Four of the South African State Theatre’s 2019/2020 Incubator Programme finalists will be showcasing their work up until March this year, so book your tickets and secure your spot to see these talented artists in action. They are:
Patience Phaka
Patience Phaka (pictured below left) is a visual artist. She will present her solo exhibition, “Don’t Be Beautiful”, from 03 to 16 February at the Opera Theatre Marble Foyer.
Phaka is challenging women’s perceptions of themselves as ‘beautiful’. She does this through a series of drawings and paintings depicting women who are entirely comfortable in their own ‘definition of amazing’. She says, “There is an eternity of things to be other than having ‘that’ perfect skin tone, perfect body, and hair.”
The exhibition will be freely open to the public.
Lehlogonolo Riba
Lehlogonolo Riba (pictured below centre) has a B. Tech in drama, specialising in scriptwriting and directing. She has found her passion in Children’s Theatre, and two of her plays were published in African Folktales Onstage 1 and 2 (2015): “The Hen That Lost Hawk’s Needle” and “The Ungrateful Lion”.
You can catch her production of “The Hen That Lost Hawks Needle” From 19 February to 08 March.
Lehlohonolo Makhele
Lehlohonolo Makhele is a dancer and choreographer. He began his dance education at Soweto Thulare, a community centre offering adult classes.
Lehlohonolo has choreographed a dance piece called “Lekgoba”, written by his counterpart Raymond Motadi. The piece has been described as “an African contemporary piece set to a narrative that reads of a tribe from UKE VILLAGE, filling the music and space with dramatic sculptural imagery and depicting the journey of African slavery.” “Lekgoba” will run from 04 to 22 March.
Tintswalo Millicent Mashele
Tintswalo Millicent Mashele (pictured above right) is a name you might recognise, given how busy she has been on the local art scene. As well as performing, Tintswalo writes, directs and coaches drama. She has a B.Tech and national diploma in drama, and is currently completing her master’s degree, all at the Tshwane University of Technology.
You can catch the play she directed, “The Boy”, from 11 to 29 March. It tells the true story of a destitute boy who has to make some hard choices as he struggles to survive. Tintswalo chose this piece with the intention of highlighting some of the unacknowledged struggles that men go through.
Book your tickets
Tickets for all shows, except for the exhibition, can be purchased for R100 at Webtickets, either online or over the counter at Pick n Pay stores nationwide. Patrons who wish to do a group booking of more than ten people can contact the theatre’s sales office on 012 392 4000. For more information about the shows, please visit www.statetheatre.co.za.
About the programme
The South African State Theatre’s Incubator Programme was established to help advance the careers of semi-professional entrepreneurial artists by giving them access to business, technical and artistic mentorships.
Rather than using an application process, the finalists are identified by talent scouts. This year, only six artists in various art disciplines – including Drama, Children’s Theatre, Visual Arts, Dance, Poetry and Music – were selected.
Since its inception, it has helped young artists such as the Guinness Record Holder Percy Maimela and Gold Ovation Award Winner Joseph Komani – both of whom have made a name for themselves in the industry since exiting the programme.
The Programme is funded by Department of Arts and Culture.
