Photo courtesy of Lesego Molotsi

“If I had to do it all over again I would”:

An interview with actor and choreographer Lesego Gladwin Molotsi

Q: Since graduating from the drama department in 2013, you gave been

involved in exiting projects. Tell us about these projects.

A: I’ve been very fortunate to start off 2014 working with some of the successful and

well-known artists in the performing arts industry (Craig Morris and Greg Smith).

These two directors/artists have been in the industry for many years that’s why I was

so excited to learn from them - not just in relation to the project we were busy with,

but also for future reference. Mr. Morris assisted me in enhancing my physical

storytelling and mime skills, I have managed to add those skills into, what drama

movement lecturer Nicola Haskins calls a ‘toolbox’ and I can use them anytime

they’re needed.

For most of 2014, I was working with Craig Morris on this educational theatre show.

We performed here in South Africa as well as in East Africa; Dar Es Salaam, Arusha,

Karatu, Olduvai Gorge and Nairobi, Tanzania and Kenya. It was an amazing time

where we sometimes performed for a thousand students and receiving fantastic

feedback. It was great to see ourselves in the local newspapers! This was an

exciting opportunity and I also got to be on an airplane for the first time in my

life…yes it was my first time - I come from Bothaville in die Vrystaat, we have taxis,

Hilux bakkies and sometimes horses - but we don’t fly!

I also appeared on the first season of a game show, K’shublile, on SABC 1 and I was

just fascinated with the set and learning how everything works- from cameramen to

the director up to what was happening in front of the camera.

During the end of March 2015 I was fortunate enough to be a part of the Radio 2000

TVC (Television commercial) - I say ‘fortunate’ because it is not easy to get

confirmed for a TVC especially when you’re still new and trying to find your feet in

this industry. I struggled to sleep that night before the shoot fearing that I would miss

my alarm (which never happens), woke up at 2am for 6am call for the whole day for

a 30 second TVC. This was an amazing experience where I could work with another

successful artist/director that I look up to in this industry- Eduan van Jaarsveldt.

One month later I was fortunate to be a part of a United Kingdom TVC - I’m sure we

know by now what I mean by ‘fortunate’. I was put together with Johannesburg’s

finest dancers for this commercial and it was overwhelming to be among people who

had formal training specifically in dance: tap, ballet, hip hop, jazz and so forth. I had

to forget about my fears and embody the character of the best dancer I could be and

perform…it worked.

I was also part of an Afrikaans educational theatre show ‘Self Y Liefde’ that was

devised by myself and two other actors that are signed with the Thespians agency,

Danielle Retief and Megan van Wyk. The show was for high school students and we

dealt with social issues such as drugs and alcohol. The show was a resounding

success.

Q: What aspects of your drama studies did you enjoy most?

A: One of the saddest moments in my life was when I realized “My time here is up”

(at the University of Pretoria). We got to the end of our honours physical theatre

group piece (choreographed by Bailey Snyman) and I just couldn’t stop my tears

from flowing. I was asked by my fellow students about any regrets I had during the

years I’ve been part of the drama department and I didn’t have any regrets; in fact if I

had to do it all over again I would.

Lesego in As Night Falls, choreographed by Nicola Haskins (2013).

It’s hard for me to choose the best aspects that stood out for me but I’ll just start at

the beginning. The first play I participated in was The Redlight Canteen (directed by

Dr. Estelle Zeeman in 2010) when I was in first year. What makes this play so

unforgettable for me is that I got to perform alongside my mentors and lecturers; I

shared the stage with Prof. Marié-Heleen Coetzee, Mr Abri le Roux, Mr Chris

Broodryk and the rest of the second years. The following year I auditioned for a

physical theatre work As Night Falls (choregraphed for the National Arts Festival by

Nicola Haskins in 2011) and Haskins trusted me enough to cast me. We won a

Standard Bank Ovation Award for the show. The show was such a success that it

was brought back to the Festival in 2013. In 2012 I had the opportunity to be in

another production by Nicola Haskins, called Chasing. It was a privilege to be a part

of this production, what made this production so special was that Miss Haskins was

using it as part of her master’s degree.

