Ngcobo on a mission

RENOWNED South African actor and director James Ngcobo, who has landed an international post at the Amsterdam international festival, Afrovibes, says the country has yet to live in Africa in terms of arts.

He spoke to Sowetan yesterday on the sidelines of the Grahams- town National Arts Festival, where he is scouting for South African theatre talent to take to Holland.

Ngcobo, who was named new artistic director of the Amsterdam multidisciplinary festival in April, says South Africa has yet to tell stories by prolific African writers.

The award-winning director says his new role in the 12-year festival will give local theatre productions exposure to the international arena.

Ngcobo assumed the position after choreographer and dance fundi Vuyani Maqoma stepped down after seven years.

Ngcobo says he is using the Grahamstown festival as a searching ground for talent in theatre.

He adds that he is looking for seven groups to take to Afrovibes in August next year. For five weeks, the local groups will be performing in places such as Belgium, Manchester, Amsterdam and London.

"I am passionate about this as much as I am passionate about my acting and directing roles. I am looking around and I am beginning to see how the festival will look," Ngcobo says.

The former Stokvel actor admits that looking for those seven groups will not be a walk in the park.

"Searching for talent is a very difficult job indeed. There is a lot of refreshing talent that is yet to be tapped.

"My aim for the festival is to merge emerging voices with seasoned ones."

He says as a person who is very conscious of how black people are portrayed on stage, he wants to move away from the "happy natives stories" that South African is known for.

"I am looking for stories that have substance. After seeing these shows, the world will understand our pulse as a country."

Ngcobo recently established a production company with Hugh Masekela called Sibojama.