When Michael Mazibuko speaks, hearts shatter. The thespian’s voice penetrates the soul of all who listen. Mazibuko’s intensity stems from his history. He was kicked out of home in matric after defying his father’s wishes for him to leave school. Mazibuko spent countless nights fighting the biting cold. As time passed, he began to understand how life on the street renders people invisible. But this dreamer grasped on to his hope for a career in the arts – and it paid off. “When I had no place to go, the theatre welcomed me with open curtains,” Mazibuko says.
In 2016, Mazibuko joined Johannesburg Awakening Minds, a troupe founded by Dorothy Ann Gould. The award-winning actress uses theatre to upskill, uplift, and channel the voices of those who are homeless. “There are so many complicated reasons why people end up on the streets,” Mazibuko says. “Many of us feel lost and without purpose.” But on stage, each of the 23 group members have experienced a healing shift. At the Hillbrow Theatre, they perform Shakespeare’s timeless scripts. The depth in the Bard’s tales, particularly his tragedies, relates to their experiences and enables them to express their emotions. “We all have stories to tell,” Mazibuko says. “Having this place allows us to feel seen, heard, and provides a fresh start.”
Mazibuko and the J.A.M group are now making waves on screen. They’ve been extras for South African soapie, Generations, as well as other short films. With the income from their work, the actors have been able to find homes. But their biggest gain is the restoration of their dignity. Each performance has shown them how much their voices matter. “Shakespearean theatre saved my life,” Mazibuko says. Everyone deserves to be treated with humanity and given the chance to realise their purpose. “By being open to opportunities and the stage, I found mine,” Mazibuko says.
Please sign in to leave a comment