XOLANI NGESI
Xolani Ngesi was born in port Elizabeth New Brighton. he learned his acting craft by working with internationally acclaimed directors such as Nomhle Nkonyeni, Winston Ntshona, Luke Dixon and Jennet Bucland to mention but a few. In 2002 Ngesi toured England with Umzi Afrika theater company, performing Ghetto Goats and also conducting theater workshops. In 2003 he performed Thuthula, which premiered at Grahamstown National Arts Festival. In 2004 he did a production course at Rhodes University which included acting, directing and devising. In 2006 he co-wrote Hungry Road and toured Cape Town. Later Hungry Road went to London. In 2013 he performed and directed Cracked Mirror, which won a Standard Bank Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival. He also co-wrote and acted in It’s Not Me! which won numerous awards including Best Production and Best Actor. Xolani Ngesi also conducted research into the sinking of Mendi, which was used in the Lara Foot play Did we Dance. Ngesi performed in it, and it was directed by Mandla Mbothwe. He also performed in Pieces of an African drum in Zimbabwe. Xolani Ngesi has also directed plays like Last Cloud of Dust, Cracked Mirror Midday Mist and Mamgcina to mention but a few. At the moment he is doing acting an directing workshop at CAMA studio.

Mongezi Ncwadi
Mongezi was born and raised in New Brighton Township, Port Elizabeth, the home of John Kani, Winston Ntshona, Nomhle Nkonyeni to mention a few. After matriculated at Cowan High School he joined a local theatre group named Non-Stop Entertainment because of his love for acting. Mongezi featured in many productions, like Cracked Mirror in 2002 National Arts Festival; Hungry Road in 2005 in Baxter theatre and National Arts Festival, PE Opera house One-Act Drama competition which won the best actor and best production awards. He co-wrote It’s Not Me in 2008 which won the Best of Ikhwezi Theatre festival in Baxter, won the best actor, best script, best director and best production awards at PE Opera House One-Act Drama competition .It’s not me was invited at Musho Festival in 2009 where it received great reviews. In 2013 a workshoped version of Cracked Mirror won the Standard Bank Ovation award at National Arts Festival. Same year he won the uncontested vote by panelist to direct a play With my Blood at PE Opera House which is a project of the National Arts Council’s So You Think you can write.
He featured in Lara Foot play Ukutshona koMendi which had a successful runs in Baxter theatre and the Market theatre
Mongezi is cofounder of the Performing Arts and Theatre Association of the Eastern Cape, which is a networking body of the artists. He is passionately involved in a number of industrial theatre productions making awareness on a number of issues affecting communities. Mongezi is also voluntarily helping in school drama clubs around New Brighton. In august 2014 he was coopted to be Cluster coordinator of Govan Mbeki Cluster in Nelson Mandela Bay Arts Council, which includes New Brighton, KwaZakhele and Zwide townships.
In October 2015 Mongezi and his team toured with their play Hungry Road around London and conducting workshop at Essex University 3rd students in BA Arts and few drama schools in London.
In April 2016 Mongezi is producing a show It’s Not Me which will open PE Opera House’s Drama Season at the end of April 2016.Partenered with MBDA in conceptualizing a programme to activate township heritage sites SS Mendi and Emlotheni sites for 2016/17.Voluntarily train children in drama at New Brighton library.Mongezi is a Funda Leader for Nalibali.org and using New Brighton library to host his children book and reading club. In 2015 december he was awarded Best Drama Performance at the EC Arts and Culture Awards.Flesh and Blood is his first solo project in his theatre making career and the project seeks to address the muti killings which rife in iur country currently.He has been commissioned by PE opera House to do his new work for Women in Arts Manyano Festival, called MENDI ROAD….

