Winston Ntshona

(Zola) (19**-) Actor. Born in Port Elizabeth *??. *** One of Athol Fugard's earliest collaborators, he was a member of the Serpent Players and a co-developer (with John Kani and Athol Fugard) of The Island and Sizwe Bansi is Dead. His first “real” theatre experience was The Terrorists at The Space in the 1970s, where he later also performed in Sizwe Banzi Is Dead. Won a Tony Award in New York for his performance in Sizwe Bansi is Dead. *** NTSHONA, Winston. Together with Athol Fugard and John Kani he formed the Serpent Players who workshopped the play, Sizwe Banzi is Dead, starring himself and Kani. Ian Bernhardt brought it to the Men’s Common Room for the Phoenix Players in November 1972. It was directed by Barney Simon. Together with Athol Fugard and John Kani he created The Island which was staged at The Space Theatre circa 1973. It travelled abroad and enjoyed many runs locally, including one at the Market Theatre in May 1995. Together with John Kani he revived The Island at the Market Theatre in June 1977 with Alan Joseph as stage manager. He starred in Barney Simon’s production of Edward Albee’s The Death of Bessie Smith together with John Kani and Janet Suzman at the Market in 1979. Sizwe Banzi is Dead was staged at The Market in 1978. He starred in Beckett’s Waiting for Godot together with John Kani and Pieter-Dirk Uys. It was directed by Donald Howarth and staged at the Baxter and at the Market in 1980 before leaving for the USA and Britain. He starred in Kessie Govender’s Kagoos at the Market in 1988.

Sources

Tucker, 1997

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