Assoc Prof Sara Matchett
I am an Associate Professor at the Centre for Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies. My teaching spans acting, voice, performance-making, applied theatre and performance analysis, with a strong transdisciplinary approach to creative practice.
My research explores the intersections of performance, embodiment, breath, voice, grief, ecological consciousness, wellbeing, social justice and sustainability. Through collaborative and practice-as-research methodologies, I investigate how embodied artistic practices cultivate relationality, resilience and presence.
I am co-founder and Artistic Director of The Mothertongue Project, Lead Trainer of Fitzmaurice Voicework®, African Regional Coordinator for the Fitzmaurice Institute, and an Advanced Breathwork Practitioner with Breathwork Africa.
Research Interests:
Embodiment, breath and voice studies
Practice-as-research methodologies
Performance-making and transdisciplinary creative practice
Somatic and embodied pedagogies
Grief, mourning and performance
Ecological consciousness and embodied sustainability
Performance, activism and social justice
Feminist and decolonial performance methodologies
Intercultural and transnational performance practices
Current Research:
An Apprenticeship with Sorrow (2025-present): performance and research project exploring grief, resilience and ecological crisis.
Lamentation at the Liesbeek (2023-present): interdisciplinary project exploring lament, memory, Indigenous land, ecological consciousness and resistance.
Shakespeare to Gaza Performance Collective (2023-present): founding member of an international activist performance collective exploring witnessing, solidarity and resistance.
Awards and Recognition:
2026: Official Selection, Social Justice Film Festival for Lamentation at the Liesbeek
2025: The Peter Hayes Big Heart Award for An Apprenticeship with Sorrow
2025: Honorary Award, Activists Without Borders Film Festival for Lamentation at the Liesbeek
2024: Selected for UCT Established and Seasoned Academics Programme
2023: Awesome Without Borders Grant for Lamentation at the Liesbeek
2023: VASTA Grant for Lamentation at the Liesbeek
2019 Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards - Nominated for Best Director, Womb of Fire
2019 NIHSS African Pathways Programme (APP) / BRICS Teaching and Research Mobility Grant
2018 UCT Creative Arts Award for the production, Womb of Fire.
2018 Woordfees Festival Best Director and Best Production awards for the production, Womb of Fire
2018 Arts and Humanities Research Council Grant. via the GlobalGRACE (Global Gender and Cultures of Equality) Project.
2016 Arts and Humanities Research Council Grant via Objects with Objectives: a puppetry in applied drama research network.
2013 BIARI Scholarship/Award to attend BIARI (Brown International Advanced Research Institutes) Programme at Brown University as part of the ‘Theater and Civil Society Institute’.
Supervision Record:
Graduated 3 PhD students.
Graduated 14 MA/MFA students.
Graduated 40+ Honours students.
Forthcoming Publications:
Co-authoring a book titled Sex work and theatre in South Africa: Creative methods and decolonial feminist approaches. The book is being published by Manchester University Press and will be released in 2027. Co-authors include Dr Phoebe Mbasalaki, Dr Yaliwe Clarke and Professor Yasmin Gunaratnam.
Edited Collections:
- Matchett, S & Fleishman, M. (eds). 2020. Translation and Performance in an Era of Global Asymmetries Part 2. 33(01). Cape Town: Taylor & Francis.
Halligey, A & Matchett, S. 2021. Collaborative Conversations: Celebrating Twenty-One Years of The Mothertongue Project. Cape Town: Modjaji
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:
Mbasalaki, P. K. and Matchett S. (2024) How to do a (decolonial afro-feminist) creative action research with a group of street-based sex workers in Cape Town, In Sage Research Methods Cases: Diversifying and Decolonizing Research.
Matchett S. & Mbasalaki P. K. 2021. Theatre as a methodology: A case study with sex workers in Cape Town in Metodologia e Relações Internacionais. Debates contemporâneos volume 3. ISBN: 978-65- 88831-08-3
Mbasalaki, P.K. & Matchett, S. 2020. Aesthetic Grammars of Social Justice: Sex Work Reimagined in Clisby S., Turner J. (eds) Studies on Home and Community Science 14(2): 7-18. Available: DOI: https://doi.org/10.31901/24566780.2020/14.1-2.344
Matchett, S & Mbasalki P.K. 2020. Butoh gives back the feeling to the people. In Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity. Cape Town: Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1080/10130950.2020.1775102
Matchett, S. & Abrahams. R. 2020. The application of a translational performance method using archival material, personal narrative, mythology and somatic practices: the making of Womb of Fire in South African Theatre Journal (SATJ). Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/10137548.2020.1742780
Matchett, S. 2019. Breath-Body-Self: Reflections on Performance-Based Approaches to Breath through a Women’s Theatre Project in South Africa. In Voice and Speech Review. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/23268263.2019.1591097.
