KCAP IMPACTFUL ON THE KZN FILM INDUSTRY

Since the inception of KwaMashu Community Advancement Programme (KCAP), the KwaZulu Natal province has been the playground to many aspiring and emerging actors both for theatre and television. For many years, KCAP has produced much talented and internationally acclaimed actors for theatre. It is just recent that we are witnessing the booming of KCAP-groomed talent on television.

The outbreak of KCAP-groomed actors on screenplay surfaced vividly when Samkelisiwe Mkhize joined the popular Mzansi Magic soapie, Isibaya where she plays the character, Mabuyi. Another inspirational development was the birth of a soapie made in the streets of KwaMashu, Uzalo, which screens weekly between Monday and Wednesday on SABC1. The easily recognized face on Uzalo that was brewed in KCAP is that of Nompilo Maphumulo who plays Nosipho on the soapie.

The impact KCAP has had on KZN actors cannot be disregarded, with initiatives such as such as Isigcawu Theatre Festival and Ishashalazi Women’s Theatre, many other parts of KwaZulu Natal has been touched. The two theatre production stables that stands out amongst those that has been impacted by KCAP is Umsindo Production from Umlazi and Emuhle All Artists based in Port Shepstone, Gamalakhe. While their fate in acting greatly unfolded at KCAP, their work has impacted bigger platforms such as Skeem Saam, Generations and Uzalo, amongst others.

The actors who were part of the 2015 KCAP Learnership Class alone are already getting a prominent reception amongst film productions from in and around Durban. An upcoming feature film titled Anybody Home capitalized greatly on this class. Anybody Home cast constitute of about 90 percent of actors from the class of 2015, from the protagonist to supporting characters. With Anybody Home targeting film festivals such as Tricontinental and KZN African Film Festival in 2016 alone, one could anticipate to see more and more faces emerging from KCAP to soon invade the television screens.

It is quite easy to see how KCAP is ready to make a mark on screenplay as much as it has on theatre, with projects such as Madam President amongst others. The future of KZN Film actors can only be brighter.