Some of the fun surprises include walking to the movement class crossing the bridge

and pausing for a moment to view the Drama Deaprtment’s Krêkvars-Kopanong

Student Arts Festival billboard over Lynwood road only to realize that “I am on that

billboard”.

Last but not least is when I was under the guidance of Mr. Rian Terblanche for TNP

300 (Acting) when I got signed with one of the leading talent agencies in

Johannesburg - Thespians. It was just after the final acting exam when we were

queuing for orange juice when Marius Meyer offered to pour me juice and I thought

to myself “What a nice oom”. I started having a conversation with this “oom” about

acting, the Free State and everything in between only to find out he was an agent…I

was so shocked my tongue couldn’t even pronounce ‘Thespians’!

Lesego (far left) listening to lecturer Bailey Snyman during an exam performance.

Q: What did the drama course offer you that you have applied in your working

life since graduation?

A: Everything I’ve learned I am applying, the drama course also taught me to make

use of my available resources. I can never say I can’t rehearse because there’s no

rehearsal space; I choreograph scenes in my room - when rehearsal spaces were

limited at the drama department we could rehearse under a tree, in the parking lot

and anywhere as long as we don’t disturb “The Engineers”. Unlike those who think

performance is only driven by talent, I am able to warm-up my voice correctly, use

my voice in a healthy way, do proper character background research, I can write and

choreograph my own shows. I didn’t need to start practicing professionalism from

scratch - there was just no time for that. I started practicing professionalism since

first year and it is paying off now (still improving though…).

Q: What future projects are on the horizon?

A: It’s still early days and I wish I knew what the future has in store but nevertheless

Haja o que houver - come what may, I’ll be ready. Soon I’ll be playing one of the

leads in short film so I am truly excited about that. I’m also doing character voices for

South Africa’s first Afrikaans animation series Systraat that is coming soon on SABC.

For the rest of the year I’m ready for any adventure.

Lesego (right) in FrontLines (2011), a collaboration between Tuks Drama, UKZN Drama and DUT Drama. Directed by Tamar Meskin, Tanya van der Walt and Marié-

Heleen Coetzee.

Q: Can you tell us about some of the learning curves that you experienced in

your professional career?

A: Entering this industry as a freelance actor is still something that scares me up to

this day. I’m brave person but I never thought I’d be brave enough to be a freelancer.

The great thing is that I’m not just growing as an actor, I’m also growing as a person

as well (mentally and yes physically too). If I could just share some of the many

learning curves I’d say that I have learned to be BOLD - when I enter an audition

room I leave hesitations outside and bring professionalism inside, when I’m on the

stage thát is the only moment that matters, being ready for action even before the

director says ‘action’. I have also managed to build lot self-confidence. It also shows

that you are reliable, you know what you want and how to get what you want and

what you want is what the director wants from you…to deliver. I could write a whole

chapter on my learning curves so far, but all I can say is that one can never stop

learning - learn from your/others’ mistakes and don’t repeat them, learn from

your/others’ successes and repeat them if you can’t improve on them.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring young drama graduates?

A: Don’t get into this industry because you want fame or fortune, do it because you

have passion for the arts.

Passion is what drives you. Being chased out of the movement studio (Skuros) by

the security guards during the weekends because you “rehearse too much”; it is

sleeping over at the Masker theatre to make sure the show is ready for opening in

the morning; it is performing a three-hour show every night and run to another

rehearsal after that; it is performing under a tree as if you’re performing at the Joburg

theatre; it is performing for five people as if you’re performing for a full house; it is not

having a July holiday because you have to make Krêkvars-Kopanong happen; it is

waking up at 2am for a 6am call for the whole day for a 30 second advertisement; it

is respecting other people’s positions (from the cleaners to the directors);

understanding your position; working together as one unit as you pull your weight for

an extra mile.

Lesego dancing across Lynnwood Road.

Anything else that you would like to say?

“Don’t be intimidated by the process be tempted by the finish line” LG. Molotsi

(2013), what’s impossible with man is possible with God.