Sandile Sibanda

Sandile Sibanda is a South African director, all rounded performer, and student leader whose work exists at the intersection of performance, inquiry, and social engagement. Grounded in theatre and physical performance methodologies, Sandile approaches directing and performing as both an artistic craft and a civic act where rehearsal becomes a space for investigation, collaboration, and meaning making.

He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Directing and Physical Theatre from the University of the Witwatersrand. Their training in directing practice, physical theatre, performance theory, and ensemble creation informs a style that is embodied, psychologically attentive, and rigorously process driven. 
Professionally, he served as Director and Assistant Director on a Nedbank
commissioned production produced by MADEVU Entertainment, Stage Manager for MANDIFEZE (Pty. Ltd)  and Crew Member for the creative house NarowBi which has produced events like Kids Love Jazz and Soundcheck.

This experience strengthened their ability to balance creative vision with collaborative production demands within a professional environment where storytelling met institutional commissioning.

Sandile’s creative and directorial approach is shaped by African theatre makers and interdisciplinary artists whose work focuses performance within history, politics, movement, and lived experience. Sandile draws a commitment to African storytelling traditions, the politics of the body, interdisciplinary creation, and performance as a site of memory, resistance, and imagination. 

He has performed in multiple productions such as Khongolose Khommanding Khommisars (2024) at the WITS Main Theatre (written by Jefferson Tshabalala - Adapted by Cast). Solo Practice (2024) WITS Nunnery directed by Cristino Luke Riego de Dios, MEME[TICS] (2024-2025) at the WITS Great Hall (Dir. Gavin Matthys) KE NAKO. (2024) directed by Tshegofatso Molaolwa, The Pillowman (2025) directed by Nolwazi Shangase and The 8th Bag devised by an ensemble which has been staged at the Wits Theatre Pitso Ya Kalaneng Festival (2026) as well as the POPArt Next Draft festival (2026)He also had the opportunity to present a research project at the South African Lessac Kinesensics January 2025 Intensive Workshop at the University of Pretoria in South Africa- School of the Arts: Drama.

Alongside creative practice, Sandile has held senior student leadership roles across the humanities, serving as the Wits SRC All-Faculty Chairperson, Humanities Faculty Chairperson and Wits School of Arts Chairperson advocating for student development, collaboration, and the visibility of arts and humanities students within institutional and public spaces. Sandile continues to develop bodies of work that is reflective, politically 
aware, and deeply human positioning theatre as a space for encounter, dialogue, and transformation. 

Theodore Ghorbany 

Theodore Ghorbany is a theatre practitioner, director, designer, writer, and musician based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is currently in his second year studying Theatre and Performance at the University of Witwatersrand. He has acted in productions such as A Streetcar named Desire, Master Harold… and the Boys, Fleabag, Hairspray the Musical, Chicago, Matilda Jr and many more. He performed in Strangers We Know (2025), written and directed by Sibabalwe Diyaphu which won the award for Best Original Script in the Wits Directing IV Festival. He has created original works and co-directed and wrote The Human Condition which won the Social Media Award at the 
Festival of Dramatic Arts in 2022, and devised ensemble works like Burning Rainbow: an adaptation of the Island by Winston Ntshona, John Kani, and Athol Fugard.

He has most recently co-devised and performed in the 8th Bag, which has performed in the Pitso Ya Kalaneng Festival (2026) at the Wits Theatre, the POPArt Next Draft Festival (2026) at the Joburg Theatre, and is set to perform at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda later this year. He has studied theatre and has been in the industry for the last 9 years, studying under Janet Baylis for three years. Theodore is classically trained in acting, singing, and piano. He boasts as the composer and musical director of four productions: Tick, Tick, Boom! directed by Aphelele Sidelo (2024), Sins directed and choreographed by Khanyisile Masondo (2025), Kumfiliba directed by Sazikazi Bula (2025 and 2026), and Kwa-Juba directed by Asibonge Ntuli (2026), playing piano in all of the above. Theodore is as hands on off-stage as he is on-stage, stage managing for the productions of Elesin Oba directed by Sade Sepeng (2024), Zinkonde the Musical directed by Aphelele Sidelo (2025), Sunday in New York and The Gamblers, both directed by Jamie Catalina Mirembe Namayanja (2025). 

