at the National Arts Festival as part of the Cape Town Edge. GUMBO was also invited to perform a season at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town. Also in 2008 Liezl directed ‘Ek Roep Vir Jou Vanaand’, an original Deaf production devised by Lysander Barends and Marlon Snyders. ‘Ek Roep Vir Jou Vanaand’ Premiered at the De la Batt School for Deaf children in Worcester after which it was invited back to perform at the Deaf Indaba held in Worcester. ‘Ek Roep Vir Jou Vanaand’ also showcased a work in progress performance at The Intimate Theatre in Cape Town. In 2008 Liezl completed her third year as a trainee at FTH:K and accepted a position as a professional member of the company in 2009.

In 2009 ‘Pictures of You’ was invited to perform a season at the Baxter studio in Cape Town with rave reviews and great success resulting in a follow up season at the Golden Arrow studio in 2010. In 2009 ‘Pictures of You’ also performed at the Festival of Fame in Johannesburg and the Hilton festival in Kwazulu Natal. ‘Pictures of You’ became the highest grossing theatre production on the Grahamstown festival fringe in 2009. Liezl also performed in the brand new FTH:K work QUACK! Which premiered at the 2009 National Arts Festival. She was also invited to tour to Deaf and Hearing Schools in the Western Cape with her directing piece, ‘Ek Roep vir Jou Vanaand’. The tour ended with another run at the Intimate Theatre in Cape Town.

In 2009 Liezl performed in ‘GUMBO’ for the final time when the show was invited to perform as part of Proyecto 34°S in Buenos Aires in Argentina. Liezl also performed as the female lead in the fist full length Afrikaans Horror Film, ‘Lyfstraf’, which will be released in 2011. In 2009 Liezl also attended a 6 day workshop, ‘from the neutral mask to the red nose’, led by Giovanni Fusetti as part of an audition process to be accepted to his school, Helikos, in Italy. Liezl has been accepted to the school and will start her studies when funding becomes available.

In 2010 ‘Pictures of You’ won three awards, two Fleur du Cap theatre awards and one Ovation award for theatre at the National Arts Festival. In 2010 Liezl performed in three shows at the National Arts Festival, the most recent one being the adaptation of Lara Foot Newton’s ‘WOMB TIDE’ which premiered on the Arena program at the National Arts Festival. She also performed ‘QUACK!’ and ‘Pictures of You’ on the Grahamstown fringe and the National School’s festival. In 2010 Liezl performed ‘QUACK!’ and ‘WOMB TIDE’ at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg as part of FTH:K’s listen with your eyes festival. ‘WOMB TIDE’ was also invited to do a season at the Golden Arrow studio at the Baxter Theatre at the end of 2010. At the end of 2010 Liezl was mentioned as one of the four best actresses in South Africa for her role in as the Mother in ‘WOMB TIDE’. Liezl was later nominated for a Fleur du Cap best actress award for her role in ‘WOMB TIDE’.

In 2011 Liezl performed ‘Pictures of You’ at the Klein Karoo Kunste Fees in Oudshoorn as part of the first ‘Iets Anders’ initiative to take place at an Afrikaans festival. She also returned to the National Arts Festival with FTH:K’s first production to premiere as part of the Main festival programme ‘BENCHMARKS’ , an honour which the company has spent six years working for. Liezl also performed in ‘Kardiavale’, a brand new work produced by the Conspiracy of Clowns, which performed as part of the National Arts Festival Arena programme and at the National Schools festival. ‘Kardiavale’ and ‘Benchmarks’ also performed at OUT THE BOX Festival in Cape Town. Liezl also performed in ‘GUILOTENNE’ as part of OUT THE BOX Festival’s Ixonga project in collaboration with Handspring Puppet Company. In early November, Liezl performed in FTH:K’s end of year performance ‘Office Block’. Liezl also performed in ‘Other People’s Lives’ , a play written by Amy Jephta and Directed by Alex Halligey at the Art Scape Arena.

