Siyamthanda Poni
He/Him | Siya, known as Storyteller, writer & screen writer
“(The Incubator) was very valuable and useful because it polished my writing skill and developed my knowledge about screenwriting. It gave me a starting point in my career of being a writer.”
Siyamthanda Poni was born in Paarl in one of the smallest townships, Mbekweni, and raised by his grandmother and his younger brother. A father of two and bread winner, Siyamthanda is a City Varsity graduate in Theatre Performing Arts. Siyamthanda has been in some big productions such as Buzani Ku Bawo at Artscape directed by the legend Thoko Ntshinga in which Siyamthanda played a leading role as Mzamo.
After my graduation Siyamthanda went on to equip his writing skills and participated in lot of writing workshops such as uGqatso, facilitated by Mbulelo Grootbom and Mandisi Sindo. Siyamthanda began to create his own work by producing his own one man play titled Incwaba which took part in Zabalaza Theatre Festival at Baxter Theatre, in which he also performed. The play also had a successful run at Theatre Arts Admin Collective and Alexander Bar were it was well received.
Siyamthanda also worked as a facilitator at Uprising Art Project. Siya wrote and directed a play called Waiting which won best actress in the Baxter Theatre’s Zabalaza Theatre Festival. Siya is an ambitious visionary young leader who has been tested and is ready to plough back into the community the little he has. Most times actors tend to wait for Auditions instead of creating work for themselves then find means to produce work, this has motivated him to create his own work.
Currently working on a full length Drama feature film as a writer, acting in a Theatre Play at Baxter Theatre. Lead actor in a short film.
After my graduation Siyamthanda went on to equip his writing skills and participated in lot of writing workshops such as uGqatso, facilitated by Mbulelo Grootbom and Mandisi Sindo. Siyamthanda began to create his own work by producing his own one man play titled Incwaba which took part in Zabalaza Theatre Festival at Baxter Theatre, in which he also performed. The play also had a successful run at Theatre Arts Admin Collective and Alexander Bar were it was well received.
Siyamthanda also worked as a facilitator at Uprising Art Project. Siya wrote and directed a play called Waiting which won best actress in the Baxter Theatre’s Zabalaza Theatre Festival. Siya is an ambitious visionary young leader who has been tested and is ready to plough back into the community the little he has. Most times actors tend to wait for Auditions instead of creating work for themselves then find means to produce work, this has motivated him to create his own work.
Currently working on a full length Drama feature film as a writer, acting in a Theatre Play at Baxter Theatre. Lead actor in a short film.