Jerry Mpho Pooe

Jerry Mpho Pooe (born 14 August 1970). Playwright, director, actor, drama lecturer and facilitator.

Biography
Born in Soweto, he went to in Durban 1987, where he went to Ohlange High School ( matriculated in 1990).

Training
Theatre schooling includes a Drama Certificate from the Upstairs Theatre (1988), a BA with Speech and Drama and Anthropology at the University of Natal, Durban (1995) and a Certificate of Achievement in Theatre Arts from Indiana University (1999).

Career
His career started at the Stable Theatre under the wing of Kessie Govender.

Between 1991-1999 he was co-ordinator of the University of Natal, Department of Speech and Drama’s Community Project, served on numerous committees and community projects, and became directly involved as writer/director in such community arts projects as DramAidE, Amajika and Kusa.

In 1999 he founded and became the director of Eager Artists, a theatre company.

Was acting Artistic Director at PACOFS for a while (2012-2014?).

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Besides writing numerous aids awareness programmes and more that 20 industrial theatre and street theatre shows between 1998-2000, he also wrote and directed creative theatre works. His first play, Not Again, was created with the help of a teacher, Monde Ndandala in 1989, and was followed among others by Isililo (1989?), The Curse (19**), Life is a Journey (19**), Mathatha (1995), Living Treasures (1998), Peace in the Valley (1998), Messiah in Canaan (1999), My Life My Voice (2000).

Awards, etc
Nomiknated Durban Theatre Awards musical play director for Peace In Our Lifetime, award year 2007.

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