The Four Seasons 

Cast: Lacretia Stuurman, Yonda Kwezi, Chuma Piliso, Nosihle Xaba, RU African Chorus
Stage Manager: Esihle Ndyolashe

The Dinner

Cast: Sivuyisiwe Wani, Lesedi Makhene

Stage Manager: Naledi Malotana

THE FOUR SEASONS

Nikita Baloyi was born and raised in Johannesburg. Ms Baloyi is currently a Masters Candidate in Drama at Rhodes University, she studied at AFDA and majored in stage and screen acting as well as cinematography in 2019. In 2021 she moved to Makhanda and continued with her studies at Rhodes University where she majored in Drama and Journalism and Media Studies. Ms Baloyi performed in an award-winning production Second Hands, produced by the Rhodes Drama Department and directed by Khanya Ngcuka in collaboration with cast during the National Arts Festival in 2023. She is a Standard Bank Ovation Award-winning actress that aspires to explore and develop more in her acting and music career. Ms Baloyi directed a 10-minute scene from Mbuzeni by Koleka Putuma and a 45-minute play devised through a compilation of scenes from Yael Farber’s Molora. With the inspiration from directors and even choreographers that make use of ritual, music, personal experience, societal issues etc such as Mandla Mbothwe, Gregory Maqhoma, Mamela Nyamza and Yael Farber. It was during this period of her life that Ms Baloyi discovered her passion and drive for directing with the hopes of directing her own works. With a collaborative directorial style and interest in the exploration of how South African ritual theatre heals performers and audience, her curiosity in sound and music on stage outlines her craft; she tells stories through expressive staging rather than realistic ways.

Lacretia Stuurman is an honours student specialising in acting, writing, and dramatic literature. 'I am driven by a passion for storytelling. In 2023 I was part of a Standard Bank Standing Ovation award winning performance, Second Hands. In 2024 that same performance formed part of the Young Professionals Season in Cape Town. As a performer I am drawn to roles that push me out of my comfort zone, allowing me to tap into the complexities of the human experience. As I continue to grow as an artist, I hope to collaborate with fellow creatives to produce work that resonates with audiences locally and globally.'

'My name is Chuma Piliso. I’m 21 years old, from Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, and currently completing my Honours in Psychology. My relationship with theatre has been shaped by the spaces I’ve been part of—where collaboration, vulnerability, and reflection come together in powerful ways. In 2024, I was honoured to be part of Just A Phase, a production by Ashwin and Carla, which received a Standard Bank Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival. That experience deepened my appreciation for process and purpose in storytelling. I’m drawn to theatre that is raw, human, and reflective—work that holds emotion without needing to explain it. My background in psychology helps me listen more closely, especially to what sits beneath the surface. I value slow growth, meaningful exchange, and the quiet power of presence. I see myself as an artist in motion—still becoming, still learning, still searching for truth through story.'

Nosihle Xaba is a performer dedicated to telling authentic, human stories inspired by real-life issues. 'My creative practice is grounded in a deep commitment to social justice and the power of theatre as a catalyst for change, through performance. I strive to create work that resonates emotionally, challenges perspectives, and gives voice to those often unheard. For me, theatre is not only an art form—it is a space for healing, resistance, and transformation. And in the future, I hope to utilise facilitation and theatre design.'

'Yondangebhulu N.T. Kwezi — yes, it’s a mouthful, so you can call me Yonda. My name means fight against the oppressor, and in many ways, that’s exactly what I aim to do through performance: challenge systems, tell the hard truths, and speak for those whose stories have long been ignored. Born in Qonce and raised in the windy city of Gqeberha, my upbringing shaped my curiosity and deepened my love for people, place, and culture. I found my voice in high school drama rooms and later, on university stages and film sets. And my journey in theatre has shaped who I am - It has given me the language to express, the courage to question, and the tools to grow. I am an AFDA alumni, and I’m currently pursuing my Honours in Drama at Rhodes University, where I continue to explore theatre as a space for empathy, resistance, and personal truth.'

The Rhodes University African Chorus (RUAC), is a music society and community engagement choir founded in 2020, operates under the auspices of the Department of Music and Musicology, takes pride in celebrating and sharing South African and African indigenous choral and traditional music. Through performances across Makhanda, RUAC is committed to preserving and promoting this rich cultural tradition. 

