BIANCA AMATO
Creative Director, Co-Founder
Bianca Amato is a critically acclaimed actress and director based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Amato graduated with distinction from the University of Cape Town Drama School and worked as an actor in South Africa until she moved to New York City in 2002. She spent the next fifteen years honing her craft with renowned practitioners, playwrights and directors Tom Stoppard, Jack O’Brien, Sir Peter Hall, Josie Rourke, Jim Houghton, Joe Dowling, Arin Arbus, Oscar Eustace, Athol Fugard, Maria Aitken and Guilermo Calderon, among many other luminaries. She shared the stage with Bill Irwin, Billy Crudup, Ethan Hawke, Martha Plimpton, David Harbour, Lynn Redgrave, and Miriam Margolies. She worked at some of New York’s most beloved theatres, both On and Off-Broadway, including the Lincoln Center and the Public Theater.
Broadway theatre credits include the Tony Award-Winning Coast of Utopia, Arcadia, and Macbeth. Off-Broadway includes Stupid F**king Bird at The Pearl, The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek and Mr Fox: A Rumination at The Signature, King Lear and The Broken Heart at the Theater For a New Audience, Neva at The Public Theater, Trumpery at The Atlantic, and The Importance Of Being Earnest at BAM. Other USA productions include: Private Lives at The Shakespeare Theater, DC and The Huntington Theater, Boston, The Taming of The Shrew at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Pittsburgh Public Theater, and Arcadia, As You Like It, Pygmalion, Pride and Prejudice, and Topgirls all at the renowned Guthrie Theater.
South African work includes most recently directing Lungs for Theatre on the Bay, and performing in Proof at Theatre on the Bay , and Greek, Kindertransport, A Doll’s House, and Under Milkwood, all at The Baxter Theatre.
Amato is the founder and director of NarrateAfrica, a company that records African and South African audiobooks with African narrators for the global market. She has personally narrated more than 100 audiobooks.
AWARDS:
USA:
Helen Hayes Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress for Private Lives 2015
Audiofile Award: Best Voice for Fiction and Classics 2015
The Emery Battis Award for Classical Excellence 2015
The Elliot Norton Award for Best Actress for Private Lives 2013
IRNE nomination for Best Actress for Private Lives 2012
Audie Award for Romance 2011 (NYC)
Audiofile Award: Best Voice for Fiction and Classics 2011
Audie Award for Young Adult Fiction 2007 (NYC)
Star Tribune award for Best Actress for Pygmalion, 2004
SOUTH AFRICA:
Fleur Du Cap for Best Supporting Actress for Greek, 1997
Vita Award for Best Newcomer for Under Milkwood, 1996
Ruth Peffers Award for Best Student, UCT Drama School, 1995
KENSIWE TSHABALALA
Creative Director, Co-Founder
Kensiwe Tshabalala is a South-African performing artist, director, producer, choreographer who has trained and performed on the stages of Europe, New York & Los Angeles.
Tshabalala obtained her Musical Theatre Degree from the Tshwane University of Technology and her Master’s Degree in Acting for Film from the New York Film Academy.
She performed on Off-Broadway stages of New York for three years, followed by another three in Los Angeles where her professional dance career flourished in a contemporary repertoire dance company that performed at the Jazz at the Lincoln Center, New York.
Her South African performance experience includes productions at the People’s Theatre, Joburg Theatre, Pieter Toerien Theatre and a production of Vanya & Sonya & Masha & Spike at the Theatre on the Bay which garnered her Naledi & Fleur de Cap Award nominations for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Cassandra under the direction of Bobby Heaney. She has also worked with director Janice Honeyman in the Naledi nominated Adventures in Pantoland (2022) in the role of Mrs. Darling in Peter Pan (2023) and Hlakanyana, which was awarded 8 Naledis, including best Production & Best Ensemble.
Her television experience includes guest appearances in Orange is the New Black (Netflix) and Generations The Legacy (SABC 1) and in starring and ensemble roles in an array of independent films and national commercials.
Her experience as a producer includes Cindy’s Soul & Cindy’s Spirit as director/actor in the Hollywood Fringe Festival (LA) during the COVID Pandemic. These productions addressed domestic abuse, human rights issues and police brutality in LA (Cindy’s Soul) and included documentaries that highlight arts educators who make active contributions in their communities. Tshabalala directed and produced Through the Lens - a dance documentary about talented youths competing in international competitions.
She is excited to create more work about and for South-African audiences and artists.
CHARLOTTE BUTLER, Producer
Charlotte has been part of the Industry for over 40 years as an Actress, Director, Producer, Facilitator and Business Role Player. She studied Performing Arts: Drama at the Pretoria Technikon (now TUT). On graduating, she became a permanent member of the PACT drama company for 6 years. During this time Charlotte performed in countless stage productions.
She has performed for various South African theatre managements, including the Market Theatre, NAPAC, Pieter Toerien, and the State Theatre on a co-production with the Sydney Opera House, for which she received an award.
Charlotte has appeared with Matthew McConaughey in the international film “Serenity” directed by Stephen Knight (Peaky Binders). She has also appeared in the Leon Schuster film Sweet and Short, the British film An African Dream, and the international Stander film.
She was recently seen in Skaapboer & Spoorloos 2 on Kyknet. Her other television work includes, among others, The Lioness, Dr Havel in Isidingo, Home Affairs, Saints and Sinners, Zero Tolerance, Suburban Bliss, Daisy De Melker, Justice for All, Egoli, and 7nd Laan. She was also a presenter on the CNW channel on MNET.
Charlotte is a sought after resource in the event industry, with in-depth knowledge of the production, logistical and creative processes, from inception to delivery. She is a subject expert in the planning and execution of industrial theatre, live events, gala receptions, nation wide road shows, award ceremonies, product launches and entertainment events.
She has produced several theatre shows and activations over the years through her company Stageworx Entertainment.
In addition, Charlotte is a U.K. trained business role player who has worked extensively as a high-level training facilitator and role-play consultant in the corporate environment locally and abroad. This has mainly been done through her company Performance Role Play Training with her partners Judy Ditchfield and Jocelyn Broderick for the past 15 years.
Charlotte is proud to be a member of The Quickening Theatre Company. She is excited to see the spark of a dream become a bright burning flame in the creative industry.
PAIGE BONNIN, Social Media Marketer
Paige is a passionate creator who thrives on connecting people through the art of storytelling. With a strong commitment to empowering and uplifting women both personally and within her community, she brings a unique blend of creativity and marketing expertise to the table. With a proven track record in social media marketing and content creation, Paige is dedicated to achieving tangible results through strategic brand storytelling. Her love for all forms of art, particularly theatre, drives her to support the success of both the performing arts and women in the industry.