Matchett, S. 2018. Mapping a classic: body mapping and Koodiyattam Rasa breath patterns as a way of embodying character and analysing text in a production of The Trojan Women with second year acting students from the University of Cape Town’s Drama Department. In South African Theatre Journal (SATJ). Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/10137548.2017.1417742. 31(1): 86-97.
Cloete, N., Dinesh, N., Hazou R. & Matchett, S. 2015. E(lab)orating Performance: transnationalism and blended learning in the theatre classroom. In Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance. 20(4): 470-482.
Matchett, S. 2012. Deconstruct to Reconstruct: A Proposal for the Inclusion of Fitzmaurice Voicework® in the Training of Dancers. In Journal of Dance and Somatic Practices. 4(2): 179-193.
Matchett, S. 2012. Breath as Impulse, Breath as Thread: breath as catalyst for making an autobiographical performance in response to ‘corrective rape’ and hate crimes against lesbians. In South African Theatre Journal (SATJ). 26(3): 280291. Available: http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/KNU8xDD7EPpvwjrrNcHt/full#.U05UbK2Szbg
Book chapters:
Matchett, S & Mbasalaki, P. 2025. Precarious Landscapes: Theatre and Belonging with a Group of Sex Workers in Cape Town. In Performing Homescapes, Mackey, S. and Ong, A (eds). London: Springer Nature. 79 - 98. Available: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-77657-1
Matchett, S. 2024. Breath-Body-Self: a Practice-led journey. In Thinking/Making/Doing: Methods for Performance Research. Fleishman, M and Halligey, H (eds). Cape Town: UCT Libraries. 202 – 211. Available: https://openbooks.uct.ac.za/uct/catalog/view/70/80/2710
Gunaratnam, Y., Kisubi Mbasalaki, P. and Matchett, S. 2024. How to do social research with...WhatsApp soapie. In Coleman, R., Jungnickel , K., and Puwar, N (eds.). How to do social research with ... London: Goldsmiths Press: 265-273. ISBN: 97819133804
Prather, P. 2023. Interview with Sara Matchett. The Voice Coach’s Toolkit. New York: Routledge: 201- 202.
Matchett, S. & Ndlovu, M 2021. Uhambo: Pieces of a Dream: Images and Poetry. In Collaborative Conversations: Celebrating Twenty-One Years of The Mothertongue Project. Cape Town: Modjaji books: 100 -112
Matchett, S. 2021. Curating Care: The Langeberg Youth Arts Project. In Collaborative Conversations: Celebrating Twenty-One Years of The Mothertongue Project. Cape Town: Modjaji books: 180 - 201
Matchett, S. 2020. Walking and Stumbling: The Aesthetic as Agitator for Activism. In African Somaesthetics: Cultures, Feminisms, Politics. Leiden: Brill : 165-184
Matchett, S. 2018. Catalytic Conversations: The Aesthetic Weave and Social Weft of Phakama’s Creative Practice. In Phakama: Making Participatory Performance. London: Bloomsbury: 164-183
Matchett, S & Cloete, N. 2015. Performativities as Activism: Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Rape Culture in South Africa and Beyond. In African Theatre 14 Contemporary Women. Suffolk: James Currey. 17-29
Matchett, S & Okech, A. 2015. Uhambo: pieces of a dream – waiting in the ambiguity of liminality. In Fleishman, M (ed). Performing Migrancy and Mobility in Africa: Cape of Flows. Hampshire: Palgrave. 110- 124.
Matchett, S. & Mokwena, M. 2013. Washa Mollo: Theatre as a Milieu for Conversations and Healing. In Barnes, H. (ed). Arts Activism, Education, and Therapies. Amsterdam & New York: Rodopi. 107-125.
Keynotes:
2022: Matchett, S. The Sex Worker Theatre Group South Africa and the Art of Conscious Breathing. Umoya BreathFest, Magaliesburg.
2018. Matchett, S. Walking and Stumbling: Walking and Stumbling: The aesthetic as agitator for activism. Drama for Life Conference & Festival. Johannesburg.
