ames Cuningham

Since training at The University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, with Keith Johnstone in Canada and at The Jacques Lecoq School in Paris, James has been improvising, devising, performing and directing theatre with various companies in South Africa, the UK, France, Spain and Canada.

In 2002, he formed Fresco Theatre with Helen Iskander. Their first show Baobabs Don’t Grow Here, has since toured Southern Africa and Europe winning international acclaim, including a Stage Award and Total Theatre Award nomination at The Edinburgh Fringe 2003. In Europe he has performed in Le Poullalier du Monde, Murder, Bond, Les Trois Mousquetaires, and What If?, all of which were devised by the companies. His most recent performance was in Wood for the Trees / Bosryk for The National Arts Festival and Aardklop Festival in 2005.

With Helen Iskander he has devised and co-directed 5 new South African plays: Fortunately with Sylvaine Strike and Brian Webber for The Market Theatre in 2002, Black and Blue with Sylvaine Strike and Danny Mooi; De Wet’s Dream with Luke Rous and Meren Reddy, which has toured festivals around the country; 2 for the Price of 1 with Charmaine Weir-Smith, Nick Boraine and Lerato Moloi; and Electric Juju, starring Rob van Vuuren.

James has written, performed and directed numerous corporate theatre projects. He wrote sketch comedy for ITV’s The Sketch Show in the UK, which has since also been released by American television network NBC. He also appeared regularly in SABC 3’s hit comedy, Sorted.

Following an invitation from multi award-winning UK company Theatre O, James recently co-devised and performed in a new piece at the National Theatre Studio in London. He regularly gives performance workshops, and teaches performance principles to animators.

elen Iskander

Helen is originally from the UK, currently living in Johannesburg. She has a BA in Performing Arts, and trained under John Wright at Middlesex University, London. Helen furthered her training for 2 years at The Jacques Lecoq School in Paris, where she was awarded a Diploma in Movement, Mime and Physical Theatre. Since then, she has been acting, writing and directing in the UK and South Africa and has a passion for original and creative work. Helen started performing as a teenager with the Birmingham Rep Youth Theatre (Agamemnon). Theatre credits include She’ll be Coming Round The Mountain (John Wright), D’Artagnan in Les Trois Mousquetaires (Theatre Sans Frontieres) and Somebody To Love (Blow Up Theatre). She also co-wrote and performed in The Mime commercial for SAfm radio station (nominated for a Loerie Award), co-directed Fortunately (Fortune Cookie Theatre Co) for The Market Theatre, featured as Cleopatra in the Avalanches pop video Frontier Psychologist, wrote & directed short film Webcam for The Quickies, and has devised & performed in numerous corporate theatre productions.

In 2002, she and husband James Cuningham formed Fresco Theatre Co, to devise & perform in Baobabs Don’t Grow Here, directed by Sylvaine Strike. The show toured extensively for three years throughout Southern Africa and the UK, gathering multiple award nominations including a Total Theatre Award and The Stage Award for Acting Excellence at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2002, plus a Kanna Award nomination (2003) and a Naledi Award nomination for Best Actress in a Comic Role 2004. Baobabs Don’t Grow Here was televised on SABC2 in 2005.

In May 2004, Helen co-directed & devised Black & Blue (Fortune Cookie). The show received rave reviews and sold-out houses at the 2004 NAF, and went on to tour South Africa with much critical acclaim.

In 2005, Helen co-devised and performed in Wood for the Trees, a commission for The National Arts Festival. She also co-devised and co-directed De Wet’s Dream, which premiered at the festival and has since toured the country. She directed Her & Him, a semi-professional piece for the AFDA school Johannesburg, and co-directed and devised the hugely successful 2 for the Price of 1, for The Liberty Theatre on the Square, nominated for 3 Naledi awards, including Best Cutting Edge Production.

In 2006, Helen co-directed Rob Van Vuuren in his original one-man show Electric Juju, for the National Arts Festival. She also co-devised and directed Tom, Dick or Harry, a true-life story about a prostitute in the 1930’s, with Gretha Brazelle & Ben Vos. The play premiered at the Dance Factory last November and ran at the Liberty Theatre on the Square in May 2007.

This year Helen co-devised and directed Jutro, with Keren Tahor and James Cuningham, which had a successful run at this year’s NAF and at The Liberty Life Theatre on the Square, Johannesburg.

In November and December 2007, Helen will be performing in Grimm Tales at The Market Theatre, Johannesburg.