VETERAN theatre and TV actor James Ngcobo has been appointed to the influential position of artistic director of The Market Theatre. He will start his new job in September.
Ngcobo (44) will take the reins from Malcolm Purkey, who has been in the position for almost nine years.
Popularly known as Mojo on the TV sitcom Stokvel, Ngcobo cut his teeth in theatre with a small company formed by Nicholas Ellenbogen - The Loft Theatre Company - that created an endless list of stars among them Fana Mokoena, Ellis Pearson and Madoda Ncayiyana.
Born in Durban, Ngcobo came to Joburg in 1996 to pursue his love of music and drama.
His outlook is African and musical though he was moulded mostly in drama.
Theatre lovers can expect those flavours for The Market during his tenure.
The married father of one has been directing for almost 10 years and his last drama, Boesman and Lena - Athol Fugard's classic - won two Fleur de Cap awards.
He also took Songs of Migration, which featured Hugh Masekela, to London and the Kennedy Center in the US.
Another Ngcobo play, The Suitcase opened the Soweto Theatre last year to rave reviews.
Nthati Moshesh, who was directed by Ngcobo in Lion and the Jewel, says no one deserves this "badge" more than him.
"If all actors could have half the passion and dedication that James has, we would take theatre to a completely different level; not that the standard isn't already high now.
"James doesn't sleep. He will be calling you more than once even at night, giving direction.
"He's a director until the show is over. He is my acting barometer. And a lot of people don't know this about him but he also cooks up a storm.
"He and Siyabonga Twala are very good cooks," says Moshesh.
Ngcobo says he is looking forward to the new challenge.
"The Market is a historically significant space.
"I will be coming with all the humility and a clear understanding that this is an organisation that is revered for making edgy work that caters for diverse audiences. We need to choose narratives that speak to that landscape," he says.
- mzwandile@sundayworld.co.za or via Twitter @mzwaik
A new sheriff at The Market
VETERAN theatre and TV actor James Ngcobo has been appointed to the influential position of artistic director of The Market Theatre. He will start his new job in September.
Ngcobo (44) will take the reins from Malcolm Purkey, who has been in the position for almost nine years.
Popularly known as Mojo on the TV sitcom Stokvel, Ngcobo cut his teeth in theatre with a small company formed by Nicholas Ellenbogen - The Loft Theatre Company - that created an endless list of stars among them Fana Mokoena, Ellis Pearson and Madoda Ncayiyana.
Born in Durban, Ngcobo came to Joburg in 1996 to pursue his love of music and drama.
His outlook is African and musical though he was moulded mostly in drama.
Theatre lovers can expect those flavours for The Market during his tenure.
The married father of one has been directing for almost 10 years and his last drama, Boesman and Lena - Athol Fugard's classic - won two Fleur de Cap awards.
He also took Songs of Migration, which featured Hugh Masekela, to London and the Kennedy Center in the US.
Another Ngcobo play, The Suitcase opened the Soweto Theatre last year to rave reviews.
Nthati Moshesh, who was directed by Ngcobo in Lion and the Jewel, says no one deserves this "badge" more than him.
"If all actors could have half the passion and dedication that James has, we would take theatre to a completely different level; not that the standard isn't already high now.
"James doesn't sleep. He will be calling you more than once even at night, giving direction.
"He's a director until the show is over. He is my acting barometer. And a lot of people don't know this about him but he also cooks up a storm.
"He and Siyabonga Twala are very good cooks," says Moshesh.
Ngcobo says he is looking forward to the new challenge.
"The Market is a historically significant space.
"I will be coming with all the humility and a clear understanding that this is an organisation that is revered for making edgy work that caters for diverse audiences. We need to choose narratives that speak to that landscape," he says.
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