We were lucky to catch up with Kutloano Headbush recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kutloano, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I always sort of knew I’d go the creative route. Growing up, all my interests were on the creative side of things. I enjoyed, reading, drawing, watching movies, and dancing. If I had to guess though, I’d say it was in drama club. I always enjoyed performance, but I was shy as a child. When I was about 11 years old, my mom encouraged me to join drama club, probably because I was always putting on little shows t home. I wasn’t very confident, but I just focused on having fun. I soon realized how much I loved playing different characters, and jumping into different stories. To my surprise, I won the award for best performer that year. It wasn’t anything glamorous, but in the drama club classroom, I found a love for performance and discovered that, wow, I’m actually good at this thing. There was no going back after that.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a creative who loves storytelling, especially through performance and writing. Just to tell you a bit about myself, I started my creative journey in acrobatic dance and theatre, which opened me up to my love for movement and acting. I spent much of my early years in performance, exploring movement, and studying various performance styles, like physical theatre, Butoh, and various forms of performance art. My educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts and Psychology, a post-graduate Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Performance, and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting for Film. My training has sharpened my skills, and reaffirmed the confidence I have in myself and my craft.
Although training is invaluable, there’s nothing quite like being a part of a meaningful project. As I’ve grown as an artists I’ve come to especially enjoy working on theatre and film projects with a clear social message. I believe in the power of storytelling to create a positive impact in the world, and I aspire to use craft to do just that. Stories—whether through books, plays, movies, or television—have brought me joy, shifted my perspective, and inspired me throughout my life. Moving people in meaningful ways through my art is what drives me.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I love the transformative nature of art; creating something from nothing. It’s so spectacular and powerful to see a project that was just an idea living in someone’s head, come to live before your eyes. I also find the collaborative side of fleshing out the world, characters and relationships in a story so rewarding. From the actors and directors honing on the characters and their relationships, to wardrobe and costume designers bringing the characters’ appearances to life, to the set designers and prop masters, doing their part to make this world of fiction a reality. Every body’s artistry coming together to tell this one story well is amazing.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Pretty early in my career, I had to unlearn the idea that as a performer, work only comes through an agent or manager, or by being discovered by a talent scout. Growing up I was influenced, especially by media and TV, to believe that these were the only ways to landing roles or getting a breakout opportunity. But when I started performing in high school, I realized I could create my own opportunities.
This shift in mindset led me to my passion for writing. I began crafting scripts and devising theatre projects, which opened doors to collaborations with other amazing creatives. With the rise of social media and advances in phone technology, I felt empowered to take more control of my creative career. Focusing on creating my own work, I’ve been able to explore and invest in my other artistic interests, growing into a more well-rounded storyteller.
I’m eager to keep exploring my artistic voice and creating amazing projects with talented people. That said, if a talent scout happened to stumble across me and offer a role, I wouldn’t exactly turn them away—I’d just pretend I didn’t see them coming!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kutloanoheadbush.wixsite.com/kutloano-headbush/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kutloano_headbush/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kutloano-headbush-ba98491b1
- Twitter: https://x.com/kutloano_hdbh
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kutloano-headbush
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kutloano_hdbh
Image Credits
Jide Kol
Chaewon Suh