Miss Ntombethemba Toffee Zitshu
(Professional Artist and community builder)
Ntombethemba Zitshu, passionately known as Toffee was born and bred in Port Elizabeth’s Kwa-Zakhele Location. She is a seasoned professional artist that is based in Port Elizabeth, dealing with radio drama, traditional dance, mainstream theatre, as well as educational theatre as means of addressing different issues that are challenging to the community in general. Her interest in arts started at a very young age while she was still in Primary school. Her ability to tell stories led her teachers to type cast her as a narrator of many children’s stories like Sleeping beauty, Maotwe and the donkey, Snow White and Seven Dwarfs, Die Skolpad to name but a few. At the age of 19 while her group was performing a theatre piece for the then mayor Honorable Nceba Faku, Ntombethemba was seen by talent scouts
from Radio Xhosa now known as UMhlobo Wenene FM and was invited to auditions and the rest is history. She has also played lead and supporting roles for both radio and theatre. Ntombethemba has performed in many big stages and festivals abroad and here at home, like the Standard Bank National Arts festival in Grahamstown, Bonani Festac in Transkei, Splash festival in Port Elizabeth, Stramash Festival in Scotland in 1995, and many more. She has performed for the Queen in 1994, on her Magesty’s first visit to the newly democratic South Africa. She was one of the dancers from the group New Generation who performed for the first democratic SA National Rugby and cricket teams. In
1995/6 the then Mayor of Port Elizabeth Honorable Nceba Faku honored Ntombethemba and her group New Generation Productions with the “Citizen Award certificate”. Same year, under the supervision of Cllr Nondumiso Maphazi Ntombethemba trained young dancers and actors of Motherwell communities together with other artists from MOACC (Motherwell Arts & Culture Council).
She has been in the entertainment industry for over 25 years with experience in theatre, traditional dance and 28 years of experience in Radio drama and programming. Ntombethemba matriculated at Ithamsanqa Senior Secondary School in Port Elizabeth, then went on to study Theatre at Stageworld and Creative Writing at NMU (Nelson Mandela University) Has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Science from UNISA (University of Southern Africa)
She has performed in different theatre and radio productions. She is currently part of the first telenovela to be produced in the Eastern Cape province called Gqeberha The Empire as a guest actor playing the role of Noxolo.
Ntombethemba is the first female and youngest radio drama producer of the 2nd biggest radio station in South Africa, UMhlobo Wenene Fm. In 2008 she has introduced a live radio drama that was performed in the studio while playing on radio simultaneously. This led to a bigger platform in 2013 where she led a team that successfully produced a radio meets theatre live drama that has become one of the stations’ flagships. Ntombethemba produced numerous radio plays including the award-winning soapy drama Ithini na le nto? Leyo yimfihlelo yobom! She led a team of creative writers that birthed the very first radio drama soapy in 2009 that went on to win the MTN Radio Awards in 2014.
She has conceptualized a gender specific play that looks at challenges faced by women for the stations’ annual event Khanya Gqiyazana, and this has been one of the acts that listener’s look forward to. Ntombethemba not only prides herself as an artist but as an activist for the betterment of her community by volunteering to Rape Crisis and mentoring up and coming actors and writers. Ntombethemba is very passionate about women, children, and disabled persons’ rights. Currently she is working at UMhlobo Wenene FM as a Senior Producer for Drama and Cultural Programs.

Lungelwa Magqamfana AKA Lungi is a Theatre Practitioner, Writer, Dancer, Vocalist , Model and fitness trainer from Motherwell. Her art work involvement has come a long way as she has worked with numerous artists across the country and abroad. She is a graduate of Performing Arts through initiatives and workshops that were conducted by Swallows Foundation of North England.

Lonwabo Xatasi is an all round creative, and an excellent performer and director. Sharpened by an extensive community theatre background and Numerous Acting workshops by industry professionals. Opera House One Act Plays Best Actor Winner 2011, Zabalaza Theatre Festival (Baxter Theatre, Cape Town) Best Actor 2012. Nelson Mandela Bay Talent Search Theatre winner 2016. Creator of Bachelor Party. Director of Sleeping With The Enemy, When it Hits The Fan, Ibhinqa, Closet, Limathumbantaka. Actor, coach, great facilitator and Standup Comedian. “In my art I am driven by my love for people” Lonwabo Xatasi

TANDO MABUTO
Tando Mabuto started acting at school and in community productions in the early 90s and has over 30 years of experience in the art sector. He has performed in many theatre productions, as well as in radio drama productions and industrial theater productions. He has won many awards as an actor and as a promising director. He has toured the length and breadth of this country performing and doing workshops.