Programme Schedule

Tessa Dooms is a Director at the Rivonia Circle. She is a Sociologist, development practitioner and political analyst. Having started her career in academia, Tessa has worked in diverse sectors including government, NGOs and the private sector, where she did work that aligns the objectives of various institutions and programmes with developmental objectives for the advancement of Africa. She has 15 years’ experience as a development worker, trainer and researcher with expertise on governance, youth development and innovation, and has worked in over 10 African countries. In 2015 she was appointed to the National Planning Commission to advise the President on the implementation of the National Development Plan of South Africa. Tessa is a Trustee of the Kagiso Trust. She holds a Masters of Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Mandisi Sindo also known as Dr Disi is a South African award winning and acclaimed Shack Theatres originator/innovator, social entrepreneur and an art practitioner. Mandisi studied theatre and performance at UCT before doing his postgrad at The University of Witwatersrand, Drama for Life. Sindo also owns Umjita Records, Umjita Wines, Clothing Brand and KASI RC.

Over the last 15 years, I have worked as a theatre educator, performer and theatre-maker in and outside of South Africa. My career’s development started with a Broadcast Television Certificate (2001-2002) where I specialized in television production, scriptwriting and media studies. My Honours degree research focused on the representation of black womxn in print media whilst my MA research highlights the personal experiences of black womxn as significant contributors to curriculum for performance studies in South Africa.

Presently an avid Education and Development PhD scholar and Performance Studies lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, I am also a Mandela Rhodes scholar and National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences fellow. My expansive experience includes heading the schools and correctional centres’ theatre education programming at reputable HIV/Aids non-profit organization: Themba Interactive (Johannesburg, South Africa), teaching at Wits University (Johannesburg, South Africa), the University of Pretoria (Tshwane, South Africa), Waterford Kamhlaba UWC Southern Africa (Mbabane, Swaziland) and Maru-a-Pula School (Gaborone, Botswana). My (2021) most recent scholarly work is as editor of a theatre anthology entitled Theatre and Democracy: Building Democracy in Post-war and Post-democratic Contexts (Cappelen Damm Akademisk/NOASP). I also serve as UKZN’s Westville campus Chapter advisor for the Golden Key International Honour Society as well as an executive member of the University of KwaZulu-Natal staff union.

In person, I am an energetic, independent thinker whose roots in the Christian faith are an undeniable source of inspiration and hope.

Munyaradzi Chatikobo is a Lecturer and Head of Cultural Policy and Management in the Wits School of Arts. He is Drama for Life Alumni also a former Drama for Life Lecturer with vast experience in Cultural Leadership and Arts Management training. His academic and research interests are in Cultural Policy and Management, with specific interests in Community Arts, Community Theatre, Culture and Development, Cultural Governance, Cultural Diplomacy, and Cultural Entrepreneurship. Munyaradzi Chatikobo holds a PhD in Arts and Culture Management (University of the Witwatersrand 2022), a Master of Arts Degree in Applied Drama and Theatre (University of the Witwatersrand, 2009) and special Honours in Theatre Arts (University of Zimbabwe, 1995). His PhD research area of study is Cultural Policy and Community Theatre in South Africa. Munyaradzi Chatikobo’s work experience in Cultural and Creative Industries spans over 25 years, where he served in different management roles in public institutions and private companies in Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa. He is a board member for CHIPAWO Trust and a former board member of Nhimbe Trust, both in Zimbabwe.

Caryn is the CEO of Sibikwa Arts Centre. She holds a Master’s Degree in Arts and Culture Management from Wits University. Caryn was a member of Drama for Life Senior Management for several years. As an arts and culture manager, advocate and trainer, she is passionate about exploring alternative business models for the sustainability of arts organisations; best practice methods to measure impact; and opportunities to facilitate the production and archiving of new and previously undocumented work. This passion is driven by an interest in collaborative, collective and inclusive development, using relevant, responsive and sustainable approaches to increase access, knowledge and capacity for effectively addressing challenges, developing markets and maximizing resources in local contexts.

Levinia has over 20 years’ experience in growing the creative economy and creative ecosystems between Africa and the world. She focuses on strategy, cultural and social programmes, innovation and cultural intelligence. Through her consultancy she is currently building the community engagement strategy for Drama for Life and is Partnership Manager for PSi (Performance Studies International) Conference 2023. She is a Co-Director with Edinburgh Global Creatives, and an Associate with Andani.Africa. Levinia is also a newly elected trustee on the Arts and Culture Trust Board and will be serving till 2025.

Last year she was the Content Director for Creative Ecosystems Rising 2021 Conference at Basha Uhuru Festival at Constitution Hill, a mentor for VANSA’s Cultural Leaders programme and lectured Cultural Leadership in the Applied Arts at Drama for Life, Wits University.

Levinia worked as Programme Manager for Drama for Life in its foundation years. From 2013 – 2021 Levinia worked for the British Council in different capacities. She was the Head of Arts Southern Africa from 2016 and led a team across eight countries. She innovated methodologies through operations and cultural relations programmes in the pursuit of equity and creative connection across artistic disciplines.

