Lelethu Tshangela is a multi-award-winning theatre practitioner, director, stage manager, and arts administrator whose work blends creativity, education, and community impact. She holds a BA and BA Honours in Drama and Theatre Arts from the University of the Free State, specialising in theatre-making and arts management.
Her acclaimed body of work includes productions such as WENA, Magcam, UKhetho, Swa Ringana, Ziyakhalake Manje: Tipping the Scales, and Ijoloba, staged at prestigious platforms including the National Arts Festival, Vrystaat Arts Festival, Guild Theatre, and PACOFS. She has been recognised with multiple awards, including the Standard Bank Ovation Award , Best New Young Artist Production at the Vrystaat Arts Festival , Best Acting Devine Production at the Kovsies Multilingual Mokete , and the University of the Free State’s Award for Consistent High Standards in Theatre-Making .
Lelethu has held leadership roles as director, marketing strategist, and festival administrator, including at the Mthonyama Arts Festival. Her work extends beyond the stage into training and mentorship, equipping emerging artists with skills in performance, storytelling, and arts management.
In her current role as Senior Tutor in the Bachelor of Creative Writing programme at AFDA Durban, she lectures in playwriting and short story, she inspires students to tell bold, resonant stories that weave together heritage, innovation, and community voices that inspire reflection and transformation.