Masungulo Khosa 

Masungulo Khosa is a budding presence in the South African entertainment industry - currently honing his craft as a BA Theatre and Performance student at Wits University. He is a prolific theatre performer. Audiences have enjoyed his talents in a range of over fifteen theatrical productions on the greatest stages in the country, including ‘Beauty and the Beast’ at the South South African State Theatre, Naledi Award winning 'Flesh in the Garden', ‘Seven Colours’ at the Market Theatre, 'Vula, Mvula: Kwavela Kwathula', and ‘silent ECHOES', to name just a few.

He is also a television actor, with representation from both Star Quality Management and Boss Models Johannesburg, securing him numerous roles in nationwide television, film, and commercial productions for ‘DSTV’, 'Chicken Licken', 'Standard Bank,'Cadbury', ‘Discovery Insure’ and more. 
When not captivating audiences on stage or screen, Masungulo can be found expressing himself musically. A talented singer and passionate guitar player, his creative spirit extends beyond the realm of acting into impassioned creative expression at large. 

Njabulo Vilakazi

My Name is Njabulo Vilakazi (also known as 'JA22Y' pronounced 'jazzy') 
I am an actor, singer-songwriter, scriptwriter and poet. I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Witwatersrand doing my 3rd year in the Theatre and Performance (majoring in Directing and Performance). 
I am a 20-year-old male, born and raised in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal.  
I have and continue to release music under the artist name ‘JA22Y’. I was a part of cast in the Curro Currage Concert of 2023 as a singer, actor and dancer. 

I continue to act in student productions, produce own music, poetry and scripts as a part of my artistic culture. I am a part of The 8th Bag who have performed at The Wits Theatre for Pitso Ya Kalaneng, Joburg Theatre for PopArt and are to perform at The National Arts Festival 2026 in Grahamstown.

Thabani Mdlalose

Thabani Mdlalose is an aspiring all-round performer, currently enrolled at the University of Witwatersrand - working towards a BA in Theatre and Performance (TaP). His journey into the arts began with part-time acting classes at the Market Theatre Laboratory, going through the teachings of Lehlohonolo Dube, Billy Langa and Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi. 
As a Wits TaP student, Thabani continues to hone his craft, taking part in various productions including Seven Colours, Liewa Pa, Return of the Ancestors, le Bone, Oblation: Through our Orison and Emobeni.

Sbonelo Vuwani

Sbonelo Vuwani is a theatre practitioner in training, currently studying Theatre and Performance at University of Witwatersrand Majoring in Physical Theatre, Cultural Policy and Management. He has a deep love for storytelling. He was introduced to theatre at the age of 10 years old and has been telling and writing stories ever since. He has previously been in shows such as No Good Friday, Ingrate, Kumfiliba, directed by Sazikazi Bula, Emobeni, directed by Sika Bandile Moloi, and Table for Two Directed Amanada Mtimba.

He is an active member of the 8th bag Production, which tells the 
story of men who are brought together by the journey to Kwandoshisa. The journey is met with a lot of obstacles that these men have to uncover. 
His journey with storytelling is still growing. He aspires for greatness and the betterment of my craft every day through constant practice and constant exploration. As he tries to find his voice, he draws a lot of inspiration from everyday stories that are not met with the privilege of representation. A theatre practitioner who dreams every day and runs with imagination is who he is.

Philasande Dlamini

Philasande Dlamini is a South African theatre and performance practitioner, author, and leadership educator born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2004. He is currently in his third year of a Degree in Theatre and Performance at the University of the Witwatersrand, while also studying at the Tithemi School of Ministry and Leadership. As a performer, Philasande has participated in many student productions at Wits and is an active member of The 8th Bag, a collective formed by seven Wits students. He has performed at the Wits Theatre and the Joburg Theatre, and is preparing for an upcoming performance at the National Arts Festival. 

Beyond performance, Philasande works as an administrator, event coordinator, and Media and Marketing Officer for Lesedi La Rona Kreatives, a non-profit organisation operating in the Cultural and Creative Industries sector. He is also an organisational and spiritual leader. He served as Education Campus Secretary for Christian Action Fellowship under the SRC for the 2024/25 term, and as School of Ministers Principal at Mission 2025, where he currently coordinates six teams and sits on the executive committee. 
Philasande is the author of two unpublished books focused on financial stability and biblical leadership. 

Driven by purpose, vision, and leadership, his work uses theatre, writing, and public speaking as tools to mentor, educate, and develop young people into leaders. He is particularly committed to influencing key spheres of society education, family, business, and the arts with the goal of turning followers into leaders and leaders into agents of change. His work is deeply inspired by the teachings of Dr. Myles Munroe.