Jerry Mofokeng
Jerry Mofokeng (1956-) [1]. Stage, film and TV actor, director, lecturer.
In later years also billed as Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha.
Contents
Biography
Born on 17 April, 1956, he attended Orlando West High School and Youth Alive Ministries in Soweto in the 1970s. His schooling was interupted by the 1976 protests but he eventually finished matric and in 1983 started his studies at University of the Witwatersrand Drama Department where he initially took his major in acting then later went on to study at Columbia University in America, where he obtained his master's degree in Theatre Directing.
Career
He taught drama at Wits, was resident Artistic Director at the Market Theatre, Artistic Director at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, Director of Sport and Culture in Mpumalanga, Artistic Director at the Pretoria State Theatre until his appointment in 2014 as Artistic Director of PACOFS in Bloemfontein.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As student he had a role in Sus (NAF 1984).
He revived Theatre Workshop '71’s Survival in the USA, with members of the original cast, who had moved there (1990).
He played in Freak Country (2008).
He directed The Blood Knot (1986), The Hill for the University of the Witwatersrand in 1992, Boesman and Lena (1993), Twelfth Night (1993), Nongogo (1994), the South African premiére of Zakes Mda’s The Nun’s Romantic Story at the Johannesburg Civic in 1995, The Piano Lesson (1996), Lifa (1997), Milestones at the State Theatre and NAF in 1998-9, The Suit (2002), A Raisin in the Sun (2003, 2021), Goree (2004), Once an African (2005), Moeder Moed en Haar Kinders (2014-2015),
As playwright his work includes A King is Born (1995), Mpolelle, Don't Look Away (2011).
He had roles in several films, among them Tsotsi and Cry, the Beloved Country.
Awards, etc.
Standard Bank Young Artist for drama , 1994.
Nominated Vita national Director of the Year Nongogo
Nominated Vita (KZN) Mofokeng, Jerry for `A Raisin in the Sun' (best director)
Sources
Tucker, 1997.
Volksblad, 28 August 2014.
https://www.newslink.co.za/2021/09/01/a-raisin-in-the-sun-awakens-hope-at-the-theatre/
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