Who We Are

Management Committee

Jamie McLaren Lachman (chairperson, director, facilitator, clown)

Jamie McLaren Lachman, aka Jabulani Nene Mshengu, is the founder and director of Clowns Without Borders South Africa. Born in South Africa, Lachman left at an early age only to return in 2004 with 3 other clowns - Tim Cunningham, Jonathan Gunning, and Liz Turkel - to begin an amazing journey that led to Clowns Without Borders South Africa. In 2007, he worked in Durban as the project manager of Circus Life South Africa, a cultural exchange partnership between the BAT Centre in South Africa and Cirkus Cirkor, a Swedish Cultural Exchange Program. It was here that he met many of the artists that are the foundation for CWBSA. As well as a clown, Jamie is a singer/songwriter, banjo player, poet, and dreamer. He is also graduate of Yale University and the Dell'Arte International School for Physical Theatre. Always looking for laughter in the life's simplicity, Jamie strives to live each day fully with compassion and amazement. Jamie@cwbsa.org

Lulu Ncobo (secretary, development director, office manager)

Biography coming soon!

Gavin Stockden (treasurer, juggler, clown, magician, fire artist, unicyclist)

Gavin Stockden has been working as a clown for about 7 years. Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, he studied IT, decided it wasn't for him, so ran away to join the circus coming down to Durban on weekends and holidays to do corporate walk-around clowning gigs. He traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2002 to take part in fire shows at the Abha Palace Hotel and Dubai in 2006 to work for a few months for Flying Elephant Parties at birthday parties and corporate functions. Early in 2007 he started On The Ball Productions (www.otbp.co.za) with a couple of friends which provides entertainment for parties and functions. He also joined the Circus Life professional development program at the BAT Centre as a participating artist. In May 2007 he went on his first CWB Expedition to the Eastern Cape and Northern Natal. Later in 2007 he became a member of the Magic Lodge of South Africa and the South African Magic Society.

Sibongile Tsoanyane (juggler, clown, singer, facilitator)

Sibongile Tsoanyane has been a circus entertainer and teacher since 1999 specializing in juggling and circus arts education for children. From Ashdown outside of Pietermaritzburg, she is a founding member of the African Dream Circus, an isiZulu circus started through Cirque du Monde. Sibongile is a senior trainer with CWBSA and a leader of many for Project Njabulo. Sibongile received her circus training through Sinani, or Survivors of Violence, and the Circus Life South Africa training program in 2007. She is also trained in forum theatre based on Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed. Sibongile has performed at numerous venues throughout South Africa including the Gold Reef City Circus and was featured in a documentary b Cirque du Monde, Cirque du Soleil's social intervention program. Her clown, Gogo, has recently toured rural schools in Limpopo and KZN with Clowns Without Borders.

Garth Van Vliet (juggler, entertainer, workshop leader)

Garth, or J. J. Blamonge, hails from Johannesburg where he can be seen performing at many functions, events, schools, and conferences. The founder of Jolly Juggler, a "supplier of all things juggly in South Africa", www.juggle.co.za, J.J. joined Clowns Without Borders in Mpumalanga on our first expedition. He just showed up, unloaded his car, performed a show, and taught a workshop on juggling for 50 orphans using rocks for props! Garth is the president of the SA Juggling Association and member of Gauteng Juggling Club.

Artists

Busi Biyela (juggler, acrobat)

Busi Biyela is a trainer at Sinani-Survivor's of Violence social circus program in Durban. She teaches vulnerable children circus skills in a community intervention program in Folweni, KZN. Performing as her clown, Strawberry, Busi recently returned from a Clowns Without Borders expedition in Ingwavuma, KZN where she was working with Ingwavuma Orphan Care.

Sibusiso Dlamini (juggler, magician, stilt-walker, physical comedian)

Sibusiso Dlamini, aka "Mr. Fish," has been performing for audiences for many years, astounding them with his skills as a juggler and physical comedian. A veteran of many local circuses including the Boswell Wilkie Circus, he has worked with Clowns Without Borders on many field expeditions in KZN, the Eastern Cape, and Limpopo. Mr. Fish lives in Hammerstead.

Bongekile Mabuya (juggler, partner acrobat, stilt-walker, clown)

Bongekile Mabuya (Bossy) is a founding member of the African Dream Circus and teaching artist with CWBSA. During the Circus Life South Africa program, she participated in the professional development training as was a principle trainer at its outreach program in Newlands at a home for former street children. She performs at many events throughout Durban and KZN and was a member of the Department of Arts and Culture's program Taking the Arts to the People in 2005.

Bongiwe Mabuya (juggler, acrobat, stilt-walker, clown)

Bongiwe Mabuya is a resident teacher for Circus Life's outreach program at Lake Haven Children's Home. A founding member of the African Dream Circus, she has worked with Clowns Without Borders in the Eastern Cape and northern KZN performing as her clown, Miss South Africa. Along with her sister, Bongekile, Mabuya lives in KwaMashu outside of Durban.

Nkosie Majola (acrobat, juggler, unicyclist, Diablo specialist, clown)

Nkosie Majola (Taxi) has performed at many venues throughout South Africa including Gold Reef City. He was featured in SABC 1's reality TV circus show in 2006. Majola has performed with Circus Life South Africa, Clowns Without Borders, and is a founding member of the African Dream Circus (1999-2006). He lives in Mbumbulu, KZN.

Wonderboy Manana (acrobat, juggler, stilt-walker)

Wonderboy Manana is a founding member of the African Dream Circus which started in 1999. He taught in Circus Life South Africa's outreach program and participated in the professional training in 2007. Coming from Inanda, KZN, Wonderboy performs at many venues in shopping centres, corporate events, and festivals throughout KZN.

Alice Nelson (clown, teacher)

Alice is an actor, clown, and improvisor. She graduated from the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre. She has worked with theatres all over Alberta, Canada and regularly tours the Canadian Fringe Circuit. She has done Clowns Without Borders expeditions to KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho and Limpopo. Alice is a big fan of laughter.

Thanda Phoswa (acrobat)

Thanda Phoswa (Sassy) is a member of Sinani's Survivors of Violence social circus outreach program where she teaches children in her hometown of Richmond, KZN. She has participated in CWBSA interventions in Ixopo as a trainer for Project Njabulo. Phoswa is passionate about bringing the circus to the community.

Liz Turkel (clown, teacher, director)

Liz Turkel is an actor, director, storyteller and clown. She has performed and taught with Clowns Without Borders since our first expeditions in South Africa and Swaziland in 2004. A graduate of Dell'Arte School for Physical Theatre, she teaches at the Storytelling School at Emerson College in England where she leads workshops on ensemble process and creativity. In all her endeavors, Liz seeks to awaken joy, laughter, and peace in areas of crisis around the world.