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Ramolao Daniel “Bra Rams” Makhene

Born 01 Febuary 1947 – Died 13 July 2010

The Market Theatre Laboratory’s theatre is named the Ramolao Makhene Theatre in celebration of a lifetime’s contribution to the development of the arts by Ramolao “Uncle” Makhene.

Ramolao was a drama teacher at the Market Theatre Laboratory. An actor himself, he was passionate about helping keen young actors and emerging artists. He had a tremendous love for children and young people. He appeared in an “XXX mint” advert on TV in the eighties, and children would follow him singing “Extra Strong”, to which he would reply in rhythm “U gogo wakho”.

Wherever he was, people were always smiling, and he always said that the best newspaper accolade that he ever got from a writer was “Ramolao has got a smile as wide as a slice of watermelon”. His Lab students addressed him as “Captain my captain” or “Uncle”, or “Malome”.

Ramola started his acting career in the early seventies. While working in the library at Wits University he joined theatre company Workshop71, where he took part in workshopping several productions, including Zipp, Survival, Small Boy, uNosilimela, and the revival of Crossroads. Ramolao joined Junction Avenue Theatre Company in 1976, and contributed significally to the creation of plays such as Randlords and Rotgut, Security, Marabi, Sophiatown, and Love, Crime and Johannesburg. He was one of the first members of the film collective Free Film Makers, though he was more comfortable in front of the camera than behind it. With this company he made a charming and rather awkward film called When I Eat Chocolate I Remember You.

As a professional actor, he performed around the world in shows including Nongogo, Master Harold and The Boys, Death And The Maiden, The Story I’m About To Tell, and A Street Car Named Desire. He was the first president of PAWE (Performing Artists Workers Equality) and served for two consecutive years. It was in this leadership that he attempted to improve the quality of life and working conditions of the South African acting fraternity.

Ramolao was a successful actor and leader, but it is in the countless young people that he taught, encouraged and mentored that his legacy truly lies.

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