height 5'6"
hair Black
eyes Brown
Languages
isiXhosa English isiZulu
Portfolio
Biography
Hailing from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Soyiso Ndaba is a multi-disciplinary artist with a strong foundation in performance and production. He holds a qualification in Drama and Production Studies from the Durban University of Technology. Through his company, Purple Apple Productions, Soyiso has successfully produced several acclaimed stage productions, including Romeo and Juliet, Gqum Phantsi, and ILahleko. During his university years, he performed in numerous student and lecturer-directed productions, gaining valuable stage experience that would shape his artistic journey. His professional debut came with Who Says What, a dance production choreographed and directed by Musa Hlatshwayo, which premiered at the Durban Art Gallery. Soyiso has since showcased his versatility at major festivals such as the Zes’khethu Storytelling Festival, National Arts Festival, Dance Umbrella, and Youth Expressions. After relocating to Johannesburg, he expanded his portfolio across both theatre and screen. His screen credits include the documentary Unthinkable (produced by National Network), Theatre show, Rocks and Roses (Agang Productions), and participation in PANSA’s Reading of New Work Festival. In 2017, Soyiso appeared in several notable productions, including Foolzeball (directed by Millicent Tintswalo), Gone Native (directed by Makhaola Ndebele, with musical direction by Dr. Hugh Masekela), and Soweto Dance Movement (choreographed and directed by Thabiso Manare). The following year, he delivered an award-winning performance in Angola Camp 13 (directed by Sello Maseko), earning the Best Male Performer Award at the Market Theatre Arts Trade Fair. He also performed in Honey Bees (children’s theatre, directed by Olerato Chokwe with musical direction by Zakhele Mabhena). In 2019, Soyiso received a Naledi Award nomination for Best Male Performer in a Musical for his role in Angola Camp 13, which also won the Best Ensemble and Best Production awards. That same year, he performed in The Nutcracker, directed and choreographed by Ellington Mazibuko. His screen work continued with Inconceivable (2020, produced by Rous House and M-Net) and a series of recent projects including NGQAQHOLA (premiered at Zes’khethu Storytelling Festival), Askari (directed by Sello Maseko), Woza Albert! (directed by Diamond Mokoape), Miriring Musical (Zakhele Mabhena), Sleeping Beauty (directed by Thabiso Manare, choreographed by Ellington Mazibuko), Behold (feature film, MOG Films), and Closed Doors (short film currently streaming on AfroLandTV). Soyiso is also an accomplished voice artist, contributing to the English dubbing of Shaka iLembe and the isiXhosa dubbing of Takalani Sesame (voicing Elmo, Jad, Presenter, and Reporter). He has lent his voice to the KZN TB Awareness Campaign in both English and isiZulu. His commitment to artistic growth is reflected in his participation in workshops organized by The Centre for the Less Good Idea, conducted by Andrew Buckland (June 2022) and Jennie Reznek (November 2022). He also collaborated on an experimental South African–Swiss project curated by Jill Richards (South Africa) and Christophe Fellay (Switzerland).