Athenkosi Nelani holds BMus (Hons) and MMus degrees from Rhodes University. Originally from Makhanda, he began his training through school and community choirs, later joining the Access Music Project (AMP) in 2011. At AMP, he studied music theory, African instruments, piano, and classical voice, earning Grade 5 certificates in voice and theory from the Royal Schools of Music. Nelani has led the Rhodes University Chamber Choir in 2019 and has been the choir director of the Rhodes University African Chorus since its foundation in 2020.

My name is Esihle Ndyolashe, I’m a 4^th year journalism student specializing in photojournalism. My journey as a photographer began in my childhood, when I first discovered I have a natural eye for capturing compelling images. Back then, becoming a professional photographer never crossed my mind, but everything changed when I arrived at Rhodes. It was here that I realised photography could be more than a hobby; it could be a way of seeing, understanding, and engaging with the world. My passion for photography is driven by a curiosity to see how the world looks through the lens of a camera. This inquiry guides my work in my quest to use photography as a tool to explore the complex realities we inhabit.

THE DINNER

Swelihle May has been captivated by the arts all his life, his interests beginning with film. After being adopted as a baby, and being raised in Durban, he has always seen himself as a sponge. A kaleidoscope of hopes, dreams and ideas. He has always thought that the Arts is where the impossible can find its way into existence. He is a first year Masters student at Rhodes University, majoring in directing and this is his first professional outing as a writer/director. He is drawn to spectating and unpacking the human condition onstage. Believing that there are transcendent truths to humanity, touchstones that we all share, and it is because of this that he believes that his pursuit in understanding others will ultimately bring him closer to understanding himself. His offering to this year’s festival is a work that aspires to be a case study of a love that runs itself into the ground because it knows of no other solution. This work is the unpacking of a love that bleeds the sky of its blue and thrives in the most cancerous environment. But ultimately, it is the story of two people who have invested themselves into one another and will do whatever it takes to protect their investment.

Born and raised in several parts of Gauteng, Lesedi Makhene is an aspiring performer with a passion for acting and a willingness to learn other production roles with the intention to grow as a multifaceted individual in the industry. He is a Rhodes University Graduate in Drama, who is also doing his honours in Drama at the above-mentioned institution. More about Lesedi is that he made his National Arts Festival debut in 2023 with the Standard Ovation award-winning production called Second Hands, directed by Khanya Ngcuka. In the 2024 festival, he was the stage manager for the production Just A Phase, directed by Mmatumisang Motsisi, which also won a Standard Ovation award. This year, he returns to the performance stage as an actor in The Dinner by Swelihle May.

Sivuyisiwe Wani is a Xhosa girl, born and bred in Gqeberha. She is an actress, a singer, and a theatre maker. She is a Masters candidate currently majoring in Applied Theatre at Rhodes University. She is shaped by the stories and experiences of her people. She sees the stage as a platform of sharing, receiving, creating empowering moments with audiences through her characters or her voice as a singer. She has been involved in the following productions: Qaqamba directed by Monde Wani (2025) Ginger In Tanzania (2022, a collaborative Applied Theatre piece at Rhodes), In the Blood (2021: Rhodes University production directed by Lyndre Bonhomme),  The Melting Pot(2017 NAF: Directed by Monde Wani), Cinderella ( 2019, directed by Greg Everard, performed at the Savoy Theatre which got her a Showtime Award for best supporting actress), Romeo and Juliet (2019, directed by Greg Everard). She is now currently involved in The Dinner, a play directed by Swelihle May which will be performed at the National Arts Festival (2025).

Naledi Malotana, born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, she fell in love with the way performance art constructed her alter ego; someone who is not afraid to step out of her comfort zone to talk about unconventional and uncomfortable things. She is an artist, a writer, and aspiring director currently navigating her third year as a BFA student at Rhodes University, where she is passionately pursuing Drama as a third major. Her hometown has shaped a lot of her views and beliefs in her artistic practice. She experiments with personal identity and social feminism. Her commitment was recognised when she became a finalist in the 2025 National Playwright Competition for her play that critically examines patriarchal systems. This piece reflects her dedication to confronting societal norms and sparking important conversations around gender dynamics. Currently, she is stage managing for Swelihle May’s The Dinner.