In 2012 Liezl was invited to join UBOM! Eastern Cape Drama Company in Grahamstown. She co devised and performed in four productions the first of which was HUSH, directed by Madele Vermaak, an AIDS awareness play aimed at young people entering the chaotic world of sex and identity in high school and varsity. The play performed and toured in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng as part of the Drama For Life Sexactually Festival where it performed in prisons in and around Johannesburg. The second, “The Dogs Must Be Crazy”, Directed by Rob Murray and originally written and devised by Mike van Graan in 1991. The original play had no existing text because of the fear of censorship in pre democracy South Africa because of its blatant political satire aimed at exposing the government at the time through the eyes of a pack of dogs. This gave us freedom to interpret the current political climate in a biting piece of political satire through the eyes of a pack of dogs who have been around to witness the fall of both governments. Black clown noses in a silent film style, this piece relied on detailed physicality in a non-verbal landscape. “The Dogs Must Be Crazy” performed and toured Nationally and internationally, performing at HIFA (Harare international festival of the Arts), Grahamstown National Arts Festival and various schools festivals around South Africa. Liezl also performed opposite Andrew Buckland in Rob Murray’s “Through Blue” recreated for UBOM! As part of the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. Based on “Master Misery”, a short story by Truman Capote and originally devised and performed as part of Rob Murray’s MA in 2000, the show deals with its poignant tag line, ‘How long can you survive before selling your dreams?’ Liezl also performed in UBOM!’s children production “Eco Wolf and The Three Pigs” which performed to children in Grahamstown and East London and also performed as part of the Assitej family venue at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival.

The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Rhodes University approved Liezl’s registration for the degree of Master of Arts (Cwk/Thesis) in Drama in the Department of Drama, full time, in attendance from 2013 till December 2014. Professor A Buckland as Liezl’s supervisor. Prof. Juanita Finestone-Praeg is her co-supervisor. Liezl completed her first year MA with a distinction from her two research papers and will complete her practice lead research project and thesis by the end of 2014. In 2013 she also had the honour of collaborating and performing with Andrew Buckland in Crazy in Love which premiered at the National Arts Festival 2013, won an ovation award and was invited to perform at the Amsterdam fringe festival in 2014. Liezl also created two original practice lead performance pieces Piet se Kinders and Optelgoed as part of her master’s degree. He also fulfilled a lifelong dream of working with Compagnie Philippe Genty in France as part of a two week Visual Theatre project which culminated in her show Optelgoed which she directed with seven Rhodes Drama students.

In 2014, Liezl’s one woman show, devised as her final Master’s production, Piet se Optelgoed won a silver Ovation award at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, was invited to be part of the inaugural Cape Town Fringe Festival and to perform at the 2015 Amsterdam Fringe Festival. Crazy in Love was also invited to be part of the first Cape Town Fringe Festival and won the best international production award at the 2014 Amsterdam Fringe Festival. Hannah Lax’s Solo in which Liezl performed won the best student production at the 2014 Grahamstown Arts festival. Liezl also finished her Master of Arts in Drama in 2014 with a high distinction for her production Piet se Optelgoed and graduated with Distinction in 2015.

In 2015 Crazy in Love performed its first season at the Market Theatre in the Barney Simon Theatre. Piet se Optelgoed performed at the SANAA festival at Moyo Johannesburg, the Grahamstown National Arts Festival and will perform at the Lady Grey Arts Festival in Lady Grey and POPArt in Johannesburg as part of women’s month in August. Piet se Optelgoed will then perform at the Amsterdam Fringe Festival in September.

André Lötter is an accomplished South African actor with a career spanning more than 15 years. He obtained his National Diploma in Drama from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in 2008. His professional theatre debut followed soon after graduation, with standout performances in productions such as Danny – The Champion of the World at the Promusica Theatre, Pippi Longstocking and Goggas at the National Children’s Theatre (NCT), and The Little Mermaid and The Jungle Book at The People’s Theatre.

His theatre credits also include Kruispad at the Grahamstown Arts Festival, Agent Snoet with ATKV, Somewhere on the Border at the Market Theatre, the Baxter Theatre and the Grahamstown Arts Festival, and Vettie Vettie alongside Tobie Cronje. He is also part of the touring production Onderwereld. In addition, he performed in a series of plays written by Braam van der Vyver, including Rolex met ‘n K and Moord met ‘n T. In 2022, he took on the role of Venter in the award-winning, Naledi-nominated production The Parrot Woman at the Market Theatre.

Since 2023, Andre has been part of the ATKV Tienertoneel judging and mentoring panel, where he plays an active role in developing and empowering young theatrical talent across South Africa.

Andre’s television career includes a range of character-driven roles in popular soap operas and series such as Binnelanders, Getroud Met Rugby, Sterlopers and Villa Rosa, for which he won the Royalty Soapie Award for Best Male Villain in 2015. He was also a main member of the 7de Laan cast for more than eight years, portraying Rickus Welman. In 2021, he joined the cast of M-Net’s Legacy in a leading role as Robbie Hugo.

His film credits include As Jy Sing, Die Tert, and the romantic drama Eintlik Nogal Baie, in which he starred as the lead character, Jay Van Niekerk.

