Celebrated TV and film star Warren Masemola has proven without a shred of doubt that he is a versatile performer who can take on any role and master it with sheer aplomb.
Masemola is a multilingual genius who needs no introduction on television. For the past years, the multi-award winning actor has demonstrated this by portraying different TV roles in productions like Tjovitjo, The Widow, Ses'Top La, Intersexions and The River.
His talents spread across a remarkable spectrum. Masemola seemed to bring sparkle and magic to anything and everything he touches. For Masemola, it has always been his wish to play as many different TV and film characters as possible to push him to grow.
In demonstrating his maturity, Masemola has landed a role in a one-man stage show called Nine Lives that is on at the Market Theatre. It’s his first one-man show in his career. After a decade doing TV and film, Masemola returned to theatre with Mike van Graan’s three-hander show, When Swallows Cry. He then landed a role in a two-hander, The Fisherman – acting alongside Siyabonga Thwala. Masemola sees the one-man show as a big step in his career.
As he charts to Sowetan, during the rehearsal of Nine Lives, the 38-year-old actor is aware that the stage show is a complex show where he has to portray nine characters representing nine lives. Just like in the previous shows, through the Ishmael character, he portrays many characters including female characters which are all part of Ishmael’s journey.
“It is my first time acting in a one-man show and it is really pushing me to grow. I call it a blessed challenge. It is a very big step for me. I always enjoy challenging myself by playing as many characters that reflect the society we live in. Playing those nine characters is not a walk in the park,” Masemola says.
“It is not easy playing nine characters because each character has its own voice, own accent, and its physicality. These characters have their own intentions in their journeys and I have to breathe life into them. It is a challenge as I sleep late and wake up early. Sometimes these characters live in my head. I allow them to do so because I want them to come across clearer.”
Written by Zimbabwean-born renowned playwright and poet Zodwa Nyoni, Nine Lives is a true story of Ishmael – a gay man from Zimbabwe who fled the homophobic country and headed to the UK to seek asylum.
Masemola explains that the Nine Lives stories are so complex and heavy on him both on and off the stage. As he explains Ishmael’s life struggles in the UK, he starts tearing up because the story is just heavy.
“These characters go through a painful journey that hurts. Their stories are heartbreaking and make me cry both on and off stage. It is not just a story, it’s a reality of life. We come across some of these issues as human beings but sometimes you chose to ignore them,” he says.
“Being in the shoes of these characters and experience the pain they go through, seeking asylum is just heartbreaking. I love playing all these characters and sometimes I feel like jumping out of the story and straight to reality and do something to help.”
When watching Masemola rehearsing the show, it is easy to see why he's best at what he does. He gets to rehearsal hours before to refine the characters. With his traditional serious look, the gifted actor paces around the stage as he eats his lunch and reminding himself of the movements on stage.
Born in Ga-Rankuwa and raised at the nearby Soshanguve, both north of Pretoria, Masemola has been praised by industry legends and critics for his honest portrayal of characters – whether on TV or stage. He credits all these qualities to his mentors, including the late Ramolao Makhene.
With one-man show on the bag, Masemola is thanking his lucky stars that he has been able to achieve what he has achieved in 15 years. Having won three South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS), he regards everything as a blessing. Not so long ago, Masemola dreamed of going to Hollywood to make a name for himself. In a twist of things, he found himself acting in a Hollywood movie while in SA.
“I am happy where I am. I'm doing the Lord’s work and I am using my God-given talent. I believe this is where my ancestors and God wanted me to be, that is why I do it wholeheartedly.”
As much as he played almost every character, Masemola still yearns to play a character of a petrol attendant, bus driver and a doctor. If he is not rehearsing, Masemola enjoys playing and chasing around his 16-month-old baby boy. He is convinced that in his son, the country has another SA athletics golden girl Caster Semenya or retired Jamaican sprinter and Olympian Usain Bolt.
Nine Lives has been at the Market Theatre in Newtown since November 12, while its curtain falls on December 5.
Fact File
Favourite TV show: La Casa De Papel
Favourite TV or film actor: Johan Hill
Favourite saying: Without confidence you’re twice defeated in the race of life
Favourite emoji: Questions mark
Favourite holiday destination: Safari
Favourite musician: Beyoncé
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