1 Julie | July 2026
Hier is ons splinternuwe NATi Jong Sterre van die 2026–2027-seisoen, met trots na jou gebring deur NATi, die Suidoosterfees, die Jakes Gerwel Stigting en Artscape.
Meet our brand-new NATi Rising Stars for the 2026–2027 season, proudly presented by NATi, the Suidoosterfees, the Jakes Gerwel Foundation and Artscape.
Gratia Nonkululeko Taka
Gratia Nonkululeko Taka is ‘n skrywer en teaterpraktisyn van Calvinia. Haar werk ondersoek temas soos identiteit, geestesgesondheid, liefde, verlies en die stil, dikwels onsigbare maniere waarop mense hulle verlede die hede indra. Sy is veral bekend vir haar televisierol as Nomvuyolo in die SABC2-dramareeks Paradys en vir haar aktiewe betrokkenheid by gemeenskaps- en professionele teater, onder meer deur die Bridgetown Theatre Company se Youth Capture-program. Taka benader skryfwerk met dissipline sowel as deernis. Dit stel haar in staat om verhale te skep wat eg en lewendig voel – gegrond in opregte emosie, sterk karakterstemme, veral dié van komplekse vrouekarakters, en oomblikke waarin gehore hulself kan herken.
Gratia Nonkululeko Taka is a writer and theatre practitioner from Calvinia. Her work explores themes of identity, mental health, love, loss, and the quiet, often invisible ways in which people carry their past into the present. She is best known for her television role as Nomvuyolo in the SABC2 drama series Paradys and for her active involvement in community and professional theatre, including through the Bridgetown Theatre Company’s Youth Capture programme. Taka approaches writing with both discipline and compassion, enabling her to create stories that feel authentic and alive – grounded in genuine emotion, distinctive character voices, particularly those of complex female characters, and moments in which audiences can recognise themselves.
Henu Baden
Henu Baden, ‘n akteur, regisseur en skrywer van Mpumalanga, woon tans in Kaapstad nadat hy sy honneursgraad in Drama aan die Universiteit van Kaapstad voltooi het. In 2024 het hy sy debuut as regisseur gemaak met Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons (2024/25), gevolg deur Low-Level Panic in 2026. Hy het ook opgetree in Every Brilliant Thing (2024), The Cardinal (2025), Closer (2025) en At Horizon’s End (2025). Tans werk hy aan The Chance, ‘n solovertoning onder regie van Aldo Brincat. Daarbenewens het hy twee toneeltekste uit Engels in Afrikaans vertaal, naamlik Die keiser se nuwe klere (2024) en Hou die wêreld vas (2026), wat albei by die KKNK en die Woordfees opgevoer is, en weer daar opgevoer sal word. Skryf bly sy primêre anker.
Henu Baden, an actor, director and writer from Mpumalanga, currently lives in Cape Town after completing his honours degree in Drama at the University of Cape Town. He made his directing debut in 2024 with Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons (2024/25), followed by Low-Level Panic in 2026. He has also performed in Every Brilliant Thing (2024), The Cardinal (2025), Closer (2025) and At Horizon’s End (2025). He is currently working on The Chance, a one-man show directed by Aldo Brincat. In addition, he has translated two plays from English into Afrikaans, Die keiser se nuwe klere (2024) and Hou die wêreld vas (2026), both of which have been staged at the KKNK and the Woordfees and will return to those festivals. Writing remains his primary anchor.
Luna August
Luna August is ‘n opkomende dramaturg, opvoeder en teatermaker van Elsiesrivier in Kaapstad. Sy beskik oor ‘n BA-graad in Drama, ‘n BA Honneurs in Drama, asook ‘n Nagraadse Sertifikaat in Onderwys van die Universiteit van Kaapstad. Haar werk word sterk beïnvloed deur Paulo Freire se opvoedkundige filosofie en die beginsels van Augusto Boal se Theatre of the Oppressed. Haar ervaring sluit die fasilitering van toegepaste teaterwerkswinkels in wat gemeenskappe bemagtig en komplekse sosio-politieke vraagstukke ondersoek. Sy is tans besig met ‘n meestersgraad in Hoër Onderwysstudies aan Rhodes Universiteit. Haar kreatiewe en akademiese werk staan deurlopend op die kruispunt van pedagogiek, sosiale geregtigheid en teater.
