Who Is Mncedisi Shabangu? What You Didn't Know About The Actor

Shabangu is a South African filmmaker, writer, performer, and actor. Shabangu was born on 3 November 1973 in KwaMashu Durban. He was very much interested in acting from an early stage of his life, so he pursued a career in the entertainment industry as he grew older.

The South African actor was a theatre enthusiast at the outset. He received his theatre training at The Royal National Theatre Studio in London and Market Theatre Laboratory in Johannesburg, where he graduated in 1998 with a concentration on Shakespeare and storytelling using unpunctuated text.

[image-1]

Shabangu has written, directed, and performed in many noteworthy stage, film, and television productions over the years. He was awarded several prestigious accolades for his impeccable talent in the titles. They include the Graham Lindop award for the most improved actor, FNB Vita for best-supporting actor in Call us crazy, FNB Vita for best director in Vuka Machel, and Fleur Du Cap and KKNK Karna for best actor in Tshepang, and more.

Also Read: What Illness Does Ted Robbins Have? Health Update After A Heart Attack

Shabangu holds many credits as an actor, writer, director, and teacher, which sums up his career in the entertainment industry. 

At Market theatre, he played several plays, including Gomorrah by Pule Hlatshwayo (1997), Orpheus by Robin Orlyn (1998), Ways of dying by Lara Foot (1999), Call us crazy by Josias Moleele (2000), and Tshepang by Lara Foot (2003). He had also played his part in Tshepang by Lara Foot at Baxter Theatre two times, in 2003 and 2006. 

It is not all. Shabangu was also a part of the play, Best wedding ever by Bruce Koch (2004), Nongogo by John Matshikiza (2005), Dream of the dog by Malcom Purkey (2007), and Woza Albert by Prince Lamla (2012); all produced by Market Theatre. 

At another theatre, namely, the State Theatre, he was included in the plays; Cards by Paul Grootboom (2010) and Rivonia Trial by Aubrey Sekhabi (2010). He also played in the play 'Modus Vivendi-Motshabi 'Vice' Monageng at Windybrow theatre in 2011.

Shabangu's engagement at the Market Theatre carries the largest of his credit as an artist. Besides being an actor, he also directed several plays at the Market Theatre, including Wangesheya-wangesheya (1998), L.A.T.E (2001), Quenn (1999), Third coming (2005), and Ten bush (2008), and more. Similarly, he also directed Vuka Mache (2005), Protest 92010), and Half empty, half full (2014) for the HIFA Festival in Zimbabwe.

[image-2]

Shabangu also plays on big screens. He was featured in the movies Hijack Stories (2000), Catch a Fire (2006), Vaya (20160, and short Dirty Laundry (2016). In Catch a Fire, he even performed Shonamalanga. Shabangu gained considerable prominence in 2008 for his portrayal of Skhumbuzo in the second season of the SABC3 drama series The Lab. He was also seen on the SABC2 sitcom Home, Sweet Home.

Actor Mncedisi Shabangu's death has not been clarified yet and an obituary notice is yet to be released. Following recent news, he is dead at the age of 59.

Mncedisi has been a theatre tutor at the Market Theatre Laboratory for more than a decade. He has held the offices of Associate Artistic Director and Artistic Director for the Market Theatre and Windybrow theatre, respectively. In addition, he works with young people as the full-time director of the Babuyile community theatre group in Nelspruit.

Furthermore, Shabangu is the founder and artistic leader of The Mncedisi Memorial Theatre Institute, where he organizes festivals and workshops for the sake of his community. The Mncedisi Memorial Theatre Institute is a non-profit company officially launching a theater training institute and a performance venue to showcase new talent and accommodate domestic and foreign artists.

[image-3]

Shabangu is secretive about his personal life. He hasn't come forth to date to disclose information about his wife or children, But we sure do know that he is a married man.

The actor indicated that he is married and has children in his acceptance speech for his SAFTA award. In his speech, he acknowledged his wife and kids for giving him the freedom to live away from home and for having the guts to stand by him no matter what.