Day of Absence Director – Diamond Mokoape

The talented Diamond spent her high school years at East Rand School of the Arts, in Benoni and then moved to Tshwane University of Technology in pursuit of her tertiary education in dram. She graduated in 2008. She specialised in teaching practice and Educational theatre.

She was employed as a field worker at the South African State Theatre under the Development Department where she taught and trained community arts groups in Pretoria for four years. During this time, she sharpened her directing skills directing plays in the Mzansi Fela Festival.

In 2011 she directed the play “This Is for Keeps” which received great reviews and became her breakthrough in the directing scene.

In 2012 she directed Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s “The Black Hermit” which also had a successful three week run at the State Theatre.

In 2013 she directed a dramatic poetry production “He Said She said” during the State Theatre’s Vavasati International Women’s festival.

Her two productions “This is for keeps” and “He said, She said” have featured in a number of Festivals including The National Arts Festival, The Vavasati Women’s Festival at the State Theatre and Olive Tree Women in Theatre Festival and the Windybrow Human Rights Festival.

Her decision to return for her B-Tech in 2017, specializing in Directing and Educational Theatre, was inspired by her desire for growth and her production Day of Absence, staged at the State Theatre 2017 Youth Expressions Festival, proves that she is destined for even more.