With an Honours degree in Dramatic Arts from Wits, Aimée has carved an extraordinary path across stage and screen. She’s appeared in international productions for Netflix, Prime, and Showmax, while also taking on timeless classical roles such as Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Titania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Desdemona (Othello), and Jill (Equus).

Her passion for storytelling led her to create Sarajevo (also known as Cheers to Sarajevo), a work she both wrote and performs in. The play has achieved international acclaim, featured at prestigious stages and forums including the Ottawa symposium 21st Century Reflections on Sexual Violence in Wars. Beyond Sarajevo, Aimée is developing her upcoming biopic A Horse Named Hitler and working on her debut novel An Attempt at I, which she is also adapting for stage.

Mamodibe Ramodibe is a film and television actress who has offered a range of substantial and intriguingly diverse roles. Some of her appearances in leading and support roles include the SAFTA Award-winning MTV Shuga Down South S2, BET’s Black Tax and a few of MNet’s Mansi Magic films. Mamodibe made her Netflix debut in February 2024, starring in a South African Netflix Original, ‘A Soweto Love Story’. This debut has been followed by the hit series GO! and Unseen S2. She has been in the Television industry since she was 16, first gaining prominence as a presenter for SABC’s YOTV.

She is a trained and qualified Thespian, holding an Honours in Dramatic Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand. Mamodibe recently completed her Master’s in Film and Television at the University of Cape Town. An artist at heart whose contributions to the industry transcend screen and stage. She is a multi-modal storyteller and a scholar interested in adding to and advancing knowledge in South African Television Studies.

Damon Berry is a versatile actor, writer and director.

His diverse acting credits list the feature films “Black Butterflies”, “Starship Troopers Maurauder”, “Hunting Jessica Brok” and others. Damon’s various television mini-series appearances include “Warrior” S1 (HBO), “The Alliance” (Etv) and the captivating BBC mini-series “To the Ends of the Earth” (BBC Drama), which starred Benedict Cumberbatch and Sam Neill.

His stage performance work includes the classic plays “The Glass Menagerie”, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, “Amadeus” and “The Curse of the Starving Class”. As a playwright he has produced four original works: “Corpser”, “Room 306”, “The Doomsday Play” and meta-absurd comedy “Nothing Funny”, which played at the Theatre on the Square in Sandton. He currently lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Khuthadzo Ndou, originally from the Vhembe 2 region of Limpopo, is a passionate camera and theatre performer. An imaginative and visionary director. A skilled theatre and media technician, who also captures the essence of African traditional dances with his body. Holding a Bachelor of Drama (Drama and Film Studies) from the University of Pretoria.

His most notable works would be, “12 A South African Nightmare,” a short theatre performance he co-wrote and co-directed for the University of Pretoria’s Drama Festival 2024. He also co-wrote and co-directed “Ngwana Wa Lila,” a theatre performance which premiered at the TX Theatre’s Tembisa Theatre Week 2025. Khuthadzo was also a part of the SATMA 2024 Award winning student choir UP Ovuwa from 2022-2024. Khuthadzo Ndou was also a part of the tech/crew for the Naledi nominated theatre show, “Exodus-The Tragedy of Samuel Omunye,” at the South African State Theatre in 2024. Khuthadzo was also a part of the cast of “Amahemhem” a 2023 Naledi Award Nominated student production.

Dihan Keun is a University of Pretoria graduate with an honours in Drama and Film Studies at The University of Pretoria.

From 2022 up until 2024, Dihan played in 3 consecutive Afrikaans musicals at the AfriForum Teater, namely: ‘Die Gelofte’, ‘Die Kaplyn’, and ‘Die Afrikaner Maak So’. In 2025, however, he broke the cycle and joined the cast of an English musical, ‘Requiem for the Damned’, at The Cirk.

Apart from the theatre, he has also managed to play in a KykNet short film, ‘Miss Delivery’, and a KykNet Storiefilm, ‘Die Weldeurdagte Wagwoord Vir Wikus van Wyk’. His voice is also occasionally heard over the radio on RSG – having played in 4 radio dramas and a music educational program.

Additionally, Dihan is an avid puppeteer. For the past 4 years he has toured Gauteng with Bizzy Hands Puppet Company’s educational puppetshows and in 2025 he formed part of the cast for ‘Bluey’s Big Play’.

Jade Scheepers is a multifaceted performer—singer, dancer, and actress. After completing a two-year performing arts program, she launched her career in the industry, appearing with various theatre companies and touring internationally to destinations such as Zimbabwe, Prague, and Vienna. With extensive behind-the-scenes experience in stage management and wardrobe, Jade now brings her full skill set to the spotlight—ready and excited to take the stage!

