Our Team | ASSITEJ South Africa

Our Staff
Through creative processes, we empower young people to find and develop their unique voice.Through innovation, we strive to release latent creative talents in the youth of South Africa.Through participation, we enable young people to discover their common humanity. Through discipline and commitment, we lay the foundation for their productive future.Through leadership opportunities, we develop confidence and responsibility in the new generation.Through the profound interaction theatre offers, we help to heal the hurts of the past and to provide a vision of potential for the future.

Yvette Hardie: National Director

YVETTE HARDIE is a theatre producer, director, educator, and writer active in the world of theatre and performance, with a particular focus on theatre for young audiences. She initiated the launch of ASSITEJ SA (the national centre of the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People) in 2007, and leads the organisation in the capacity of National Director. She served as elected President of the international ASSITEJ from 2011-2021. She has now stepped down from this position and is an Honorary President of the association. She serves as Deputy Chairperson for the STAND Foundation and for Im4theArts. In all these capacities, she creates opportunities for artistic exchange, mentorship, skills development and cross-cultural collaboration across the world, while working to invigorate the South African theatrical landscape with work of the highest quality and widest accessibility. She writes and speaks extensively on issues relating to arts for young audiences, arts education and arts for reconciliation and conflict resolution at events around the world. In 2019, she was awarded the Mickey Miner Award for Lifetime Achievement from IPAY (International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY), based in Philadelphia, USA for her contribution to theatre for young audiences locally and globally.

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Hailey Chisholm: Operations Manager
Hailey Chisholm studied at University of Witwatersrand, majoring in Performance Arts Management and Design, and graduated with a BA Dramatic Arts Degree.She was appointed production/stage manager for Richard Loring’s company “Izinyawo Productions”, managing logistics, artists’ contracts and international promoters, touring internationally with the production “African Footprint” and has worked in 100’s of theatres across the globe.In 2009, she joined Cape Town Opera as Production Manager, working with large scale operas nationally and internationally. She managed logistics and operations for all productions for incoming shows at Baxter, Artscape Centre and outgoing shows performed in Grand Opera Houses in Sweden, France, Germany, UK and Israel.Hailey was appointed Production Manager at the Market Theatre, heading up the technical department. Her role was managing operations in her unit, working with a large team on numerous productions and events, in 4 theatres and several event venues. Her duties as HOD, included reporting, financial management and adhering to HR, managing a team of staff, managing and adhering to supply chain policies and development of income generation projects. She joined Sound Stylists as Project Manager in 2019, where she worked on large scale corporate events, managing budgets and logistics from concept to completion until the pandemic impacted the events industry.

Nkosivumile Lusu: Finance Manager
Nkosivumile has a Degree (Baccalaureus Technologiae: Taxation) from Cape Peninsula University of Technology, as well as a Diploma in Internal Auditing and a Higher certificate in Accountancy. He is registered with the South African Institute of Professional Accountants. Previous positions have been as Financial Accountant at GLS Consulting (Pty) Ltd, and at EOH Mothombo (pty) Ltd, and before that he worked as a Junior Accountant and Supervisor at the National Association of Child Care Workers. He is a hardworking, dedicated professional, with a heart for making a difference through the work that he does. He is a systematic and precise thinker who maintains high standards, while meeting his work goals conscientiously.

Alison Green: Education Manager
Alison Green is a educator, theatre practitioner and facilitator. Her teaching experience includes: the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, Roedean School for Girls, The National School of the Arts and Creative Voices – an integrated Arts Initiative associated with the Royal London Opera House. In 2013 Alison attended the UNESCO World Arts Alliance Conference in Germany, as the South African Arts Educator Representative. Currently, she is the project manager for the ASSITEJ SA Kickstarter Creative Arts programme, which is the first ever case study for the impact of Arts in South Africa. Alison is interested in play and the transformative power of the Arts to shift and develop communities. She has an MPhil in Creativity and Arts Education from Cambridge University.

