The Alex Theatre Company and Academy hosted a masterclass theatre workshop at Alex SanKopano on September 26, facilitated by veteran actor Bheki Mkhwane as part of the organisation’s Homecoming Programme.

The Homecoming Programme is a five-month, quarterly theatre masterclass and development initiative aimed at empowering emerging artists in Alexandra Township and across Gauteng. According to the Alex Theatre Company and Academy, the programme reflects an intention to “return home” and invest directly in the next generation of performing artists.

Read more: Alexandra elders celebrate heritage at East Bank hall ahead of Heritage Day

Structured to support participants between the ages of 16 and 30, the initiative offers workshops, mentorship, and structured pathways for artists seeking to build careers in the performing arts.

Archie Oupa Matsitela, artistic director of the Alex Theatre Company and Academy, said the programme was designed to bring established performers such as Mkhwane into direct contact with emerging talent in Alexandra, allowing them to transfer skills, experience, and industry knowledge to a younger generation.

Matsitela confirmed that the programme, which would accommodate 30 participants per session with an overall goal of reaching approximately 270 participants across nine workshops, is scheduled to run on a quarterly basis until February 2, 2027.

“It is also to show that if you are from Alexandra, or you have roots in Alexandra, it is also possible to have a career in performing arts,” Matsitela said, noting that sustaining such a career requires years of disciplined training and continuous skills development.

Practical exercises build acting skills

Participants engaged in a range of theatre exercises during the workshop, including a structured ball-passing drill intended to reinforce communication, timing, and focus among performers.

Also read: Alex HOMEcoming masterclasses set to empower next generation of artists

Mkhwane described the exercise as a practical demonstration of the principles that underpin acting.

“Teaching is about sharing, and the simple act of passing the ball teaches them how to share,” he said.

He further addressed the impact of nervousness on the performance, noting that a single actor’s anxiety can compromise the collective execution of a scene.

“As soon as nervousness comes in, we lose it. That is why acting is all about seamlessness, to lose the world and just be in there,” he said.

He advised participants to prioritise rhythm over urgency. “Performance is not about rushing, but finding the rhythm. You must create a rhythm of working together,” he said.

Speaking after the workshop, he said it was all about sharing his four decades of experience to help young actors guide their own journey.

“You will never master art until you die, you keep learning. So, that is why I am saying I am not here to teach but I am sharing my experience with the young ones. It’s so that they guide their own journey,” he said.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!