Producer: Kenya Winn

Directors: Kenya Winn and Bianca Cele

Writers: Kenya Winn and Bianca Cele

Stage Manager: Naledi Molotana

Lead choreographer: Rethabile Mhlongo

Assistant choreographer: Simamkele (Crankydy) Xoko

Animator: Finn Rindlisbacher

Sound technician: Lulutho Madolo

Social media coordinator: Kyle da Silva

Music: Kenya Winn and Sinehlombe Magqaza

Set design: Kenya Winn

Costume design: Kenya Winn

Performers: Alice Erasmus, Akhona Selani, Vheneka Roy Dakayari Magazi, Siphosethu Mvubu

Crew: Leen van Heerden, Amalah Joseph, Liyema Fraser

Kenya Winn (Producer, Co-writer, Co-director):

Kenya Winn is a South African writer, director, academic, actor, poet and a multidisciplinary theatre person. She has published poetry and short stories internationally, and most recently co-authored an academic article in the IPTN Journal (2025). Kenya is currently in the final year of her B.A. at Rhodes University, majoring in Classics and Classical Latin. She is an avid academic, however her primary passion has always been theatre, a love that was cultivated in her youth and a vocation she actively started pursuing at the age of thirteen.

In her five years at the High School for Girls Potchefstroom, she formed a part of crew and cast on a number of productions and in her matric year, wrote and directed two plays, most notably 'Lucidity' which was staged at the  Festival of Excellence in Dramatic Arts (FEDA) at the Joburg Theatre (2023). And so it is no surprise that in her three years at Rhodes University, she has been heavily active in the Drama department; performing in a number of productions under the department and outside of it, as well as working as stage manager and production team on a handful of productions. Kenya is currently working as student assistant to the Production Manager of the department as well as stage managing for 'Sins of the Blood', which is also debuting at NAF this year. Kenya has, in addition to this, been a part of the Meqoqo Playback Theatre Collective since 2024 and has been serving as the chairperson since 20255; performing in the capacity of conductor and player in a number of performances under the collective. She has also actively partaken in a number of workshops hosted in Johannesburg, most notably the Johannesburg School of Mask and Movement's 'Masked Player Workshop' facilitated by Roberto Pombo and Daniel Buckland (2024) and the John Kani Performing Arts Academy's ''Writing Massterclass facilitated by professor Zakes Mda (2025).

Kenya has a particular interest in expressionism and surrealism in theatre making and explores this in her capacity as co-writer and co-director of 'A Sending'. Her creative approach is rooted deeply in metaphor and in grappling with the human soul. Inspired by life and all it has to offer, Kenya's only hope is to share the magic she finds within it with the world. 

"We have convinced ourselves that everything needs reason, that everything needs a functional purpose. And that has been the cage of the creative mind. But what greater purpose is there than the intrinsic purpose of simply being human? Of simply finding joy in creation?" - Kenya Winn

Bianca Cele (Co-writer, Co-director):

Bianca Cele is an Honours Applied Theatre student at Rhodes University, as well as a writer, performer, and multidisciplinary creative whose work exists at the intersection of storytelling, memory, and social reflection. As co-director and co-writer of A Sending, Bianca explores grief, identity, and human connection through collaborative and embodied performance-making. Her creative practice is rooted in poetic language, movement, and the belief that theatre can serve as both a mirror and a meeting place.

Using theatre and movement as instruments of expression, Bianca is drawn to the spaces where words fall short and the body must speak instead. Her work engages themes of mourning, healing, womanhood, and survival, often exploring how memory and emotion live within the body.

At the core of her artistic process is collaboration. She believes every person brings a unique offering shaped by their own lived experience, and that these individual perspectives deepen the creative process. For Bianca, theatre is poetry in motion, a living archive of bodies attempting to narrate the stories they carry.

“We carry stories in our bones long before we learn how to speak them. Theatre and movement become language for the things too vast for words, poetry in motion shaped through collaboration, memory, and the hope that our bodies can survive the stories they tell.” — Bianca Cele

Naledi Molotana (Stage Manager):

Naledi Malotana is an artist, writer, theatre maker, performer, and aspiring director born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Her work is shaped by a deep interest in identity, memory, embodiment, and social conditioning. Through performance and visual art, she often creates alter egos and ritualised personas as a way of confronting uncomfortable truths, particularly those connected to gender, patriarchy, visibility, and the body. 

Naledi’s commitment to socially conscious storytelling was recognised when she became one of four finalists in the 2025 National Playwright Competition for her play critiquing patriarchal systems. This achievement reflects her ongoing dedication to making work that questions social norms, challenges inherited structures, and opens space for difficult but necessary conversations.

Rethabile Mhlongo (Lead Choreographer):

Rethabile Angela Mhlongo is a performer, choreographer, and storyteller whose artistry thrives at the intersection of movement, theatre, and innovation. Her journey began at the National School of the Arts, where she choreographed a piece at Physica in matric that was awarded Best Group. That same year, she was named Actress of the Year and obtained her Colours in Drama, affirming her devotion to both stage and movement. 

At Rhodes University, Rethabile pursued Drama and English Literature while also studying Journalism, Anthropology, and Instrumental & Music Studies. From her first year, she immersed herself in productions and excelled in DanceSport, winning first place in the Afro House solo category at the University Sports Competition. In 2024 she was awarded half colours in DanceSport, followed by full colours in 2025. By her second year, she became captain of the Rhodes Street Dance Team, while continuing to partake in drama department productions. Her third year marked a turning point: she specialised in Applied Theatre and Physical Performance, and distinguished herself at USSA, where she won five first‑place titles across categories and claimed victory in Freestyle Battles two years in a row. In 2025 she was honoured as Student Coach of the Year, recognising her leadership and impact. She also served on her House Committee, reflecting her passion for events, people, and the human experience.

