Durban - When actor, singer and dancer Tshepo Ncokoane starts talking about performing, it’s hard not to get swept up in his passion for his craft.
He speaks of activism, of telling South African stories and of stirring debate.
“The stage is a platform to discuss things left unsaid, to open up the space for debate and conversation. But, if we are to open these debates, we need to tell stories that are relevant to our people,” he said.
Ncokoane will be part of a story well known to many this time, as a knight in the stage production Camelot, which runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre until June 3.
“I play Sir Dinadan, who is one of the knights to King Arthur, and it’s a story of family. It took some getting used to having a sword attached to my side all the time,” he laughed.
The musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the
TH White novel The Once And Future King.
Steven Stead directs the musical and plays King Arthur.
For Ncokoane, bagging the role of a knight has been the latest “blessing” as he stakes his name in the world of performing arts.
“I love performing, and in fact, my parents encouraged me to pursue a career in the arts, as I was considering financial marketing,” said the 24-year-old, based in Johannesburg. Swopping chilly Gauteng for a sunnier Durban, Ncokoane said: “It’s such a different energy here in Durban, and I’ve been here for the past three winters. I hope audiences will love the production and the stunning costumes.”
Actor, singer and dancer Tshepo Ncokoane appears in KickstArt’s musical, Camelot, at the Elizabeth Sneddon, playing the role of Sir Dinadan. Picture: Illa Thompson
It’s a different feel from his previous role in The Color Purple, touring Hong Kong in the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Shrek, Robin Hood And The Babes In The Wood, and Sleeping Beauty.
“All these roles are important because they each teach you something about yourself, or educate you. We also hope that the audience draws something from the production. After a performance of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, we had a lady come up to us and say she’d changed her way of thinking, and was going to mend her relationship with her son. It was beautiful,” he said.
And for him, part of acting includes activism and challenging the accepted ways of thinking.
“It’s especially important because we need to tell new stories on stage, in movies, in media. The apartheid narrative has been done, and while we shouldn’t forget, we also need to tell stories that people can relate to at present, such as those about taxis or government issues. We have a wealth of cultures to speak about, we shouldn’t only choose to tell stories of trauma,” he said.
Booking is through Computicket.