Andile Mgeyi is a talented and dynamic South African artist, aged 23, with a passion for theatre and performance. He has honed his craft through rigorous training at the prestigious Market Theatre Laboratory, where he spent two transformative years refining his skills and deepening his understanding of the theatrical world.

With a strong foundation in acting, choreography, and writing, Andile has made a notable impact in the South African theatre scene. His impressive portfolio includes roles in several acclaimed productions, including Chilahaebolae, Curiose Case Of Imagineria, Will you play it, 67 Grey blanket, Mehlala, Bondage En-suit, home sweet home, The picture of Dorian Gray, On a serious note: Press play, Revolution of words, and Medea.

Andile’s dedication and talent have earned him opportunities to work with esteemed theatre companies, including Kwasha theatre company in 2025. He is currently expanding his creative horizons as a voice-over artist, bringing his unique voice and perspective to a wider audience.

Ngwedi is a Johannesburg-based theatre and TV performer with a gentle spirit and a vessel for expression rooted in the intricacies of the human experience.

With a background in performance and theatre-making, Ngwedi has honed their skills in acting, writing, storytelling, and movement. They have worked with esteemed companies like KWASHA! Theatre Company and have been nominated for the Naledi Theatre Awards.

Ngwedi’s versatility shines through in their work on stage and screen, from leading roles in films like ‘Future Leaders’ to supporting roles in popular telenovelas like ‘Diepe Waters’. They’ve also partaken in various storytelling engagements with Serurubele Storytellers Series. With a multilingual background and ability to adapt to various accents, Ngwedi is a talented and collaborative performer ready to bring their unique voice to new projects.

Prof Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph was the first woman to obtain a Doctorate in Music Composition in South Africa (University of Pretoria, 1979), having obtained her Master’s degree in Composition cum laude. In 1986 she was awarded First Prize in the TOTAL OIL SA Competition for composers. Her compositions have been commissioned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation, UNISA, SAMRO and various colleges in the USA. She has composed several works for International Music Competitions. Her original works number over 80, covering diverse genres, including vocal, instrumental and for film. In February 1995, Jeanne produced the new composite version of the South African National Anthem for the Department of Arts and Culture, the official version used today.

In October, 2004 President Thabo Mbeki presented Jeanne with the Order of Ikhamanga for her ‘excellent contribution to music nationally and internationally’. An Honorary Doctorate in Education (D. Ed) was conferred on her by the University of Pretoria in 2008. In July 2010 her work, Pendulum for Piano and Orchestra enjoyed its world premiere with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Malcolm Nay as soloist. Her work Masada for String Orchestra and Bassoon was performed by the world-renowned I Solisti Musici in Italy in 2018. Her Oratorio for Human Rights was winner in the Global Women in Music competition in Rome, 2018. In March 2023, the United Nations featured her orchestral piece ‘At the End of the Rainbow’ in New York in their International Women’s Day celebrations. She is past Professor of Composition and Head of Department at the Wits Music School and is Professor Emeritus in the Wits School of Arts.

WILHELM DISBERGEN (designer) is a prolific theatre designer who regularly works in all major theatres in South Africa. He is a multiple winner at the annual Naledi Theatre Awards, and has also received a Fleur du Cap award for lighting design.

For Theatre on the Square this year, he designed the South African premiere of Diary of a Wimpy Kid (dir Vicky Friedman), and Athol Fugard’s Master Harold and the Boys (dir Warona Seane).

In theatre, his collaboration with South African State Theatre artistic director Aubrey Sekhabi started with Silent Voice, followed by Sekhabi’s three seminal freedom plays – Mantolo: The Tenth Step, Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu, and The Rivonia Trial. This was followed by three epoch-making musicals – Hungry (a co-production with the SchauSpielHaus Hamburg), Marikana – The Musical, and Freedom The Musical. Recent work in theatre include The Lesson (dir Greg Homan), an immersive production of Ariane Mnouchkine and Théâtre du Soleil’s 1789 (dir Phyllis Klotz and Smal Ndaba), Napo Mashenane’s ground-breaking musical Thaba Bosiu; The Suit (dir Jefferson Tshabalala); and The Cry of Winnie Mandela (dir MoMo Matsunyane).