Direction and Performance Making:
Year 2025
Title of Production: An Apprenticeship with Sorrow
Role: Co-writer, performer and sound designer
Venue: Theatre Arts, CTDPS Christopher Kindo Theatre, Te Whaea - National Dance & Drama Centre (Wellington, New Zealand), Toyota Woordfees
Year 2024
Title of Production: Sankramanam: The Passage of the Bird
Venue: School of Drama & Fine Art, Calicut University, Thrissur, INdia
Year 2024
Title of Production: Lamentation at the Liesbeek performance and film
Venue: The Place of the Stars (Confluence of the Liesbeek and Black Rivers)
Year 2023
Title of Production: Brandbaar, a hybrid of theatre and film Role: director, dramaturg
Venue: Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (online festival)
Year 2021
Title of Production: Brandbaar
Role: director, dramaturg and lighting designer Venue: Suidoorsterfees, (Artscape Main Theatre)
Venue: Woordfees Festival (Stellenbosch)
Year 2020
Created an online (pre-recorded performance) performance of and adaption of The Mothertongue Projects production of Walk titled Breath(E)ssence
Role: performer, curator and video editor
Venue: Online (Inspire / Expire Breath Symposium hosted by Wiser)
Year 2020
Title of Production: Womb of Fire
Role: co-conceptualiser, dramaturg, director and lighting designer
Venues: National Arts Festival (Makhanda), ICA 3rd Space Symposium (Cape Town), Con Cowan Theatre (Johannesburg), ITFoK Festival (Kerala, India), Woordfees Festival (Stellenbosch), Baxter Theatre (Cape Town), South African Women’s Arts Festival (Durban), PACE (Pan African Creative Exchange in Bloemfontein), Afrovibes Festival (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
Years 2017 and 2018
Title of Production: Walk.
Role: Co-curator, dramaturg, performer and lighting designer
Venues: The Bindery Lab (Cape Town), Sex Actually Festival (Johannesburg), GIPCA Live Art Festival (Cape Town), Cape Town Fringe (Cape Town), African Women’s Playwrighting Conference (Cape Town), VIFA festival (Bhopal India), Freedom and Focus Conference (Dublin, Ireland), ITFoK Festival (Kerala, India), National Arts Festival (Makhanda), Woordfees Festival (Stellenbosch)
Years 2014 – 2019
Title of Production: Mahareng: the passage of the bird
Role: Co-curator, dramaturg, director
Venues: Various sites on Hiddingh Campus for the Confluences 10 Conference.
Title of Production: #StumblingBlocks
Role: co-conceptualiser, dramaturg, director Venue: The Mothertongue Project, McGregor (site specific)
Year 2018
Title of Production: Umhlaba: in the skoot van die Aarde (created and performed at the annual McGregor Poetry Festival)
Role: co-conceptualiser, dramaturg, director Venue: McGregor
Title of Production: Breath-Bones-Ancestors
Role: conceptualiser, dramaturg, performer and lighting designer Venues: Freedom and Focus Conference (Vancouver, Canada)
Year 2012
Title of Production: Washa Mollo
Role: co-conceptualiser, dramaturg, director and lighting designer
Venues: Wits Nunnery (Johannesburg), The National Arts Festival (Makhanda), Out the Box Festival (Cape Town), Bagamoyo Festival of Arts (Tanzania)
Years 2009 and 2010
Title of Production: Tseleng: the baggage of bags
Role: co-conceptualiser, dramaturg, director and lighting designer.
Venues: National Arts Festival (Makhanda), Out the Box Festival (Cape Town), State Theatre (Pretoria), The Wits Nunnery (Johannesburg)
Year 2006
Title of Production: We Dream Therefore We Are Role: conceptualiser, dramaturg and director Venues: Darling (site-specific)
Year 2005
Title of Production: Breathing Space
Role: conceptualiser, dramaturg and director Venue: Voorkamer Festival (Darling)
Year 2004
Title of Production: Crossings
Role: co-conceptualiser, dramaturg, director and lighting designer Venues: The Playroom (UCT. Cape Town) and Artscape (Cape Town)
Title of Production: Uhambo: pieces of a dream
Role: conceptualizer, dramaturg, director and lighting designer.
Venues: National Arts Festival (Makhanda) and The Intimate Theatre (Cape Town)
Year 2003
Title of Production: Indawo Yamaphupha: the space of dreams
Role: co-conceptualiser and performer Venue: The Intimate Theatre (Cape Town)
Year 2001
Title of Production: Unkulunkulu the Sovereign One Role: co-conceptualiser, dramaturg and director Venue: Women against War for Peace Conference (Khayelitsha)
Years 2001 - 2004
Title of Production: Beading my Soul
Role: co-conceptualiser, dramaturg, director and lighting designer
Venues: Artscape Theatre (Cape Town), The Baxter Theatre (Cape Town), National Arts Festival (Makhanda), Macufe Arts Festival (Bloemfontein), Calabash Festival (Mmabatho), Market Theatre Women’s Arts Festival (Johannesburg), State Theatre (Pretoria) Theatre Spiral (Geneva, Switzerland), and at the “Shap Shap Festival (Bern, Switzerland)
Title of Production: What the Water Gave Me
Role: director, dramaturg, and lighting designer
Venues: Artscape Theatre (Cape Town), Baxter Theatre (Cape Town), Market Lab (Johannesburg)
Selected Video Links:
Lamentation at the Liesbeek Film Trailer
Sankramanam: The Passage of the Bird
Womb of Fire: Feature on SABC 3 Mela
Womb of Fire Promo for SA Women's Arts Festival
Africa in Science (AiS) Online Lecture
Gender, Sexuality & Politics: Re-aligning the relationship