JR: Can you take a moment to introduce to us “Mbasa Tsenaneana” with regard to his name, place of birth and what he does as a creative person (what you do as an artist)?
MT: Mbasa Tsetsana is a playwright, author and screenwriter. He has also acted and written for the screen. In 2008, his story and script entitled “Changes” was selected to be a part of the Nab’Ubomi (This is Life)! Eastern Cape Interschool’s Film competition, and was screened on SABC 1.
His play, “Waiting for Nelson” debuted at the South African State Theatre in 2014 and has since played at the Joburg Theatre, Market Theatre Laboratory, the East London Guild Theatre and the Courtyard Theatre at the Durban University of Technology, winning best drama of the festival at the 2014 Roodepoort Theatre Arts Festival. He wrote for The South African Film and TV Award winning (best writing) Bomb Shelter Film Company’s Isithembiso which aired on DSTV channel 161. He has also had a brief stint as a writer with award winning production company Quizzical Pictures (MTV SHUGA).
In 2020,he was also selected to be an NFVF Sediba Spark Facilitator. He also conceptualized and developed a short film, Entangled, with the Story Oasis, run by Stiletto Entertainment and funded by the Gauteng Film Commission. In 2020, his short film, The P. I. M. P – (President In My Pocket), was selected for development funding by the National Film and Video Foundation. He was also a facilitator at the 7th annual Eastern Cape Film Festival and a writing facilitator for the 2nd edition of the Eastern Cape Film Forum’s Eastern Cape Skills Development Lab, in partnership with the NFVF and the Presidential Employment Stimulus Package.
He was also selected to be a writing facilitator for a training program that was in partnership with the ECDC, NFVF and Umzimvubu Muicipality where he presented a week long writing workshop to emerging screenwriters in Mount Ayliff, teaching the basics of screenwriting. His poem, entitled Ikat’Ilel’eziko, was also published as part of an initiative of the French Institute of South Africa in partnership with Total South Africa and Impepho Press, entitled Yesterday and Imagining Realities: An Anthology of South African Poetry.
Another one of his most recent plays, entitled Did Little Red Really Ride The Hood?, was, in 2021, selected as part of an anthology that was published by Penguin Random House for primary schools in South Africa. Furthermore, his short film, entitled The President In My Pocket, in 2023, made it to the quarterfinals of the TSL Free Screenwriting Competition, beating out over 11900 scripts from entries from across the world, and in 2024, his pilot script for his drama series, uMncedikazi: The Help, also made it to the quarterfinals of the same competition, being ranked in the top 15% of discoverable scripts on the Script Lab.
His other play that he developed through the UJ Writing Lab, which has been shortlisted and is being developed by the Market Theatre’s Play Development Programme, entitled “Letters from Tomorrow”. His play is 1 of 6 that has made it to the shortlist out of 65+ entries. He further served as a judge for the coveted Writers Guild of South Africa’s Muse Awards in 2024.
His debut in television came with his supporting role as Mxolisi, on ETV’s 8 part miniseries, “The Alliance (2016)”. In 2018, he was cast in award winning and internationally acclaimed writer and director Jahmil X.T. Qubeka’s film, Knuckle City, SA’s official selection for the 2020 Oscars and in the following year, was also casted by Qubeka in his Amazon debut, You’re My Favourite Place. He has acted co – written and acted with award winning actor, Khaya Mthembu with ‘Stay Away From Boys!’ being staged at the South African State Theatre and the internationally acclaimed National Arts Festival.
Tsetsana has also acted in a number of stage productions including, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Athol Fugard’s Master Harold and the Boys, Femi Osofisan’s Morountodun, directed by internationally renowned actor and director Andrew Buckland and Red Shoes, written and directed by Leila Henriques.
Tsetsana is an award winning Playwright and Director who directed plays for the acclaimed Nelson Mandela Bay Theatre Complex in Gqeberha, the East London Guild Theatre, the Joburg Theatre, the South African State Theatre, the Artscape Theatre and the WITS Theatre. In 2016, Tsetsana was selected, out of 40 000 applicants, to be 1 of the top 100 delegates at the Brightest Young Summit.
JR: You are an Award Winning Playwright | Theatre Director | Screenwriter | Story liner | Actor | Facilitator | Educator, which role best describes you here, and why?
MT: I would argue that, as an artist storytellers. With that being said, I would say that the role that best articulates and encapsulates me as a storyteller, who is gifted in Playwriting, Screenwriting and Story lining. I am in love with the art and the craft of writing because it comes to me more naturally.
JR: I can see that you have studied at some of the Big names such as Rhodes University as well as Wits University, what is it that you have studied, when was it, and for how long did you take to complete your studies?
