Doreen Mazibuko

Doreen Mazibuko (born 1965). Actress, playwright, director.

Biography

Doreen attended Corry School, Coronation Park in the Johannesburg area.

She set herself the task of documenting the political, social, economic and emotional struggle of South African women of all races and from every conceivable walk of life.

At 15 she wrote We Will Fix Them, produced at her school. The play was inspired by the violence directed at young women in the township.

Her first taste of professional acting came with the formation of a drama school in Coronation Park, The Immaculators.

She studied drama at the University of the Witwatersrand.

She served on the Commission on Gender Equality (2004).

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Her debut was in Baphi (Where are they?) which she wrote and directed. She also wrote Jesus Christ and A Better Bird.

Her first major role was creating and performing the original “Lulu” in Sophiatown by Junction Avenue Theatre Company, starting her long association with the company.

Her play Qhewukani magwala ndini (Move away you cowards), about the dreams and aspirations of the black youth of SA, was performed in the Market Theatre’s Rehearsal Room in May 1989, starring the author, Nhlanhla Sicelo, Jeff Simelane, Grace Mahlaba, Wandy Yawa, Vivienne Mbuce.

She devised the play Moments (aimed at voter education) with Peter Ngwenya in 1994.

She wrote the chapter Theatre: the political weapon in South Africa (Mazibuko, Doreen 1996).

Sources

Sowetan 12 June 1989; Vrye Weekblad, 19 May 1989; Pretoria News, 2 June 1989.

[[Sowetan], 6 December 1994.

New Nation, 12-18 October 1990.

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