Ryan Dittmann: Arts4Youth Project Manager
In 2010 Ryan collaboratively launched ZikkaZimba Productions with Jaques de Silva. The company employs up to 20 arts practitioners who contribute in various ways to South Africa’s thriving cultural economy. Ryan acknowledged the importance and need to engage with young, developing audiences and the company started to collaborate with the local education sector in an attempt to build sustainable relationships with schools in and around the Gauteng province.Over the last 11 years, the company has developed workshops, interactive lectures, training modules and performances that are commissioned by various schools around the country. To date ZikkaZimba has established a network within 25 schools, providing support and enrichment to various Dramatic Arts Departments.Ryan is excited to join ASSITEJ. He will look to use this knowledge for his time with ASSITEJ as well as learn from the experience of working with so many knowledgeable individuals.

Nthabiseng Masinge: Communications & Marketing Manager
Nthabiseng Masinge is a seasoned public sector and international development communications professional, social media manager and website administrator. She helps organisations develop and implement communications and visibility strategies. She has worked as a Communications, Knowledge Management and Digital transformation Advisor for South Africa, Lesotho and eSwatini in the technical wing of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and as a Marketing and Communications Assistant at the Collaborative Africa Budget Reform Initiative (CABRI). She holds a Bachelor of Information Science specialising in Publishing from the University of Pretoria. She is an avid reader and has dreams of one day running the Comrades Marathon.

Thembalenkosi Ngaleka: Junior Accountant
Thembalenkosi comes to Assitej SA having gained experience in bookkeeping and financial admin from several organisations, including the National Association of Child Care Workers, Solar Capital and Pick n Pay. He has a National Diploma in Accounting and a BTech in Taxation.

Tsholofelo Shounyane: Education Coordinator
Tsholo Shounyane is a drama facilitator, dollmaker and freelance translator/editor. She obtained her BA Drama from the University of Pretoria (2010) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the Central University of Technology (2015). She has worked with various companies and organisations including the University of Pretoria as a director-facilitator and junior lecturer, Arepp: Theatre for Life as an actress and director, Artscape Theatre and the Hillbrow Theatre Project as a director-facilitator. She has also worked in radio as a presenter and in reality television as an on-screen interviewer, translator and producer. Since graduating, most of her work has been in theatre for development, theatre in education and applied theatre and teaching. She believes in the big influence that art can have in all aspects of education and community building. She currently works as the Education Coordinator for Assitej Johannesburg.

Thozama Busakwe: Social Media Officer
Thozama is a Digital Community Manager, Copywriter and theatre practitioner. They help creative organizations optimize on the power of Social Media. Thozama is a ladder made of creative steps. They have worked for the Market Theatre Laboratory as a Marketing Assistant and subsequently the Market Theatre Foundation as a Digital Community Manager. They hold a Bachelors Degree from the Tshwane University of Technology with Specialty in Theatre Arts.

Thembile Tshuma: Theatre4Youth Coordinator (Gauteng)
Thembile Tshuma is an Applied Drama & Theatre graduate from Drama for Life (University of the Witwatersrand), percussionist, writer, puppeteer, dancer, musician and Theatre Director. He started working with young creatives in 2003, and has been involved in a number of productions across the SADC region. He has worked with companies like Drama for Life Playback Theatre Company, Themba Interactive, Hillbrow Theatre Outreach Foundation, just to name a few. Thembile is a lover of humanity and he believes that creative art is the core to building creative minds of a nation. His vision is to see every child being given the chance to explore, engage and reflect on their day to day lives without being marginalized or discriminated but given the opportunity to just play. He is the Gauteng Theatre4Youth Coordinator of Assitej South Africa and coordinates the Kickstarter project in Free State. He is a believer in theatre for transformation and healing.

