Chris Djuma

Chris Djuma is a Swiss born, South African raised Congolese actor, writer, director and theatre maker, who aligns himself in the belief that dreaming is not enough you have to do.

In 2008 he became a published playwright with his 2008 play Bang! Bang! Being published in  an anthology of plays and poems that are used to teach students.

He trained at the Market Theatre Laboratory, where he underwent 2 years full time training to to actively grow and craft, his writing, acting and directing skills, in the process he was directed by Andrew Buckland, Mahlatsi Mokganyane, Nicola Pilkington and Maude Sandham.  Under the direction of Mwenya Kabwe, he played a lead in the SA theatre-making first, the cross border Babylon Beyond Borders, which united 3 international theatres who all performed simultaneously and were projected via live stream in London, Johannesburg, New York and Sao Paolo.

As a second year student, he directed the Market Theatre Laboratory 2^nd year ensemble alongside Dintshitile Mashile in Le Journal at the 2019 National Arts Festival in Makhanda which won the Best Writer and Best Actors on the Student Fringe.

In January 2020 he made his professional stage debut playing the role of Jefferson in William Harding’s, The Kings of the World also directed by Harding who was under the mentorship of Robert Whitehead. He also was privileged to be part of a trio of theatre makers who got to work with Standard Bank Young Artist of the year for 2020 Jefferson Tshabalala, in the creation of a satirical comedy sketch show called the Mzansi Awards which Chris contributed to as a writer and director. He furthered his writing under the South African State Theatre’s Lentswe Writing Program which he was selected to be in residence.

In the Covid Era, he has also ventured on the online virtual platform. He participated in PopArt’s  Incubator 7, performing a piece written by Ncumisa Ndimeni and directed by Kirsten Harris. He was also a cast member for The Shopping Dead a Whatsapp theatrical performance for the 2020 Virtual National Arts Festival and he also performs improv as a member of PopArt’s Improv group.

He hopes that his curiosity for acting and storytelling leads him to further explore, reflect and interrogate humanity in all its shades while also bringing hope, light and joy to those who engage with him and his work.