When filmmaker, performer and entrepreneur Mthobisi Khanyile was a young learner growing up in Umbumbulu, south of Durban, he was captivated by the actors on television and intrigued by the subtitles in multilingual productions.
'I wanted to know where the words came from, who wrote them and how stories were created,' Mthobisi explains. 'I learnt there is something called a script and I started writing stand-up comedy sketches with a friend of mine that we would perform for kids in our community. Before long, the kids joined in, and this developed into a drama group.'
He comes from a family of 9 and his parents and siblings encouraged his creativity. His father Michael is an electrician and his mother Eunice does traditional Zulu beadwork. 'They instilled a level of pride in our culture and where we come from that has inspired my work. There were no drama classes or workshops in our environment, so I kept on developing myself, auditioning for theatre productions in Durban and looking for opportunities,' he explains.
That's when he came across and applied to the Arts & Culture Trust Nyoloha Scholarship Programme (ACT NSP), supported by Nedbank. He was accepted into the 2023 cohort and ultimately selected as 1 of 15 finalists.
For the 2023 finals, the performing artist finalists put on a production called Abandize at the Lesedi Theatre in the Joburg Theatre Complex. Zolani Shangase was the artistic director. 'I’ve since worked with Zolani in 2 productions, combining acting, dancing and singing. So even though I didn’t win the scholarship, the experience and network I gained was phenomenal for my career,' says Mthobisi, adding, 'Once you are part of the ACT NSP alumni, you also get ongoing opportunities, including performing in productions for Nedbank events, which I have done.’
While participating in the ACT NSP, he was cast in Imbube, Mbongeni Ngema’s final stage production at The Playhouse Company in Durban. The production explores a young person’s journey of self-discovery. Ngema tragically died in a head-on collision in December that year.
Also, in 2023 Mthobisi was the lead actor in 1976 The Musical at The Playhouse.
'Fortunately, the ACT NSP mentorship was online so I could participate and perform,' he explains. 'Sam Peo was my mentor. I really liked the fact that she herself is a performing artist and so she knows exactly what it takes to be on stage. She guided us in a range of aspects such as the emotion it requires to get into character, how you have to consistently give your all, and how to collaborate. I and some of the other finalists are still working together.'
Mthobisi’s greatest strength is his creative versatility. 'It has opened so many doors for me,' he says. It has seen him build an impressive career spanning theatre, film, producing, writing and entrepreneurship.
In 2024, he started his own film company, Isilwane Films. His first production, Emanzini, is a feature film which he wrote and produced. The project received funding from the Durban Film Office’s Micro-Budget Film Fund, which provides R350 000 per project to support local emerging filmmakers in producing feature-length films. 'In all the productions I’ve worked on, I make friends with the actors and the crew and several of them worked on Emanzini at low rates to fit the budget.'
Emanzini’s first official screening will be in November this year, at the 2026 Umlazi International Film Festival, which is held annually in Umlazi township in Durban. 'My goal is to tell stories from the place I come from with our actors, and I am committed to socially relevant issues,' he explains. Emanzini is isiZulu for 'in the water' and it was inspired by the devastating floods that struck KwaZulu-Natal as well as the xenophobic tensions affecting the region and country. The film follows a young woman who loses her parents in the flood. To overcome her fear of water she decides to learn how to swim with the help of a swimming coach from Malawi.
The story weaves together issues of climate change, water insecurity, infrastructure failure and xenophobia, issues affecting communities throughout South Africa. 'Overall, it’s a story of hope, resilience, and the power of uniting our communities against the tide of prejudice,' explains Mthobisi, who now lives in Soweto to be closer to Gauteng’s thriving creative hub.
This year, he performed in the revival of Mbongeni Ngema's legendary musical Sarafina. 'It was wonderful and it brought back such good memories from my first time performing at the Joburg Theatre during the ACT NSP finals.' In all respects, Mthobisi’s journey reflects the broader vision of the ACT NSP to empower emerging artists not only with professional and creative skills, but also with the confidence, networks and entrepreneurial mindset needed to build sustainable creative careers.