Mduduzi Nhlapo appointed new South African State Theatre associate artistic director

Nhlapo’s duties involve supporting the artistic director in creative and administrative duties, 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 Afrika and Vavasati International festivals.

“Having gone through all the programmes that we present, he is best suited for the job,” SAST artistic director Aubrey Sekhabi said. “He is young, committed and talented. It is exactly what the industry needs. Energy, talent and discipline. I am happy for him, and I wish him luck in this new post. We definitely have an artistic director in waiting.”

Commenting about his plans for the new role, Nhlapo said: “My passion lies in using theatre as a tool to alleviate social ills and to have it accessible to all. 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 brand as the trend setter and the benchmark of Africa’s identity, artistic and intellectual excellence.”

Nhlapo holds an honours degree in drama and film studies, majoring in four areas including research, with distinctions in physical theatre, directing and acting studies from the University of Pretoria. He is a Naledi Theatre Award winner for Best Choreography (2020) and was recently featured as a choreographer and dramaturge at the this year’s National Arts Festival. He is also the co-founder and artistic director of Great Stone Productions.

His lengthy experience includes facilitator, mentor and adjudicator of Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (GDSACR) programme Ishashalazi Theatre and the SAST’s Incubator Programme.

A product of the SAST’s development programmes, he has participant experience of both the Mayibuye Community Outreach field programme and the Incubator Programme.

In addition to his artistic abilities, Nhlapo boasts corporate skills involving brand marketing, repositioning and management, together with business acumen, leadership and administrative skills. He was the company manager for international and Broadway theatre shows such as Burn the Floor and Saturday Night Fever in 2016, and Bolanle Austin Peter’s Fela and the Kalakuta Queens at the SAST in 2019. Moreover, he has struck collaborations and partnerships with many theatre makers and institutions along his artistic journey.