Rethabile graduated with her degree in Drama and English Literature and is now pursuing her Drama Honours, specialising in writing, acting, and applied theatre. Since 2024, she has been a member of Meqoqo, a playback theatre collective, where she continues to explore collaborative storytelling and improvisation. Her practice is deeply invested in the body, physical performance, and innovation, always searching for ways to merge discipline with imagination and to create spaces where stories breathe through movement.

Simamkele (Crankydy) Xako (Assistant Choreographer):

(Pending)

Sinehlombe Magqaza (Musician):

Sinehlombe Magqaza is an honours student at Rhodes University's Drama Department. One would describe her as a versatile artist, but she speaks of herself as art itself.

She started singing from a really young age and won the hearts of many. She describes singing as her life. She believes that singing completes her. Singing was initially a hobby for her until he realized how good she was. She started taking unpaid gigs that would help her grow and shape her as a singer. She later ventured into theatre because it allowed for her to really sing. Theatre challenged her the way she wanted to be challenged.

Apart from singing, she was asked countless times to do voice-over work for radio at school. Her confidence about her voice started to grow immensely. Owing to the many quests she embarked on, she achieved a lot over the years.

Finn Rindlisbacher (Animator):

Finn Leigh Rindlisbacher is a South African fine artist and writer who specialises in painting, murals, video-making, conceptual design, and graphic design. They are currently in their fourth year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Rhodes University, triple-majoring in Fine Arts, Art History and Visual Culture, and English Literature Studies. They published a short story through YABI in 2022 and has exhibited their art with the Pietermaritzburg Homeless Network (2023), the National Arts Festival (2025), and the Rhodes University Fine Art Department (2026). 

Lulu (Sound technician):

(Pending)

Kyle da Silva (Social media manager):

Kyle da Silva is a 21-year-old Rhodes University student doing his third year in Bachelor of Journalism.  He has a love for telling  and consuming stories. He expresses his love through photography and videography with a knack for editing as well as content creation on TikTok. He enjoys science fiction and fantasy and hopes to bring these stories to life some day, either on paper or on screen.

He is currently involved in A Sending, as well as other projects such as the Let’s Talk show for the Rhodes University Journalism Department, as well as other creative/academic commitments tied to his Television 3 course.

Alice Erasmus (Performer): 

I am 20 years old and I study Drama and English at Rhodes University. I have been drawn to the stage from a young age. My mom is a dancer and she placed me in tap dancing classes from the age of 3. As a result I have been on stage ever since. She even refers to me as her "drama queen". I have performed in a number of productions from the Narrator from Into the Woods in grade 7 to playing Abigail in The Crucible in 2025. Performing is my passion and I will never stop loving the stage!

Akhona Selani (Performer): 

Akhona Selani is a South African creative artist with a passion for Performance and Storytelling. Born and raised in Makhanda / Grahamstown, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama, Chinese, and Organisational Psychology at Rhodes University. He is a writer, Theatre actor, physical performer, and set and costume designer. Through his undergraduate years he got involved with several student productions. He worked as an assistant costume designer and stage manager in theatre, where he developed a keen eye for detail and collaboration.

As a storyteller, he delves into themes of identity, everyday life, and human emotions.

"If you don't think that art and theatre allow a soul to live freely and longer, then your existence is lacking in colour" - Akhona Selani

Vheneka Magazi (Performer):

Vheneka Magazi is a fourth-year Honours Chinese student at Rhodes University with a deep appreciation for the arts and their ability to express emotion, identity, and perspective. Although 'A Sending' marks as his first public performance, creativity has long been central to the way he engages with the world. He has long had an appreciation for stagecraft and holds this opportunity to explore his abilities in this avenue of expression in high regard. His achievements include those as a violonist, painter, and photographer.

His interests span visual storytelling, photography, and cultural exploration, with a particular focus on atmosphere, introspection, and human connection. Through both his academic and artsitic pursuits, he continues to explore the relationship between language, culture, and creative expression.

Siphosethu Mvubu (Performer):

(Pending)

Leen van Heerden (Crew):

Leen van Heerden's passion is drama, and anything related to it. He is studying a B.A. majoring in Drama and Philosophy at Rhodes University and is in his first year. He went to the National School of the Arts and studied drama there. He gained great experience and his passion only grows.

He did stage management for the NSA's Festival of Excellence in Dramatic Arts production in 2025, and performed in a theatre comapny's FEDA production in 2024. Leen loves being in creative spaces and working with creative people. His whole life has been surrounded by art and he wouldn't have it any other way.

Amalah Joseph (Crew):

Amalah Joseph lives for everything that has to do with theatre and the dramatic arts, whether she is on stage or behind the scens. She studied drama in high schooll and acetd in many school productions including FEDA 2025. She hopes to continue honing her creative abilities by studying a B.A. at Rhodes University where she is majoring in drama and psychology. She believes there is no better way to learn than by doing and hopes to one day apply everything she has learned to create art for everyone to connect with.

Liyema Fraser (Crew):

Liyema Fraser is a triple major in Anthropology, Psychology, and Literature Studies in English, with a deep interest in the human condition and the complexities of lived experience. Through theatre and art, spaces for expression, reflection, and understanding are created.