View source for Itumeleng Wa-Lehure

[[Itumeleng Wa-Lehure]]  (1963-) is an actor, playwright, director and manager.

Also found as [[Itumeleng Wa Lehure]], [[Itumeleng wa Lehure]] or [[Itumeleng Wa-Lehulere]].

== Biography ==

Born in Cape Town, 19 February 1963. His passion for drama started when he attended shows at the [[Space Theatre]] in Cape Town.

=== Youth ===



=== Training ===
Studied at Lehlohonolo Bantu Community School, Retlamile Middle School (Pampierstad), Fezeka High  School and [[Community Arts Project]] (Community Theatre Diploma, Performers Diploma).

=== Career ===
His career began in 1980 as a poet and musician, before he joined the [[Gibson Kente Productions]]. In 1983 worked for the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) as National Organizer and Cultural Officer. In 1988 worked at the [[Market Theatre]] as freelance actor, and as a part-time teacher at both the [[Alexander Arts Centre]] and the [[Fuba Academy]]. In 1989 he moved back to  Cape Town to work for [[SACHED]] as a Researcher on Oral History. Also appointed Assistant Theatre Coordinator to [[Mike van Graan]] at [[Community Arts Project]] and part-time Theatre Coordinator at the [[New World Foundation]]. In 1990 joined [[PACT]] in Pretoria and in 1991 became the Outreach Facilitator for the [[Market Theatre Laboratory]] and a freelance performer. In 1993 he became an Associate Director at the [[Baxter Theatre Centre]] and in 1994 he founded the [[Buwa Theatre Company]] and became its Artistic Director. In 1995 became the Director of the annual  [[Ikhwezi Theatre Festival]] at the [[Baxter Theatre]]. From 2000 onwards*? he lectured at [[CAP]] and the [[UCT]] Drama School.

==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
His many productions as performer include ''[[Amabali - it’s a story time]]'' ([[Janice Honeyman]], 1988), ''[[Carnival of the Bear]]'' ([[Mark Fleishman]], 1988),  ''[[Thina Bantu - We People]]'' ([[Mavis Taylor]], 1988), ''[[Jacques and his Master]]'' ([[Ilse van Hemert]], 1990), ''[[The Princess of Kurumbu]]'' ([[Peter Terry]] and [[Alan Swerdlow]], 1990), ''[[Die Sakeman van Venesië]]'' ([[Ilse van Hemert]], 1990), and an Industrial Theatre Production for Volkswagen with [[Lionel Newton]] and [[David Isaacs]], ([[Lara Foot Newton]] , 2006).  

As a director he has done among many productions including ** ''[[Entwined Lives]]'' by [[Phillip Kakaza]] ([[Grahamstown Festival]] and the [[Baxter Theatre Centre]], 1993), * ''[[Beneath Silent Waters]]'' by [[Ntombesizwe Tena]] (assisted by [[Lionel Newton]],  [[Ikhwezi Theatre Festival]] and [[Grahamstown Festival]], 2007), ''[[Girl Child from the Ghetto]]'' ([[Baxter Theatre]] 2007), ''[[Nosel’ Eyibethile Akakayoji]]'' ([[Artscape]], 2007), ''[[Chorimba]]'' ([[Artscape]], 2007), ''[[Amaza]]'' ([[Artscape]], 2009).  

He wrote ''[[The Coal Train to Wynberg]]'' (198*), ''[[You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock]]'' (198*??) and co-wrote including ''[[Thina Bantu - We People]]'' (with [[Mavis Taylor]] and [[Mark Fleishman]], 1987), ''[[In Conversation, Indaba, In Gesprek]]'' (with [[Esther van Ryswyk]] and [[Libby Daniels]]) He wrote and directed ''[[Lavender Hill Blues]]'' ([[Baxter Theatre]] and the [[New World Foundation]], 1989),  ''[[Roxy]]'' ([[Baxter Theatre]], 1993),  ''[[The Gaptoothes Sisters]]'' – [[Baxter Theatre Centre]], 199*),  ''[[Down Adderley Street]]'' ([[Baxter Theatre Centre]] and [[Market Theatre]], 1995-8*), ''[[Echoes of Our Footsteps]]'' (2001), ''[[Diaries of My Womanhood]]'' ([[Baxter Theatre]], 2002), * ''[[The Red Winter]]''  ([[Baxter Theatre]] 2008), . 

Co-ordinated and produced ''[[The Reddening of the Greens]]'', ([[Action Workshop Theatre Company]], 1992),   and wrote, directed and produced ''[[Olympic Bid Road Show]]'' (1995), ''[[Arrive Alive Road Safety Campaign Road Show]]'' (1999).

== Awards, etc ==
Awards include the [[Sunday Times Best Young Actor Award]] (1988) and an [[Arts and Culture Trust Award]] in 2004 for the [[Ikhwezi Community Theatre Festival]].



== Sources == 
'''See''' sources of the various productions.

Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

== Return to ==

Return to [[ESAT Personalities  W]] 

Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]

Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]

Return to [[Main Page]]