‘ART found me, and now I can’t imagine my life without it,’
When you first meet actress and performer Nothando Mabaso (31), her love for art is pretty unmistakable.
The sparkle in her eyes gives away the passion and love she has for the performing arts, especially storytelling.
Her bright smile lights up the room, filling it with positive energy.
Bubbly Nothando, from the rural heart of the Mabhensa area in KwaMthethwa Reserve, but now settled in eMacekane, insists art found her.
When she was young she always thought she would be an educator – that’s what her mother wanted for her.
But after she accomplished her matric at Mkhombisi High School, she soon learned fate had other plans for her future.
‘I wanted to be a teacher and was even accepted in university. But when I was supposed to start classes, I received bad news. There were too many students and they no longer had space for me in the education department,’ she said.
‘I was shattered and had to look for something else to do,’
Acting journey
With classes scheduled to start within a week’s time, Nothando had to find another course so as not to miss out on a chance to study.
‘I had always been involved in the performing arts. At school I participated in stage plays, music and dance shows. So when I missed out on the opportunity to become a teacher, I opted for drama.’
Even though drama was not her first choice, she persevered and her hard work paid off when she excelled and outshone most of her classmates.
When she obtained her BA degree in drama at the University of Zululand, doors of opportunity opened for this talented performer.
She was soon appointed to work in various top class plays, including the Spoken Word and 5 Decades in an Hour.
Last year she was appointed for the international theatre production Faces, written by Gift Moravatsang.
She then moved with the production and toured the country before showcasing her talent in Harare.
This mother of three boys later took the role of a narrator in the Zululand production, Death of the Emperor Shaka.
‘This is just the beginning. This year I want to study education and use that skill to teach drama in schools. We have so much talent in this region and I want to be instrumental in making sure youngsters get a chance to shine,’
Nothando is currently reading a script titled Slave – A mother’s fight against oppression, which will be showcased in Zululand in June.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
