By Mpumzi Mshweshwe
James Sithole began his acting journey at a young age, experiencing his first performance in grade 1. Although he received high praise for his acting, he grew up with the need to help others.
This need led him to consider a career in the military or police service. His high school years reflected this compassionate drive as he pursued science with aspirations of becoming a military nurse or doctor.
Acting, however, continued to draw him back to the arts. During high school days, a chance encounter with Mr William Jiyani – who went to his school in search of young talent – reignited his passion for the arts. Although initially drawn to athletics, fate once more intervened – thanks to an absent athletics instructor, he saw an opportunity to explore the drama department. He joined and excelled, ultimately choosing to focus on drama over sports.
Sithole faced significant challenges, notably financial problems, but he was fortunate enough to have support from his brothers who helped fund his aspirations. He attended the Youth In Trust (YIT) Academy, where he honed his acting skills and learned about the industry. Despite the support, Sithole had to make a crucial decision whether to fully commit to his acting career or not. He realised that he was destined to be an actor and would thus pursue this destiny.
His professional acting career began with the play Hungry, but it was his role in Marikana the Musical (2014) that marked his breakthrough. Portraying a “notorious miner” seeking to provide for his family, Sithole stood out among established stars, an experience he described as a “learning curve”. Sithole embraced the role with humility, focusing on learning from his peers and creating valuable industry connections.
Theatre, for Sithole, is a sacred space where he connects with his inner self and expresses himself fully. Despite his growing popularity from his role as Mdala on Scandal, he remains committed to theatre. Transitioning from theatre to television required him to change his acting style. “In theatre you have to be more vocal, and you exaggerate a lot more, while on TV you have to be more subtle,” Sithole said.
Sithole’s dedication to theatre is evident in his many returns to theatre projects. Last year he was part of the cast of the theatre show Journey to the South, which premiered last September at the State Theatre. His role in the play was being a key advisor to the next king, where he had to deal with the succession conflict. Additionally, he appeared in another theatre show in October, The Tragedy of Samuel Omunye and Exodus.
The late Sbusiso Khwinana, who was a dear friend of Sithole, played a significant role in Sithole’s career, emphasizing the importance of kindness and continuous learning. “We would not sleep on the weekends, we would spend our nights watching old movies and shows trying to find ways we could improve our own skills. “What he (Khwinana) used to say to me, how you can be a writer yet you don’t read other people’s stuff, how can you be a director when you don’t watch movies,” Sithole recalled.
One of Sithole’s dreams is to share the stage with his idol, Sello Maake Ka Ncube, whose versatility and linguistic skill have greatly inspired him. “What I love about him was how he played with different languages. “Wherever he plays and whatever languages he uses, he makes sure that he excels”, he said.
Sithole’s admiration for the veteran actor led him to attend Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) where he studied language practice to better align with his aspirations. “If you can check on Scandal, I have used and played with enough languages, but of course I am still learning. He (Sello) has really inspired me, and I love the way he conducts himself during his performances. I have drawn a lot from him,” said Sithole on Sello’s influence on him.
For aspiring actors, Sithole advises them to pursue rigorous training and remaining resilient through the ups and downs of the industry. His own journey underscores the importance of staying true to one’s passion, despite obstacles.
“I will not say that the arts are easy, but if you want to do the arts, I suggest you get training and understand the do’s and the don’ts. Understand that there are seasons, sometimes it’s green sometimes it’s difficult. And the green seasons can be short-lived – they can last 1 or 3 years, and the dry seasons can last 6 years. It took me 7 years to be part of a theatre piece that is professional, and it took me another 7 years to be on the big screen,” he said.
Looking ahead, Sithole envisions acting abroad and potentially transitioning to behind-the-scenes roles full-time. As a director, actor, and writer at Blank Page Entertainment, he continues to explore and expand his creative horizons. James Sithole’s journey is a journey of fate and perseverance. In cases where he could have given up, he decided to stay true to the belief that it will all work out in the end. – @NewsSA