Faye Kabali Kagwa: Theatre4Youth Coordinator (Western Cape)
Faye Kabali-Kagwa is a project co-ordinator, writer, and collector of stories. She has worked on multiple local and national arts festivals in South Africa. Faye is also a wielder of words, and a connector of people. She is interested in bringing people together, sharing experiences, and ultimately facilitating conversations with people that are not limited to one locale. She is a creative innovator, arts coordinator and culture writer with a growing interest in curation. She is an interdisciplinary practitioner with a strong focus on identity, migration, accessibility, and public engagement. In 2020 she began exploring WhatsApp as a medium for storytelling and debuted her first WhatsApp production, The Shopping Dead, at the virtual National Arts Festival 2020. In 2019 Faye was recognized as a Young Cultural Innovator by the Salzburg Global Seminar and in 2021 as a Mail and Guardian Top 200 Young South African.

Zinzo Patrick Heshu: Theatre4Youth Coordinator (Western Cape)
Masixole was born in Makhanda, Eastern Cape. He currently resides in Cape Town. He matriculated in Nombulelo Secondary School, after which he completed a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree majoring in Politics and International Studies, Economical and Industrial Sociology and Drama. He also obtained his Honours degree, Specialising in Directing and Applied Theatre. Both degrees completed at Rhodes University where he is currently a Masters in Arts candidate focusing on Creative History Methodology. He is also a workshop facilitator that has worked with the National Schools Festival, Eastern Cape schools festival, Sci-Fest Africa, Equity and Institutional Culture Unit, Rhodes Alumni and Correctional Services. He currently published a paper for Journal of Indigenous and Shamanic Studies on “Makhanda: reflections of the past, present and future.

Pauline Dalais: Theatre4Youth Coordinator (KwaZulu Natal)
Pauline Dalais is theASSITEJ SA KwaZulu-Natal Coordinator, artistic manager, agent, actress, assistant production manager, voice artiste: stage, screen, radio, tv, Lollipop Lane’s Mrs Singh Singh. Her proven track record of engaging with many high profile people in SA and assisting in cementing relationships for projects/events speaks for itself. She sees great benefit to bringing new and different talent to the arts field. She has a natural ability to make others feel at ease when communicating and coming up with fresh ideas. Her astute ability in communicating has served her well through her working years

Nkosiyami Ngubane: Theatre4Youth Representative (Mpumalanga)
Nkosiyami is a co-founder of Patriots Dance Theatre (PDT) in Mpumalanga; Witbank, eMalahleni. Through his local/community arts experience & Moving Into Dance Mophatong (MIDM’s) 2006 training, he became a full-time Creative Arts Practitioner emerging as an Arts and Culture field worker for Mpumalanga (MP) & Free State (FS) Department of culture, sports & Recreation (DCSR) under Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP), Artists in Schools Programme 2018 & The Young Patriots Program (TYPP) 2017 & 2018. He fundraises, administrates & facilitates theatre & dance classes through (PDT) and produced projects such as “WOMBMAN”, #TQCITAT dialogues & Debates, INGOMA, MASIHAMBISANE Dance & Theatre Project, “A Cruel Teacher Taught Us”, Creative intersection MP post conference, “Invisible Vampire” & “IBANDLA”. He facilitates open dance classes on African-Contemporary and Afro-fusion and he co-ordinates & perform industrial shows at South 32, ANGLO & GLENCORE coal mines in MP with local organisations & individuals.

Tiego Shametja: Theatre4Youth Representative (North West)
TIEGO SHAMETJA is a Theatre Practitioner, an Arts Administrator, a Community-Art-Activist, Arts Educator and Assitej SA’s Theatre4Youth Representative based in the North West Province.He possesses a National Diploma in Musical Theatre from Technikon Pretoria (TUT) in 1999, a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts from Wits University in 2015, where he studied Cultural Policy, Leadership in the Arts, Research, Operational Skills, Marketing, Sponsorship and Funding. His other credentials include NQF level 4 in Arts and Culture Administration from Artèma Institute, North West University in 2009, NQF level 5 of Assessor from ProActive College in 2010 and a Master Class Certificate in Marketing in the Arts through ACT (Arts and Culture Trust) and NAC (National Arts Council of South Africa) in 2016. He is currently pursuing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) through UNISA.