In dance, he lit 21 seasons for the Cape Town City Ballet, receiving a special award from The Friends of the Cape Town City Ballet for the consistently high standard of his lighting. For Joburg Ballet, he designed Big City, Big Dreams, Whispers of My Soul (chor Redha), and The Nutcracker (chor Angela Malan). At Kampnagel in Hamburg, he designed Jessica Nupen’s Don’t Trust the Border (2018), The Nose, a film/live performance hybrid (2021), GEMeinsam (2022), and Reparation Nation (2024). He regularly designs seasons for Moving Into Dance. For the new Cape Ballet Africa, he lit Breathworks at the Baxter Theatre, and Salt in Makhanda.

At the National Arts Festival, he designed new works for four Standard Bank Young Artists – Moffie (chor Bailey Snyman in 2012), Sabela (chor Thandezile Sonja Radebe in 2017), Purgatory (chor Kristi-Leigh Gresse in 2022), and Breakfast with Mugabe (dir Calvin Ratladi in 2025). At the 2018 festival, he designed Black Privilege for Mamela Nyamza, the featured artist of the festival. For the main programme at the 2025 festival, he lit Salt for Cape Ballet Africa, and designed Malo and the Moon Maiden (dir Janice Honeyman).

Vicky is a professional musical theatre performer, director, choreographer, and producer who has starred in stage musicals such as Chicago, Hairspray, Annie, Thoroughly Modern Millie, pantomimes, and more. Her choreographic credits include Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Menopause – the Musical, Mile High with Cathy Specific, The Rocky Horror Show, and Beautiful Creatures. Vicky produces, choreographs, and directs entertainment for international and local corporate clients’ events. She recently co-produced the hit musical Diary of a Wimpy Kid with Daphne Kuhn for Theatre on The Square and is passionate about theatre for young people. Vicky also owns and operates Fame Academy, an educational musical theatre workshop where children can learn and develop their performing arts skills.

As the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, Vicky feels a deep connection to the story of “Nobody told me”. She feels privileged to be a part of bringing this story of courage and sacrifice to the stage.

Gwendi Botha-Gourley is passionate about historical costumes for the stage. She qualified in costume design and manufacturing at Technicon Pretoria (now TUT) and completed an internship at the National art, science and cultural museum.

Gwendi has worked on diverse stage disciplines as wardrobe mistress for PACT Drama and Technicon Pretoria. She is the owner of costume design and manufacturing company LAPLAND.

Her costume credits include musicals ‘Die Gelofte’ (2022), ‘Kaplyn’ (2023) and ‘Shrek jnr’ (2024). She was a Naledi nominee for ‘1789’ costumes with Wilhelm Disbergen (designer) in 2023, which she manufactured. She also manufactured costumes for ‘Aspoestertjie die pantomime’ (2024).

Gwendi is currently designing and manufacturing costumes for ‘Creative costumes and masks’ in Centurion.

Erin Jenna Blieden is a performer, dancer, and stage manager who completed her Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts at the University of Witwatersrand. During her time at university Erin performed in multiple shows including Teching for Godot (Wits, 2019), The Show Must Go On (Stageworx, 2021), Ugh! It’s You Again (Wits, 2022) and Two Lovers, Alone (Wits, 2022). Additionally during this time Erin worked on the design and backstage crew for Hunter Gatherers (Dir. Neka Da Costa, The Market Theatre, 2019) as well as The Mehn of High Order (Wits, 2021). Professionally, Erin has worked on multiple theatre productions in crew departments, most recently Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical (Dir. Vicky Friedman, 2025) as the company manager. In 2024/25, Erin performed as Isabel in My Children! My Africa! (Athol Fugard) with Landmark Lion Productions.

Mvelisa Mvandaba is a casting director based in South Africa. As the owner and head casting director of Monate Casting Directors, established in 2019, Mvelisa is one of the most prominent black female head of department for casting in the country. Her expertise is in authentic talent representation and utilizing various methods which extend beyond traditional casting practices to find the most phenomenal talent for each and every project she undertakes.

In 2023, Mvelisa was named as one of the Mail & Gaurdians Top 200 Young South Africans for her pioneering work in the field. To date, her career highlights include being the inaugural casting authority for NBC Universal on the continent through the casting of their first original for DreamWorks, Inspiration Station. This has been preceded and combined with various projects for independent productions, Netflix, Showmax and Mubi. She is also well-versed in advertising casting and has cast for multiple co-productions for brands which include Mini-Cooper, Lexus, Trivago, Elefanten, McDonalds, Deichmann to Name but a few.

Mvelisa believes in equal opportunity casting and will challenge gender and racial norms that are typically assigned to characters. This pushes directors to think openly about their project, without tunneling their vision, all in the effort to truly find the best talent for any given role.

Her tailor-made approach is what sets her apart from the casting scene in South Africa – she truly believes each project should be looked at as an individual entity so as to avoid repetitive and biased casting practices.