Luna August is an emerging playwright, educator and theatre-maker from Elsies River in Cape Town. She holds a BA in Drama, a BA Honours in Drama, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Cape Town. Her work is strongly influenced by Paulo Freire’s educational philosophy and the principles of Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed. Her experience includes facilitating applied theatre workshops that empower communities and explore complex socio-political issues. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Higher Education Studies at Rhodes University. Her creative and academic work consistently intersects pedagogy, social justice and theatre.
Kristen Fichardt
Kristen Fichardt is oorspronklik van Bloemfontein in die Vrystaat en woon sedert 2022 in Stellenbosch, waar sy ‘n BA-graad in Drama- en Teaterstudies aan Universiteit Stellenbosch behaal het. Sy is tans in die eerste jaar van haar meestersgraad, ook in Drama, nadat sy verlede jaar haar honneursgraad in Kreatiewe Skryfwerk voltooi het. Tot dusver was sy medeskrywer van vier toneelstukke wat almal reeds opgevoer is: Öh, Dinner met Diek, The Fogo in Mecrura Maison en Akrasia. Sy wil haar nou meer op onafhanklike skryfwerk toespits om haar eie stem en unieke skryfstyl verder te ontwikkel.
Originally from Bloemfontein in the Free State, Kristen Fichardt has been based in Stellenbosch since 2022, where she completed a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies at Stellenbosch University. She is currently in the first year of her master’s degree in Drama, having completed her honours degree in Creative Writing last year. To date, she has co-written four plays, all of which have already been staged: Öh, Dinner met Diek, The Fogo in Mecrura Maison and Akrasia. She now hopes to focus more on independent writing in order to further develop her own voice and distinctive writing style.
Nichola Viviers
Die Kapenaar Nichola Viviers is ‘n opkomende akteur, skrywer en regisseur met ‘n passie vir Suid-Afrikaanse kontekste, subtekste en eiesoortighede in kreatiewe werk. Sy het in 2023 cum laude gegradueer en in 2025 haar honneursgraad in skryfwerk en regie aan Universiteit Stellenbosch behaal. Sy het reeds verskeie teaterprojekte geskryf, geregisseer en daarin opgetree, waaronder die Première-bekroonde produksie Afval. Haar produksie Die koning en sy bruid is by die 2024 Première Teaterfees as Beste Produksie aangewys. Sy het haar debuut as akteur gemaak in die Showmax-films Nuwejaar en Meisiekind, die kykNET-film My f*k, Marelize en die kykNET-telenovelle Die toring, wat binnekort vrygestel word. Nichola droom daarvan om haar eie Suid-Afrikaanse rolprente en televisiereekse te skryf, te regisseer en te vervaardig.
Cape Town-based Nichola Viviers is an emerging actor, writer and director with a passion for South African contexts, subtexts and the unique characteristics that shape creative work. She graduated cum laude in 2023 and completed her honours degree in Writing and Directing at Stellenbosch University in 2025. She has already written, directed and performed in several theatre productions, including the Première Award-winning production Afval. Her production Die koning en sy bruid was named Best Production at the 2024 Première Theatre Festival. She made her acting debut in the Showmax films Nuwejaar and Meisiekind, the kykNET film My f*k, Marelize, and the kykNET telenovela Die toring, which is due for release soon. Nichola dreams of writing, directing and producing her own South African films and television series.
Baie geluk aan ons suksesvolle kandidate. Ons is opgewonde om julle by die projek te verwelkom en sien uit na julle debuutproduksies by Suidoosterfees 2027.
Congratulations to our successful candidates. We are delighted to welcome you to the programme and look forward to presenting your debut productions at the 2027 Suidoosterfees.
