TUT graduate stars in local drama
Mathabo Mothibe said television acting was different from a theatre stage and a conference room, both of which were her playgrounds before Giyani – Land of Blood.
A Tshwane University of Technology alumni is enjoying her big break on a SABC 2 TV drama series Giyani – Land of Blood.
The new and first Xitsonga show premiered on 1 April.
Mathabo Mothibe graduated with a BTech in drama in 2015. She plays Khensani Mudau, the daughter of Richard and Gladys Mudau.
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“Drama graduates across South Africa often have to do other jobs like waiting tables and bar-tending while waiting for that big break. But Mothibe took a different approach by focusing on industrial theatre,” said her publicist, Ngwako Serepe.
“She did a road show for the department of public works on occupational health and safety, a programme for young kids in Mamelodi.”
Serepe said Mothibe auditioned for various roles while waiting for that break, including on Giyani – Land of Blood.
Doubts occupied her mind at times, so did the idea of just focusing on something else other than acting.
She further focused on behind the scenes work as a producer and writer of short films.
As she was going on about her life, she got a call that her audition and callbacks for Mothibe were super great and that she got the role.
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“Happy as I was, I also understood the seriousness of the role, this was my first lead and on television. It was quite a challenging role at first, however, with time it became a lot easier,” she said.
She said television acting was different from a theatre stage and a conference room, both of which were her playgrounds before Giyani – Land of Blood.
“I had to adapt very fast, first by taking direction from the directors, secondly by watching other actors on set. Khensani’s story-line has its own arc, which makes for an interesting portrayal on my part,” she said.
He character Khensani falls in love with Musa, played by fellow TUT graduate Wiseman Zitha. Together they make the two characters love story believable and relatable.
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Mothibe was born in Alexandra and raised in Leondale.
For her industrial theatre work, she performed in plays such as Jordan, Mother and Child, Pillow Talk, Nuptials and The Suitcase.
Giyani – Land of Blood airs Monday to Wednesday at 21:30 on SABC2.
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