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Award-winning organisation marks a decade of developing talent, creating opportunities and preserving Africa’s acting legacy
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – June 2026 – Actor Spaces is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of empowering actors and advancing Africa’s creative industry.
Founded in 2016 by Ayanda Sithebe and Felicia Naiwa Sithebe, Actor Spaces was established to recognise, develop, preserve and celebrate the art of acting while creating meaningful opportunities for performers across the continent. Over the past decade, the organisation has become one of Africa’s leading acting platforms, impacting thousands of creatives through casting, skills development, mentorship, youth empowerment and industry partnerships.
A Decade of Impact
Actor Spaces has helped identify, cast and develop talent featured in productions including The Polygamist, Average Joe, Savage Beauty Season 2, Meet The Khumalos, The Wife, King Shaka, Reyka Season 2, MTV Shuga and How To Ruin Love. The organisation has also facilitated more than 5,000 jobs, auditions and professional opportunities across the industry.
Through workshops, mentorship programmes, industry talks and the Actor Spaces Academy, hundreds of young creatives have been introduced to careers in film, television, theatre and the wider creative economy. The Academy alone has trained more than 500 aspiring actors, many of whom have gone on to secure professional representation and acting roles.
Actor Spaces has also launched industry-first initiatives, including South Africa’s first Financial Literacy Masterclass for Actors, while programmes such as Sign Leads, developed with Ikhamanga Award recipient Andiswa Gebashe, have promoted accessibility and inclusion by training Deaf practitioners and advocating for greater representation in the entertainment industry. Other initiatives include Women Take Lead and specialised performance masterclasses.
Building Legacy Across Africa
Through digital platforms such as the Actor Spaces Network and Actor Spaces Magazine, the organisation continues to document industry stories, celebrate achievements and preserve African acting heritage. It is also preparing to launch The Sauce Lab Podcast, a youth-focused platform aimed at amplifying emerging voices.
Recognising excellence remains central to the organisation’s mission through initiatives such as Actor Spaces Honouring Legends and the upcoming Actor Spaces Awards, which will celebrate outstanding achievements in acting while preserving the legacy of African performers.
A key milestone has been the partnership with the Africa Creative Market (ACM), an initiative of the Ascend Foundation founded by Dr. Inya Lawal. Together, they launched the Unlocking the African Actor Programme, connecting actors from nine African countries through professional development and cross-border collaboration opportunities, culminating at the fifth edition of ACM in Lusaka, Zambia.
By the Numbers
● 10 years of empowering actors and creative practitioners
● 5,000+ jobs, auditions and opportunities created
● 500+ actors trained through the Actor Spaces Academy
● 100+ workshops, masterclasses and industry programmes delivered
● 20+ major productions cast and supported
● 12 Deaf practitioners trained through Sign Leads
● 9 African countries connected through Unlocking the African Actor
● Millions of digital impressions generated across Actor Spaces platforms
Founders Reflect
“The dream has always been to establish a safe space where actors can grow, create and thrive. Reaching this 10-year milestone confirms that the work we are doing is needed,” said Ayanda Sithebe, Founder.
“What keeps us going is the incredible response to the work and the young people who join the space, grow with us and contribute to something larger than themselves,” added Felicia Naiwa Sithebe, Co-Founder.
Looking Ahead
As Actor Spaces enters its second decade, the organisation is focused on expanding across Africa, strengthening industry partnerships and creating sustainable opportunities for actors. Key priorities include growing the Actor Spaces Awards, establishing the Actor Spaces Actor Fund to support performers through training, mentorship and emergency assistance, and investing in programmes that advance accessibility, innovation and youth empowerment.
Recognised by institutions including the South African Film and Television Awards, the Gauteng Film Commission and Women in Film & Television Africa, Actor Spaces remains committed to ensuring African stories continue to be celebrated on the global stage.
Actor Spaces: 10 Years of Impact. 5,000 Opportunities Created. One African Future.
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