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Langalakhe Mabena
HE rose to fame by portraying female characters while he was still a student and part of all boys’ Gifford High School drama scooping a number of accolades, and after that Norbert Makoche never looked back.
He had a calling to be initiated and practise as a stage actor and finally the pint-sized stage performer has answered ubizo (the calling) as he has continued to work further towards strengthening his theatre skills after leaving Gifford.
At the beginning of this year, he was chosen to be part of Nhimbe Trust and Young Vic cultural exchange, a project between Zimbabwean and London theatre actors.
From the exchange, he learnt a lot of skills and materials that strengthened his career to date.
“I was fortunate enough to be chosen to be part of the Nhimbe Trust and Young Vic cultural exchange. This was a project between actors from the country and from London. We managed to work on a play together entitled Umtolo.
“From the exchange, I learnt to stand as a solo performer and that catapulted me into commencing my professional career as both a playwright and a director,” said Makoche.
In June, Makoche penned a play titled Imbokodo which premièred at the Bulawayo Theatre and it received a raving review from different theatre fanatics on social media.
The play which features well known stage award-winning performers like Cadrick “Khekhe” Msongelwa, Charmaine Mudawu and Makoche himself is about women empowerment and it is set to tour Zimbabwe before the year ends.
The 2017 Outstanding Actor in the schools’ category at the then Bulawayo Arts Awards believes in sharing the gift he has and in helping other up-and-coming theatre actors in realising their potential.
Since he left Gifford High School three years ago, the humble Makoche always visits the school and helps them in coming up with a script and directing.
He said: “When I left Gifford, I was already writing and directing them for competitions and I never stopped up to now. The main objective is to help other young talented actors to realise the potential they have in achieving their dreams.”
Under his watch and guidance, Gifford drama club has scooped numerous awards including Outstanding Arts Effort for 2019 at the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards and Outstanding Actor for Schools at the same awards for the 2018 edition.
They also participated at the Dough Hill Drama competitions and scooped the top prize in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
On Iyasa’s Isiphiwo Sami talent search they won the second prize at the 2018-19 talent search extravaganza.
Makoche is looking forward to resuming his tertiary education as he said next year he would be enrolling at a local university majoring in theatre and performing arts.
Online Reporter