Mfundo Hashe
Mfundo is an all round performing artist from Khayelitsha. He started out with drama in High school as an extra mural activity and in a community drama group called Manyanani Entertainers and then trained at Arts and Media Access Centre (AMAC). He has written many plays and directed Broken Vowels which toured the National Arts Festival and the Drama For Life Festival in Johannesburg. He has been part of Jungle Theatre Company since 2007 and is currently performing in Spirit of Fire/Water, Hoerikwaggo, Father Sun and Indlovu People, yet his favourite Jungle Theatre Company play is Jungle Jive. He also facilitates the eMzantsi schools programme . He continues to be involved community drama groups and forums in Khayelitsha.
Nimray Kruger
Nimray joined Jungle Theatre Company in 2008 and currently performs: Father Sun, Indlovu People and Shark Dreams as well as the eMzantsi schools programme. Her favorite play is Shark Dreams in which she plays a 10 year old girl who goes on an adventure in the ocean. She comes from Bontehewel and trained at New Africa Theatre Academy (NATA) and AMAC and Screen Actors Studio. She said: “It is so awesome to be part of a theatre company that continuously and positively influences the way in which us humans view nature and how we can always make a difference by just one little action.”
Ntombifuthi Mkhasibe
Ntombifuthi obtained a National Diploma in Drama Studies at the Durban University of Technology and had her own group of young kids that she taught Zulu dance called Iziqonqwane. She joined Jungle Theatre Company April 2009 and she’s been involved in many JTC projects: Spirit of Fire/Water, Moya The Air We Breathe, Indlovu People (her favourite), Hoerikwaggo and Kiss Waste Goodbye, leading the eMzantsi schools programme and facilitating Laduma Jungle Training. A singer/song writer, composer, choreographer and actress she is passionate about art and drama because, she says, “That is where I find my true meaning of life.”
Simric Yarrow
Simric comes from a professional performing background which includes lots of music (playing in pop bands, jazz ensembles and classical orchestras!) and performance poetry (first collection, ‘Flying on the Lucid Fringe’, published last year). He won ‘best actor’ at Cape Town Amateur Theatre Awards back in 2003 and has since worked with Bonfire Theatre as well as worked with children as an actor, storyteller and a Waldorf primary school teacher. He has worked with Jungle Theatre Company in Shark Dreams, Spirit of Water, and Father Sun. His favourite Jungle show which he is cast in is Spirit of Water with his overall favourite being Indlovu People.
Unathi Speelman
Unathi is a young energetic and committed artist from a small village called Sada, Eastern Cape. He trained at Cape Town’s AMACand has worked with many different companies around South Africa. He is cast in many Jungle Theatre Company productions: Spirit of Fire/Water, Moya The Air We Breathe, Father Sun and Rubbish Wrap but the one show that leaves a smile on his face is Shark Dreams. He has also directed, stage managed and facilitated workshops including eMzantsi schools programme. Every performance he does is especially dedicated to his late mother (MAMFENE)…..injalo lonto and ayijiki lonto.
Associated Artists
Brian De Goede
Justin Stuart
Monique Fagan
Stuart Palmer
Yandiswa Mazwana
Other Artists who have worked with Jungle Theatre Company
Andrea Dondolo
Brent Palmer
Christian Bennett
Daniel Guy Barnett
Faniswa Yisa
Friso Quentemeijer
Haidee Crowe
Heather Mac
Jaqueline Dommisse
Marika Lelani Williams
Mbuso Shandu
Natasha Barclay
Nelson Chileshe Musonda
Nkosinathi Dolomba
Soren Kaspersinski
Thembani Luzipho