MT: I have had the honour, of studying at internationally renowned learning institutions, under the mentorship and guidance of equally renowned industry and academic veterans which includes the likes of Professors’ Andrew, Janet Buckland, Anton Krueger, Samuel Ravengai, Anna– Marie Jansen Van Vuuren, as well as professionals who offered me a world of experience and knowledge, that I would not have received in a ‘formal’ educational setting. These included master classes hosted by the National Film and Video Foundation, the Story Oasis, the Writers Guild of South Africa, the UJ, Woordfees and Market Theatre Playwriting Labs, and a number of others who have been immensely fruitful on my journey.
JR: You have mentioned roles such as “Writing and Acting for Screen”, in addition to been an “Intern and Writer” for South African Soapie, Muvhango. How long have you been writing and acting for screen, and how low did you Interned and Wrote for Muvhango?
MT: The writing bug truly hit me after I had finished my formal studies at WITS, however in 2008, I was afforded the opportunity to pitch a short film for the Nab’Ubomi(This is Life!) Eastern Cape Interschool’s Competition, which was headed up by Mandela Bay Pictures and supported by the SABC.
Recently my made for TV film entitled ‘Fallen Angel’ was selected for etv’s ‘Ekasi: Our Stories’ biskop program. In my final year of study, I emailed the Executive Producer of Muvhango, and owner of Word of Mouth Pictures, Dr. Duma Ndlovu, indicating my passion and love for storytelling.
Inspite of the wave of campaigning my students across the country due to “Fees Must Fall Campaign”, I continued prioritizing my studies in addition to spending 6 months in the Muvhango Writing room receiving a wealth of knowledge from the well renowned writers and storytellers such as Carol Shore (former head writer), Kelton Sinyosi, and Zelipa Zulu – formidable writers and story liners.
My first professional gig as an actor saw me a supporting actor in ‘uMalusi’, filmed in East London and released in 2008. I have since acted in etv’s ‘The Alliance’, produced by Uzanenkosi Mahlangu, Themba Sibeko and Stan Joseph of Ochre Moving Pictures, as well as ‘Knuckle City’ (2019) and ‘You’re My Favourite Place‘ (2022), both written and directed by Jahmil X.T. Qubeka and Produced by Layla Swart.
JR: With qualifications in BA Dramatic Arts and or Live Performance, what are the job opportunities which one can venture into after completing their qualifications?
MT: As aforementioned, we are all storytellers. If we’re not telling the stories themselves, we are either guiding or facilitating the storytelling process, or bringing untold stories to fruition; stories or storytellers who, because of certain socioeconomic situations, do not have the means to access formal training or institutions that produce creative works.
I am an avid supporter of, and believer in education, and with that being said, ‘formal’ education is no longer the only means of education or training that one in the sector can rely on. I know of many brilliant lecturers who have a definitive understanding of acting, screenwriting, play writing etc, and have the talent to teach it, but do not do it – and vice versa, as well as those who are able to thrive in a less formal, more practical environment, as opposed to the aforementioned formal institutions.
One needs to understand their strengths, and constantly hone their craft, tools and skillset. One can venture into acting, screenwriting, story lining, storytelling and script editing, producing, directing (for the stage and/or screen), performance arts management, editing, set and costume design and many more roles.
Lastly, there are those that can act, but aren’t actors, and those who can write, but are not necessarily writers – but this is a conversation I would love to engage you on, on another day!
JR: How long have you been a creative person, and when did you learn that your passion is in it?
MT: The spark was lit in 2004 when my first ever drama teacher, Mrs. Joan Pike, asked me to audition for the pantomime for that year, which was directed by Amanda Bothma. The rest, as they say, is history!
JR: How did you get here or what made you to focus on the above (the career path you have undertaken) as a young woman since this was a male dominated industry? What skills do one require(s) to be able to work effectively and efficiently in all the roles you occupied?
MT: I do not believe in sitting down and waiting for opportunities or luck, I believe in paving my own path. I am in love with the industry and believe that, with my skill set and experience, that I could move mountains in this wonderful industry of ours. I am moldable and malleable and the telling of quintessentially cathartic, engaging and universal stories, as well as the development of said stories that can touch the lay man.
Everybody has a story to tell, and I have always dreamed of not just telling my own, but those of marginalized, otherwise ‘unheard’ of, ‘unrecognized’, ‘taboo’ individuals, communities and societies. One needs discipline, diligence, competency and consistency. You can be those most talented person in the room, but if you lack discipline, consistency, professionalism and trustworthy, you will not only not make it, but you will definitely go hungry!
JR: Can you briefly talk to us about the following play:
- Waiting for Nelson
MT: It has been 43 years since the 1976 Soweto Uprisings. Set in post-apartheid South Africa, 25 years after the first ever democratic elections, the production revolves around a couple who is faced with issues encompassing historical background, currently events and will probably affect future South Africans: (RACE).
