Sithembile’s stage talent shines

Convinced to start competing by her drama teacher last year, Kingsway High School’s Sithembile Zungu repaid her confidence by winning her age category at the Talent Africa national competition.

The nationals took place at the Roodepoort Theatre from 30 March to 9 April where Sithembile performed four monologues and her own poem.

She also sang. She was awarded first overall of the senior actors, gold for vocals and she won first overall in the 15 to 17-years-old age category. “This was my first time entering the competition,” said the talented matric pupil. I only started competing last year after my drama teacher Miss Kleynhans convinced me to. I was not sure I was ready to dabble in the arts.”

Last year Sithembile proved she does indeed belong on stage when she won a slam poetry competition at the Greyville Racecourse. “We had to write a four-minute poem in 10 minutes and perform it.

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I fell in love with poetry first, then acting. In poetry I can be different people, which appeals to me. I love to be someone completely different on stage. That’s why I love acting as well. I’m very opinionated and I have many views on social injustice, which I want to share. Thanks to the arts, I get to vent that.

I like to make people think when they listen to me on stage. I enjoy using poetry and monologues to get my views across to other people and one day, I hope to put together my poetry and acting in one package to present.”

The 17-year-old will join schoolmate Asanda Mngadi to travel to Cape Town to participate in a kykNET acting competition on 11 May.