Biographies

Linda Mdena Thibedi

Head of Department

Linda Mdena Thibedi, is a dancer, performer, lecturer and a registered Drama Therapist with the Health Professions council of South Africa (HPCSA and South African National Association of Arts Therapies (SANATA). Linda graduated from Wits University with an Honours degree in 2013. In 2015, Linda completed her Master’s Degree in Drama Therapy at the University of the Witwatersrand. Linda became an Expressive Movement facilitator in 2016 and in the same year was chosen to be a part of the first Drama for Life Theatre Company. In 2017, she started Lecturing at Witwatersrand University in the Drama for Life drama therapy honours and masters programs. Linda has been a part of the Drama for Life leadership team since 2019 and is now the Head of Department for Drama for Life.

Linda’s PhD research, titled: Bodies in crisis: exploring how the body, as a tool in Drama Therapy and Dance Therapy, offers insight into the effects of teaching online. Her curiosity, sparked during the events of COVID-19 and lockdown, is around human responses and processing in the use of online platforms for teaching purposes.

Dr Sibongile Bhebhe

Deputy Head of Department

Dr Sibongile Bhebhe is an accomplished educator, researcher, and facilitator with a focus on applied drama and theatre. She holds a PhD in Applied Drama and Theatre from the University of the Witwatersrand, along with a Master’s and Honours degree in the same field, both with distinction. Dr. Bhebhe's research and professional work centre on innovative, participatory, and creative educational methods aimed at community development. She has extensive experience in teaching, research supervision, and facilitating theatre-based interventions on issues such as gender-based violence and sexual health, and other related issues. Dr. Bhebhe has contributed to various conferences and workshops globally and has been awarded several prestigious recognitions, including the John Kani Theatre for Social Change Award and the Yvonne Banning Award for Ethnographic Research. Her teaching roles at Wits University and involvement in numerous community-based projects showcase her commitment to using theatre for transformative education.

Hamish Mabala Neill

Creative Research Hub Director

Hamish Mabala Neill is a lecturer, Applied Theatre practitioner, creative researcher, performer, and director of the Drama for Life Creative Research Hub. Having completed an MA with distinction in Applied Drama with Drama for Life (Wits University), Hamish has applied his skill as a creative and critical force in theatre, community, and lecture spaces alike. At Drama for Life, Hamish’s main research focus is to craft contemporary applied theatre pieces for youth that address issues of health and wellness in relation to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR).

In his personal artistic capacity, alongside work done in mainstream and industrial theatre scenes, Hamish has developed a unique skill for creating and enlivening performance spaces and performance in spaces. A large part of Hamish’s broad artistic scope is to intentionally (and carefully) craft performances that challenge culturally loaded notions of ‘toxic masculinity’ through deeply embodied performance and facilitated reflection.

Warren Nebe

Founder of Drama For Life

Warren Nebe is the founder and former Head of Department of Drama for Life. He is a HPCSA and NADT registered drama therapist, a psychodramatist, an accredited Listening Hour Guide and Trainer, a Playback Practitioner, a Theatre of the Oppressed Practitioner, a Fulbright Scholar and Salzburg Global Fellow. Warren, has been responsible for the facilitation of the development and implementation of the extensive postgraduate programme for Drama for Life. Warren’s primary research focus has been on the development of a progressive ‘living pedagogy’ at Drama for Life, a critical reflexive praxis embedded in a human rights and social justice discourse for the Applied Arts, Arts Therapies and Arts Research in Africa in the 21st century.

Warren has both supported and, at times, curated the annual international Drama for Life Conference and Festival since inception in 2008. He was awarded the Vice-Chancellor Award for Transformation (Individual) in 2013, and the Drama for Life Staff were awarded the Vice-Chancellor Award for Academic Citizenship (Team) for 2014.