The ‘race issue’, however, is one that every human being is capable of contributing towards solving, through simply undergoing a change in ways of thought – we just haven’t realized this yet. Waiting for Nelson is an important production that delivers a fresh avenue to be explored in the quest of achieving the sacred idea of a ‘rainbow nation’, through planting a seed of confrontation, change and redefinition.
When the theatre confronts us with brutal situations where ‘the life mask cracks and falls away’ it can expose an ‘intimate layer’ which returns us to common human truths.
JR: I read that you’re part of creative initiative with the “The Market Theatre–The Associate Playwrights Programme”, can you briefly share some information with the readers!
MT: Earlier this year, as part of the Market Theatre’s Professional Develop Program (PDP), a call was issued for plays to be developed through their play development program, as well as the program that I am currently a part of – the Associate Playwrights Programme, where about 60 playwrights applied, and 12 have been selected to partake in weekly masterclasses with the Market Theatre’s internationally renowned Artistic Director, Greg Homann.
Over the next 12 weeks, we shall engage in these masterclasses, with overall goal being the developed of a new text/play. At the end of October, the Artistic Director will be handing us over to professional playwrights, who will essentially look at and mentor us on the plays we are developing, with the main goal being skilling is with play writing tools and techniques, and hopefully, producing a play with the Market.
JR: You are indeed a talented person, I see you also wrote a poem entitled ‘Ikat’ilel’eziko’ which was selected and published in the Anthology of South African Poetry Yesterday and Imagining Realities. What is the message of your poem and to whom is it targeted to?
MT: Firstly, thank you for the compliment! I am humbled by your kind and motivating words. ‘Ikat’ilel’eziko’ speaks to people not allowing their personal and current circumstance to dictate their future. Nothing is forever. As the age old saying goes, ‘tough times do not last, but tough people do’. The main message of the poem is that in the end, it will be okay, and if it’s not okay, it’s not the end; so keep on keeping on!
JR: Theatre is a very competitive industry where few individuals with acting, writing, directing, and designing acumen continues to stay and make incredible contributions, in which grouping do you fall into and what makes you continue making an impact therein?
MT: I would categorize myself as a playwright. I collaborated with friends and colleagues, in addition to finding new people, spaces and creatives to work with. Gone are the days where formal theatres are the only spaces to stage one’s work. The advent of Covid has taught us to rethink various ways of making theatre to be more creative and sustainable without government funding.
JR: Can you take us through the process you underwent in creating your Talent Show at the Convocation Hall (Wits University). What were the activities displayed or showcased by the participants?
MT: The only outlet that students in residences had were activities that happened during the Orientation week, the official Residence Talent Show, and a couple campus activities. My residence was essentially for the ‘Old Timers’– students who were in their Postgraduate Studies.
I was in the school of arts, so instead of inviting people to the arts activities which took place at the WITS Theatre Complex, was quite the walk from the West Campus Residence (David Webster Hall), I decided to bring the arts to West Campus. I collaborated with friends and colleagues, Thuso Mbedu and Mpho Osei–Tutu, in addition to reaching out to DJ Fresh who had been a Judge on SA’s Got Talent.
JR: I understand by creating the talent show was a way to respond to your goals. Do you think you’ve managed to achieve your goals through that event (Talent Show)?
MT: Networking is a big part of my industry – any industry really, and in hosting the talent show, I managed to grow my professional network.
JR: Who are the three people in the creative industry that you take inspiration from, and what is it that they are doing that inspires you?
MT: Dr. Ismail Mohamed – He’s an old timer who has worked in the creative sector for 4 decades. He is still a sought after Producer, Festival Curator/Director and Creative Sector leader. He continues to plough back into the sector and advancing the youth. He is the definition of Ubuntu, tenacity, passion and professionalism.
Trevor Noah – Despite social media trolls and the hate that he may receive from a few, he hasn’t allowed that to define him or get him down. He continues to live, love and dominate the entertainment industry, also continuing to pay homage to South Africa and giving back to those less fortunate. Thuso Mbedu – She is Thuso Mbedu. Need I say more?!
JR: Can you talk to me about your motivation and or inspiration to keep you going when the going gets tough?
MT: My son keeps me going. Providing a better future for him and a legacy is my first, second and third priority. Gratitude also keeps me going, because as tough as I have it, there are those who have it much tougher than I do. The last thing that keeps me going is being able to provide my colleagues with employment through plays, films and projects that I produce.
JR: Which qualities do you think make a great (artist) and or creative person?
MT: Passion, patience, perseverance, professionalism, tenacity, consistency, competency, humility, compassion, empathy, self-awareness, self-confidence, self-consciousness.
JR: What is your advice to the aspiring youth?
MT: Keep on keeping on. In the end, it will be okay, and if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.