Thamsa destined for the stars
FERNDALE – Local teenager makes leaps and bounds in acting in one incredible year.
Last year was an incredible year for soon-to-be 16 years old, Thames Ngwaxaxa who lives in Ferndale.
Ngwaxaxa remembers wanting to be an actor from about when he was four years old when he would jump on his parents’ furniture pretending to be King Kong.
Ngwaxaxa previously attended Noordwyk Secondary School but always aspired to study drama at the National School of the Arts. In preparation for his audition at the specialist high school, he began training at Drama Junxion in Northcliff. His teacher, Dyane Lesch taught him numerous techniques including improvisation, physical theatre and skills on understanding a character. He was encouraged to put these techniques into practice by auditioning for the International Arts Talent Showcase (Iats) run by Just You Models & Artist Management agency.
His first ever audition was the provincial round of the Iats competition. Ngwaxaxa performed a monologue from Rocky Balboa (2006) in front of Elsubie Verlinden, the director and national talent scout of Just You Models & Artists Management agency and Elouise Janse van Rensburg, the admissions director of Iats. After a brilliant performance, he was given a call-back from the national round of Iats and was said to be star quality.
Ngwaxaxa auditioned for the National School of Arts in August last year. He was accepted and is to begin Grade 10 at this school, this year. In September last year, Ngwaxaxa performed a dramatic monologue at the National Eisteddfod and was awarded a diploma.
In October, last year, Ngwaxaxa went to the Iats nationals at Silverstar Casino in Krugersdorp and was excited for the national round as he would be performing in front of international talent scout, Kim Myers from the United States.
“The event took my breath away but I wouldn’t let the nerves interfere with my determination,” said Ngwaxaxa.
Myers invited Ngwaxaxa to perform on a Hollywood platform in front of the industry’s top agents, casting directors and producers at the Applause Rising Talent Showcase (Arts) convention in Orlando, Florida in the USA.
To round the year off, after performing in Drama Junxion’s year-end play at Roodepoort Theatre in December, last year, Ngwaxaxa was awarded Best Male Actor for 2016.
With support from his family, he has made great strides towards his dream of being a professional actor.
Things can only go up from here for the talented young man. Follow his Facebook page (Thames Ngwaxaxa) which will enable you to track his journey.
