Who is he…
A would-be-rebel who had a Catholic school childhood and kidulthood. I drew throughout school and sang in the choir. I have a university degree in English but I picked up drama then acting and directing training at UCT Drama School. At the same time, I did illustration and my illustrations became stickers photostatted on a library photocopier. I did a stint at a production company as a director’s researcher, then I freelanced as an illustrator. The first book I illustrated was Dr Eve’s Teenage Guide to Sex (not kidding). After that I gravitated back towards the theatre, first with acting and more recently, directing.

What he does…
I write, direct and design for theatre. I’m also doing bits of illustration through my agency One League. And I’m trying to write, write, write. In my spare time (not a clear delineation sometimes), I just play around with new materials. I’ve been enjoying making clay figurines of late, inspired by my genius potter friend Lucinda Mudge. Craft can calm me, like a wreath I made for my family’s home. It might be the occupational therapy effect. I’m also a notorious grinch at Christmas.

Learning…
My dad taught me to draw when I was little. He was the first person to show me how, when drawing people, you can divide their bodies into squares, ovals and circles. My mother taught me the mechanics of language, and what words come from where.

Childhood and now, any similarities…
Yes! When I was little I used to boss kids around, having given them little clips of paper containing their words. The picture I drew of my Sub A (grade one) teacher Mrs Travers was in the school magazine. And I read a lot then too, I read Voyage of the Dawn Treader at the Spur. As a teenager I attended Frank Joubert Art Centre in Rondebosch (art at my school only went up to standard 8/grade 10) where I took a module called Fibre and Fashion. I developed a knack for drawing slender women in various outfits. My friends Jon and Nanette were in a printmaking class upstairs – we would sneak outside for cigarettes down on the field and thought we were very alternative.

Confidence…
A kind of balance of my own judgement and the judgement of some others. I’m not sure, I can usually tell if I am satisfied by the results of my work or not. If I’m not sure, there are always certain people I can ask. I do think criticism is very important.

Projects in the pipeline…
I’m prepping for a Cape Town run of a piece I wrote for the City Varsity Final Year acting students, called Trek. It’s part futuristic coming-of-age and part ghost story.

You can view the trailer here.

I’m also preparing for an educational opera I’ve been asked to do by Cape Town Opera, called uWiz. This is kind of a children’s fiction/classical opera mash up – about 10 gorgeous arias and duets are stitched into a reworked classic to create a new piece.

Pros and cons…
I don’t like that there is no mentoring or apprenticeship structures in the theatre industry. I do like that in this environment I can more or less invent what I am doing.

Environmental influences…
I grew up in the university suburb of Rosebank, Cape Town, South Africa. My parents both lecture there, and I spent a lot of time there as a child. I actually once found the switch that controls the water feature at the Middle Campus. I must have been about 10! I spent a lot of time at the Middle Campus Library where I used to spend holidays, notching up book after book in this one extremely comfortable and large chair. How nerdy! But I had the best time. My Dad tells me that a Nobel Prize Laureate did my 12 times tables with me in our car on the way back from the airport, but I don’t remember this specifically. My parents always excelled at everything they did, and are happy and dynamic.

Encouragement…
My whole life my family have assisted and supported both myself and my brother in whatever it is we wanted/want to do. It must be challenging, too, because my brother and I seem to do so many things.

Family…
I have always spent a lot of time with my family and still do. They’re a strengthening unit and I still learn from all of them.

Best advice received…
Don’t be a fool.

Collections…
I’m trying to uncollect everything I have collected. It all just becomes this big ephemeral attic space. I do however buy books. I think they’re the most gorgeous things in the world.

When there’s no inspiration…
I try and switch off and find out what is blocking me.

A few of his favourite things…
Shakespeare, insightful cartoon strips (Peanuts, Moomintroll, Calvin and Hobbes – calm and reflective), directors Ang Lee, Sofia Coppola, Wong Kar Wai and Gus Van Sant. I read a lot (I have just reread Philip Pullmans’ Dark Materials). The Bo-Kaap, where I live now is so pretty and shambolic. I’ve had great neighbours who took down the number and registration of some guy who scraped into my car. That we have this kind of community in the middle of an urban district, is so precious.

Relaxation…
Whatever I am doing to relax is not working. Please can someone assist.

If he could go back in time…
I wouldn’t have left that letter from Chris on the table.

People…
Local designers and artists who impress and inspire me are Heath Nash, Frauke Stegmann, David West, Bridget Baker, Doreen Southwood, Graham and Christine Weir, Rob Van Vuuren and Zanne Stapelberg.

Plans…
Make it work! (Thanks Tim).

Dream life…
I want four dogs and a big table with 16 chairs.

Advice to readers…
Identify what you are good at. Watch and learn from others. Be objective and continue to pick up skills!