A minute with Bheki Mkhwane

Bheki Mkhwane grew up in kwamashu township, a formidable footballer growing up he watched GIbson Kente 's shows. Bheki 's background is township theatre as an actor he worked with major companies around the world, he worked together for 15 years sharing the passion for the same kind of theatre with Ellis Pearson. He is a prominent performer he can act,sing,dance, he directs, he writes,he produce, he believes in creating your own story a story that you relate too and borrow from your own experiences in and around you. I worked with him in few shows, he is an educated,philosophical, intelligent person you become inspired as actor to work with such gifted soul.

IN THEATRE WHO IS YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER?
I don't have a mother and a father in theatre, as a theatre maker 90 % of the time you borrow from your female side, I become my mother I become my father in theatre

WHEN DID YOU DEVELOP YOUR IDENTITY?
One thing you must understand an identity it becomes a fixed position and you box yourself in a corner for example if a director wants to cut your dreadlocks and you say no its my identity that's what I'm known for,then you don't allow your self to explore and become and let go. Another example critic writers labeled me as a physical actor I'm not a physical actor it's one of many things I become Iam a storyteller who uses theatre as a medium to tell my story simple as that.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE TIME THE HOUR YOU DECIDED TO BE A DIRECTOR?
People imposed an European format whereby a director directs, a write writes a producer produces an actor act for me it does not work like that,adopting positions is borrowed from the Europeans.Critics asked me after watching BORN THRU THE NOSE and SITTING AROUND THE FIRE at the playhouse what am I am I a writer,director,actor ?? I told them Iam a theatre creator while I was working with Ellis Pearson people wanted to know who is the writer and a director, Ellis and we looked at them and said we are storytellers, theatre creator.One thing you must understand is that creative is a blessing it chooses a vessel that is clean. People think theatre is easy and it's not.

WHAT WAS YOUR EMBARRASSING MOMENT?
In life or work?

WORK.
I don't have any embarrassment because to me it becomes a learning curve it becomes an experience, as a theatre creator you must burn your fingers, you must make mistakes and learn from them.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER YOU CREATED OR PERFORMED?
I don't have a favorite character.
Have I answered all your questions ?

ANY FINAL WORDS?
Create your own works that's where you will find inspirations and I'm still waiting for your one hander.

CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH DIRECTORS

In theatre who is your mother and father ?

When did you develop your theatre identity, do you remember the moment the hour you decided to be a director ?

Shortly can you describe how that identity grew ?

Who did you train and influence ?

What was your embarrassing moment?

What is /was your favorite character you created as an actor and director?