Letlhogonolo Nche: Theatre4Youth Representative (Northern Cape)
Letlhogonolo Nche is a dance teacher, choreographer and artistic advisor based in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. winner and First recipient of the ACT ImpACT Award for Dance in November 2015 and also the first prize recipient of the Northern Cape Teachers awards as the Best Dance Teacher for the NSC 2016.Nche graduated from Moving Into Dance Mophatong in 2009. He is currently the Manager of The Mayibuye Dance Academy and Dance and a teacher at St Cyprian’s Grammar School. He also works within ASSITEJ SA as a Kickstarter Artist-facilitator.

Keitumetse Tlokana: Theatre4Youth Representative (Limpopo)
Keitumetse Tlokana is an actor by profession, with a BA Drama degree from the University of Pretoria. She has worked on stage, television and film. She has acted on Isidingo and Binnelanders in the early days of her career. She also worked on an Afrikaans short film Met Kind which was showcased at the 2017 Cannes festival.Keitumetse discovered her love for children’s theatre back in varsity when she did Educational Theatre and portraying the character of Happy in the Afrikaans version of Snow-White and the 7 Dwarfs. She has since worked on a number of children’s theatre as a storyteller while also doing other projects within the arts industry. She joined ASSITEJ SA as a Representative for Limpopo from 2016.

Luvuyo Yanta:Theatre4Youth Representative (Eastern Cape)
Luvuyo Yanta is a Makhanda Based performer. He has performed many times in shows at the National Arts Festival including Blood stream and The Scorpion, Exhibit A, and Hoss.Other highlights include working for Ubom! ECDC as a performer/ facilitator. He has worked with award winning directors such as Rob Murray, Brett Bailey, Janet Buckland and Andrew Buckland. He has directed commissioned works for Ubom! ECDC and Rhodes University and collaborated with Prof Alex Sutherland on a range of community projects.Luvuyo is currently teaching Voice and Speech, and Theatre Making at Rhodes University. He enjoys collaborating in children productions. He directed Zina and the Songbird, co-directed in Fundisa’s Fabulous Adventure, which were both performed at the National Arts Festival. He is part of the 2021 Isitimela Sendaba digital platform by ASSITEJ SA, which was livestreamed at National Arts Festival 2021.

Jaqueline Dommisse: Project manager (Western Cape)
Jaqueline Dommisse is Artistic Director of the independent theatre company, Hearts & Eyes Theatre Collective. Having worked for ASSITEJ SA as project manager on several projects, in 2015 she was appointed Festival Director for Cradle of Creativity, an international festival of theatre for children and young audiences mounted by ASSITEJ South Africa (17 to 27 May 2017), which was part of the 19th ASSITEJ World Congress. She was also Festival Director for the 2019 Cradle of Creativity Festival of ASSITEJ SA.Other projects for ASSITEJ SA include the the War Horse Theatre Mediation project (2014), African Youth Theatre and Dance Festival (2015-16), After School Game-Changer programme (2018-2019) and Cradle of Creativity 2019.She has an interest in puppetry, masks, and visual theatre, and sits on the board of UNIMA SA. In 2010, she served as Artistic Director of the Out the Box Festival of Puppetry and Visual Performance.Teaching theatre part-time at the tertiary level, she has facilitated workshops and short courses at the UCT Drama and Music Schools; and the Centre for Creative Education (Waldorf teacher training college). Her teaching is focussed on the NGO and community theatre sectors at organisations such as Community Arts Project, Arts and Media Access Centre, New Africa Theatre Association, ASSITEJ South Africa and Magnet Theatre.

Our Board
A Board that has a vision and acts with intent.A Board that acts deliberately and compassionately.A Board that is grounded in sustainability and longevity.A Board that inspires and is inspired!