Masixole Zinzo Patrick Heshu was born in Makhanda, Eastern Cape. He currently resides in Durban. He matriculated in Nombulelo Secondary School, after which he completed a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree, majoring in Politics and International Studies, Economical and Industrial Sociology and Drama. He also obtained his honours degree, specializing in Directing and Applied Theatre. Both degrees completed at Rhodes University, where he is currently doing his second year of Masters in Arts degree in Creative History. His research is titled “ONE EVENT MULTIPLE NARRATIVES AND AUDIENCE: EXHUMING THE PAST THROUGH PERFORMANCE.” As a director, writer, actor, performer and story-teller, he has won a number of awards, including Standard Bank Ovation Awards for Battle! – Iimfazwe: Transportation to the past. He has directed shows like The Xhosa Chronicles, Dancing with the Dead, The Gruffalo, Ntsiki Speaks, Umnqa: Never Defeated. He is also a workshop facilitator that has worked with the National Schools Festival, Eastern Cape Schools Festival, Sci-Fest Africa, Equity and institutional Culture Unit, Rhodes Alumni and Correctional Services. Also in 2018 he was invited to present the use of interdisciplinary way of bringing new answers through performance in Public History Conference in Las Vegas Nevada and Arizona State University. In 2019 he was invited by South African History Society Conference to present on “When the past meets ‘the present: various ways of looking into performance and history.“ He currently published a paper for Journal of Indigenous and Shamanic Studies on “Makhanda: reflections of the past, present and future.”

Khanya is a director, performance artist, writer and singer from eMthatha in the Eastern Cape. She recently graduated her honours degree and is now pursuing her Masters in Applied Theatre and Directing at the University Currently Known as Rhodes. She is passionate about social justice and issues that affect lesbian communities as well as the LGBTQIA communities at large. Having been involved in multiple productions both on stage and off stage in the Rhodes Drama Department, Khanya has emerged as a director with a sensitive and creative eye. She has directed a Woman in waiting By Yael Farber, and Mbuzeni By Koleka Putuma, which earned her a distinction in Honours directing, and will be debuting the National Arts Festival with her play, Jikijela under the Rhodes Drama Department, as well as Inckiyo as assistant director.

Nasiphi Thandokazi Mahlati is a media practitioner currently working at Rhodes Music Radio as the Head of News and producer. She has worked as the head writer for the Rhodes University Student Representative Council radio show. She has also completed her Drama Degree at the University Currently Known as Rhodes and has worked as a stage manager for the Drama Department for various productions including: Woman in Waiting, Innovations and the Rhodes University Orientation production, Orientation Theatre Intervention(OTI). She is currently part of the Front of House staff of the Drama Department. Her passion lies in integrating theatre production and multimedia as an archival tool in the preservation of South African heritage.

Ntomboxolo “Nox” Donyeli is an performance arts practitioner that has been in the theatre industry for over 20 years. As a performer she got her acting training from HQ acting agency for 2 years, at the same time walking closely with the First Physical theatre company, as well as Ubom! Eastern Cape Drama Company and The Third World BunFight for more than 5 years. She is not a stranger to international performances in which she has performed as a singer and actress. From the “Holy Afro”, “The Prophet” “Ipi Zombi” “Imumbo Jumbo” “Missing Lynx” “Wreckage” “Breed” “Swimming Lesson” amongst a many productions she has been involved. Also, she has performed alongside Bheki Mkwane and Andrew Buckland in the Missing Lynx a theatre production that explores the history of Makhanda. She is also a theatre and dance facilitator that uses the arts as an instrument of learning.

Sisonke Yafele is a professional performer who has worked with various theatre companies and community groups. He has worked with the likes of Bret Bailey’s Third World Bunfight Company, uBom! Eastern Cape Drama Company, Well-Worn Theatre Company to mention a few. He has performed in the National Arts Festival, Cape Town Fringe, he has been in a series of theatre production namely “The Prophet”, “Imumbo Jumbo”,”Ukuzazi by Ingrid Wylde and “Kiss my Boot” “Breed” alongside Andrew Bucklands. He has worked full time as a performer for uBom! Eastern Cape Drama Company. He is also a theatre and dance facilitator that uses creative methods as new answers in unpacking social challenges. He is one of the founders for KEEN VISUALS PTY/LTD.

Nombasa Ngoqo
Nombasa Ngoqo Allyson Ngoqo is a Freelance professional theatre performer, facilitator and musician born in Makhanda, where she currently resides. She is an actress and storyteller specializing in front end educational creative content development. Experienced with all stages of the creative cycle for dynamic teaching and training of performance style. Well-versed in numerous performance languages including workshops, facilitation and playing marimba. She has a strong background in stage management and performance service relations. As a performer, writer, actress, and story-teller, she has won a number of awards, including Standard Bank Ovation Awards for The Gruffalo. She has been included in shows like The Xhosa Chronicles, Dancing with the Dead, The Gruffalo, Fundisa, Falling of the Horn, and Waterline, amongst many. As a workshop facilitator, she has worked with the National Schools Festival, Eastern Cape Schools Festival. She has worked for years for ubom! Eastern Cape Drama Company.

Nine Magagula is an actor, performance artist, musician and aspiring choreographer who recently graduated from Rhodes University. She is currently working under Assitej South Africa, and is the festival coordinator for SSFSA (Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa), representing the Eastern Cape since 2020. Since the beginning of 2018, Nine has performed a couple of award-winning NAF productions such as, Seeing Red (2018) directed by Mmatumisang Motsisi and Salt (2019) directed by Noluthando Sibisi. Since then, she has been involved in a number of theatre and community engagement projects that are still ongoing. Working as a physical performance artist, a festival coordinator, facilitator and musician, continues to assist her in her growth as a dedicated lover of the arts.