Mkhonto leads children into a world of imagination
NORTH EASTERN TRIBUNE – Children’s theatre is often defined by energy, imagination and letting your inner-child run wild – for both young and old. One of the leading women in theatre – both children’s and traditional – is Nonhlanhla Mkhonto who’s a young, vibrant ball of energy, on and off stage.
She hit the theatre circuit guns blazing in 2007 straight after matriculating. “I was in my matric year and I played Annie in the Annie Musical. There was an agent who discovered me while on stage and I was told if I passed matric I could join,” Mkhonto said.
Attending a pro-theatre high school prepared Mkhonto for a thriving career in the performance arts industry as she started out her career with a considerable wealth of knowledge that put her at an advantage when she first auditioned for The People’s Theatre directors, Jill Girard and Keith Smith. “It’s been great because I stepped in knowing what I know from school and as I went on, I learnt.
I learnt within the industry. I learnt on the job and each job that I had, I was learning, and every time it was different. It’s been a pretty exciting journey to the point where I haven’t felt I need to stop because I still enjoy the audition part and I really enjoy building relationships with directors,” said Mkhonto Having put her 10 000 hours in, Mkhonto has fashioned herself into a sought-after performer with a great reputation among her peers.
She said she can’t see herself doing anything else other than bringing characters and stories to life on stage. Although a regular on the children’s theatre circuit, she has featured in a number of acclaimed plays and worked with renowned theatre practitioners, Janice Honeyman and Sandy Richardson.
“The first play I did here at The People’s Theatre was Alice in Wonderland, I really enjoyed that. I had just stepped into the industry and I got the lead. It was amazing to do Alice and the people that I’ve met as well along the way.
My journey mostly is having met different people, working with different people and doing different things within the industry,” she said. From 2 to 29 September, Story Book Theatre is set to bring to life timeless fairy tales such as Rumpelstiltskin, The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Princess and the Pea and more, all with the aim to stimulate children to read and to share the wonder of books.
In addition to sparking children’s imagination, Story Book Theatre will see Mkhonto showcase her triple treat feat through singing, acting and dance, fit for the whole family. “What we do here at the theatre is really great for youth and doing this with kids and for kids allows them to express and experience themselves.”
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