A minute with Jerry Pooe

 A minute with Jerry Pooe

 Jerry Pooe is a playwright, director, actor drama lecturer and facilitator. Born in Soweto, he went to Durban in 1987, where he went to Ohlange High School matriculated in 1990.He has a BA in Speech and Drama and Anthropology at the University of Kwazulu Natal, Durban (1995) and a Certificate of Achievement in Theatre Arts from Indiana University (1999). Between 1991-1999 he was co-ordinator of the University of Kwazulu Natal Drama Department s Community Project, served on numerous committees and community projects, and became directly involved as writer/director. Besides writing numerous aids awareness programmes and more that 20 industrial theatre and street theatre shows between 1998-2000, he also wrote and directed creative theatre works. His first play, Not Again, was created with the help of a teacher, Monde Ndandala in 1989, and was followed among others. In 1999 he founded and became the director of Eager Artists, a theatre company. I worked as an actress in two shows Madonna of Excelcior by Zakes Mda and The Famished Road by Ben Okri which he co-directed.

IN THEATRE WHO IS YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER?
In terms of what? my mother loved theatre
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IN TERMS OF INSPIRATION.
Its very difficult to say i was inspired by so and so, im mostly inspired by situations, i was very active in politics. Gibson Kente 's plays inspired me i heard about him and saw his plays in soweto the message was so strong. Kente was never serious, he was a social commentator which made him banned.Except his play 'how long' which questions how long should a black man suffer? My stories are about social change.Kessie Govender inspired my love for theatre he insisted in perfoming to a mixed audience.

 WHEN DID YOU DEVELOP YOUR IDENTITY, DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOMENT, THE HOUR YOU DECIDED TO BE A DIRECTOR?
As a young political activist i used theatre as my voice, my mentor Ramalau Makhene played an important role in Junction Avenue Theatre Company in parktown  he really introduced me to Athol Fugard's work and Sarah Isa of Upstairs Theatre she opened my mind in the structure of writing. I write about my people, black people have rich stories and that time it was about liberation.

SHORTLY CAN YOU DESCRIBE HOW THE IDENTITY GREW?
Creating more theatre whether  good or bad, and reading, colloborating alot.

WHO INFLUENCED YOU?
Politics influenced me i read alot of H. DHLOMO, i never understood greek classics and most of the shakesperian drama i could not relate to it yet finding out that the Island was inspired by Antigone made me realise that these plots are not about black and white but universal human conflicts

ANY FINAL WORDS?
Young upcoming theatre makers should learn to know their own strenghth if you believe in an  idea fight for it to happen, DEMAND! young peolpe should start demanding to be heard. I have created a space that allows experiemental works. Wushwini arts centre is an available space bring your work, pitch your ideas and stage it, begin to network, go there demand things and  make things happen. If you a director dont think formal if you know a certain director is a having production ask to come an observe, take notes and you learn and they know you they dont forget you.