Veteran theatre stage manager Dickson Malele celebrated by colleagues

The widely traveled veteran was honoured by the Siphiwe Msimango Foundation at Little People’s Theatre in Brammfonein on Friday, an event attended by heavyweights in the entertainment industry.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

All Pictures by Lusanda Zokufa

Last week Friday, I, gate-crashed a party. Not really a party but an award ceremony.

That issue of gate-crashing this event was in fact unusual for me. You see, most times during the year, I get invited to at least three events a week. some of them are so called prestigious events the industry about which I write, being the arts and cultural sector. And at such events, the organizers go all out to impress guests with expensive drinks and sumptuous meals. I was invited to one such event also last week at a prestigious venue in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg where catering for guests promised to be superb. I gave it a miss, even when the organizers begged that I do and would find the event interesting enough o write about.

However I gate-crashed this one. In fact when I heard about it on Thursday, and that it was going to take place at People’s Theatre in Braamfontein, I cleared my diary of any other event that would clash with this event, to make sure that Friday, January 19, 2024, I had no other commitment that afternoon..

In short, that is how I felt veteran stage manager, Dickson Malele’s event, which took place at Little People’s Theatre in Braamfontein on Friday was not an event to miss. In fact it was worth gate-crashing.

If you are not in the arts in general and theatre in particular, you may by now be probably wondering, who the hell is this fellow called Dickson Malele, whose award ceremony was worth gate-crashing by busy people. That question is actually relevant, and that is exactly the point-Bra Dickie- as he is fondly known in theatre cicles, is a big deal. The real deal in fact. The fact that some of you might not know him is because he has over the years, worked quietly in the industry, playing various roles, including grooming some of the big names today in theatre to become the stars that they are.

Bra Dickie is more than a stage manager to many artists who have benefited from his experience and good natured inclination. He has been an inspiration as a humble soul who has worked hard to earn the respect of colleagues and mentees alike-travelling around the world with some of South Africa’s theatrical productions that graced the world’s prestigious theatre venues, such as on Broadway in the US. Among the shows in which he has lent his hand include Sarafina, created by the late Mbongeni Ngema and Woza Albert, co-written by Ngema and Percy Mtwa.

He in fact over the years, became Ngema’s trusted stage manager, with whom he worked on all his productions. He has also worked with many other playwrights whose connection he made through working at Committed artists, Ngema’s production company These  include playwright Bogosi Bolokwe. Bolokwe who after working for years as a lighting designer, has since morphed into a playwright of note in recent years, continues to work with Bra Dickie in his theatrical productions. They met at Committed artists where Bolokwe also worked as a lighting designer over the years.

 Bra Dickie, being Bra Dickei, did not restrict his involvement in theatre to only stage managing. He in fact has helped many a theatre director with his directing skills. He is the guy that you will find working with actors in rehearsals before the bona fide director takes over to fine-tune the direction to his taste. Bra Dickie would have done the ground work by the time the director takes over proper. He would have worked with the actors, getting them to grasp the script and acting in the spirit of the story.

Bra Dickie’s involvement in theatre spanning over 50 years, was recognized on this occasion by the Siphiwe Msimango Foundation, named after much admired arts philanthropist Siphiwe Msimango of Diepkloof, Soweto. This Sowetan’s heart and capacity to love fellow human beings is unmatched in this country.

Msimango is a man who, if  he is not organizing events to honour those making a huge impact on the arts sector, some well known, and some really visionary individuals whose work is lesser appreciated publicly, such as Bra Dickie, is busy as a volunteer at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. There he daily visits the hospital to give hope to those on sick beds, some actually facing the grim prospect of their end. He gives them motivation to hold onto life as they see it sleeping away. Msimango on his own right, just like the people he continues to honour in the arts through his foundation, such as Bra Dickie, is a man of honour, who deserves acknowledgement nationally.

He deserves an Ikhamanga in Gold, an Arts and Culture Trust Lifetime Achievement award, or any prestigious award offered to individuals whose work has an impact in society in the country for that matter. And so does Bra Dickie deserve similarly the same.

It was therefore not surprising to notice at the event that I was not the only one who dropped everything just to attend this ceremony. This as many an artist who matters, filled the Little People’s Theatre to celebrate the good work of Bra Dickie in theatre as they also celebrated the work that Msimango does in society.

That explains why speaker after speaker, after praising the work of Bra Dickie, struggled to come down the stage without also in the same breath, acknowledge the work of Msimango.

The cream of black arts talent attended this event, some travelling from other provinces such as some of the cast of Gert Sibande: Lion of the East, a musical created by the late Ngema, who gave a soulful musical rendition at the ceremony. Blues guitarist Smokey gave a memorable performance of two great songs from his album.

That performance drove the guests to dance on their seats, while the brave ones such as well known dancer, Nomsa Manaka and actor Arthur Molepo, braved the gazing eyes and went on stage to show their polished dance skills, creating a party mood in the theatre. The talented acting duo of Ntokozo Dhlamini and Thulani gave their all when they acted a selection of scenes from Woza Albert.  Trumpeter Prince Lengoasa and keyboardist Bra Bra Eddie gave a warm rendition of the late Bra Hugh Masekela’s songs. Vocalist and dancer Khanyo Maphumulo also entertained guests during the ceremony.

This event turned out to be a memorable event worth gate-crashing, and despite the fact that it was not a big budget event, lacking expensive drinks and sumptuous food from top Johannesburg caterers, the cake we ate and the watermelons we were served after the event, tasted better than anything one has eaten at an industry event in a long time. People were simply too happy to be together and celebrate the lives and times of two humble man Bra Dickie and Bra Siphiwe work has such a huge impact in society to care about what was there for lunch. I for one was happy and did not regret for gate-crashing this party.