Over the years Levinia has directed and produced programmes, projects and festivals for organisations such as Business and Arts South Africa, The Ar(t)chive, Drama for Life, South Africa Fashion Week, Wits Arts and Literature Experience (WALE Festival), Longman Botswana, Goethe Institut Johannesburg; and was the Content Director for the ACT UJ Arts and Culture Conference 2015; Creatives Make it Happen.

Lonwabo Mavuso is currently a Director at Andani.Africa He has played many roles in the creative industries including being the co-founder of Bafundi Film and TV Festival in partnership with the SABC, GFC and NFVF. He has worked for organisations such as Wits University’s Drama for Life as the Fundraising and Partnership Manager; Business and Arts South Africa as Marketing and Operations Manager and Head of Programmes and Development; South African Tourism as Trade Exhibition Manger; and is the former chairperson of Arterial Network South Africa. Lonwabo has led numerous research and CCI projects in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Ethiopia and Malawi. The research project he has led includes Creative Markets Research for British Council, Private sector investment in creative industries in Ethiopia and Arterial Network/British Council Southern African radio and young creatives research in six Southern African counties. Lonwabo has done research that include Go Digital, digital collaboration between SSA and Wales for British Council, RLMM Feasibility study for DSAC, Digital Creative Economy in South Africa for Goethe Institut to name a few.

Warren Nebe is an Academic, Writer, Theatre Director, Performer, Arts Therapist, Playback Theatre and Theatre of the Oppressed Practitioner, Listening Hour Advanced Guide and Trainer, and Psychodrama and Group Psychotherapist. Warren is the Founder of Drama for Life.

Nomfundo Ncanana is an aspiring Drama Therapist who is currently in her Honours year at Drama for Life. She has been at The University of Witwatersrand and has explored the fields of Social Work, Psychology and Sociology. Nomfundo is a mentor under the FYE program for the Teaching and Learning Unit, assisting first years with integration and mentors in their leadership roles.

Nina Neubauer is doing her Honours at Drama for Life in Drama Therapy and has been in the non- profit space where she cares and advocates for children in need. Healing and joy are what Nina hopes to spread through her work and passion.

Mandisi Sindo also known as Dr Disi is a South African award winning and acclaimed Shack Theatres originator/innovator, social entrepreneur and an art practitioner. Mandisi studied theatre and performance at UCT before doing his postgrad at The University of Witwatersrand, Drama for Life. Sindo also owns Umjita Records, Umjita Wines, Clothing Brand and KASI RC.

Lucky Moeketsi is a young passionate artist. He made his dance debut in Strike back (2015) and his acting debut in Ipi Zombie, a City Varsity adaptation production by Brett Bailey (2016). During his three years of studying Performance Arts, Lucky worked with Kieron Jina and Micia de Wet. Lucky is currently doing his Applied Drama at the University of Witwatersrand , Drama for Life to research Seriti, Isithunzi (as Shadow and Dignity).

Kabelo Mokgehle is an honours Drama Therapy student at the University of Witwatersrand, Drama for life. Kabelo is also a qualified Playback Theatre practitioner. Kabelo holds a degree in Performing Arts and a postgraduate diploma in Applied Drama and Theatre; He has also written and acted in various stage and screen productions. When it comes to innovation, Kabelo is innovating a way in which emojis can be used to develop emotional literacy in children.

Khanyisile Zwane is Mosebeletsi, a spiritual leader and healer, who works as an actor, voice-over artist, drama facilitator and theatre maker, born and bred in Soweto. She also identifies as a community activist believing in the impact of arts in communities.

Shortly after graduating from high school, her raw talent landed her a role on local television soapie, etv Scandal, where she played leading character Gontse for 4 years. She chose to follow this experience by studying Theatre and Performance at the Market Theatre Laboratory. In 2020 she was identified as a spiritual healer and began training under the mentorship/apprenticeship of her Bishop and Pastors in Sediba sa Christian Healing Church.

Khanyisile is currently enrolled with the University of Witwatersrand as a Drama for Life Honours student.

Dr. Petro Janse van Vuuren is the current head of department, applied drama and theatre lecturer-researcher and PhD coordinator at Drama for Life, Wits university. She is the receiver of the 2019 Faculty of Humanities and Vice Chancellor’s Teaching and learning awards for her innovations in the Drama for Life PhD programme. She is one of the authors who published in the DFL: book “Innovations in applied Dram and Theatre practise in African contexts” and has published widely on her work in Strategic Narrative Embodiment as a model for designing transformational process in organisation and leadership development contexts.

Mandisi Sindo also known as Dr Disi is a South African award winning and acclaimed Shack Theatres originator/innovator, social entrepreneur and an art practitioner. Mandisi studied theatre and performance at UCT before doing his postgrad at The University of Witwatersrand, Drama for Life. Sindo also owns Umjita Records, Umjita Wines, Clothing Brand and KASI RC.