Refiloe Lepere
I am an award-winning theatre-maker, narrative strategist, researcher, academic, and writer.
Born and raised in Soweto, Johannesburg, my academic path intertwined with a passion for writing and the performing arts, laying the foundation for a career marked by scholarly rigour and creativity.
My Ph.D. in performing arts from University of Witwatersrand is a culmination of my community theatre work, feminist teaching, and the intricacies of performance ethnography. At the intersection of academia and art, I've excelled as a researcher and educator, leaving an indelible mark through creative plays. Numerous productions, performances, and public art installations underscore my holistic approach to knowledge dissemination. My international reach is evident in a diverse portfolio of plays performed in the United States, Germany, South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, and the United Kingdom. Works like Recipes, Remedies, and Rumours, Between Sisters, and Songs for Khwezi contribute to the dialogue on cultural identity and social justice globally.
I was recently elected the president of the Humanities Social Science Alumni Association, which includes graduates from South African universities and our colleagues from other countries. In this role, I have showcased remarkable leadership skills and dedication to advancing the humanities and social sciences. I served as a guest editor for the Drama Therapy Review’s Black Lives Matter edition in 2021-2022, playing a critical role in amplifying marginalised voices through drama therapy.
In the public sphere, I worked as an online editor for DRUM magazine and Sunday World newspaper and as the head of communications for the South African Transport Union. In 2023, I was the recipient of the Performance Studies International Artist-Scholar-Activist Award for my commitment to excellence and activism. I teach writing, emphasising the integration of creative practices into the writing process. Through therapeutic theatre, I address critical topics such as social justice, trauma, the intersectional identities of Black women, and the performance of labour.