Durban, South Africa

PROFILE:
SHIKA BUDHOO
Actress, Singer, Writer, Poet, Voice Coach, Drama Coach


Shika Budhoo, 23 years old, has completed her BA Honours Degree (cum laude) in the Drama and Performance Studies at the Univesity Of Kwa-Zulu Natal in 2005. To date she has performed in many university-based productions including ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (Lady Capulet 2004), ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ (Titania 2005) and ‘The Good Person of Setzuan ‘ (Mrs.Shin). During her undergraduate degree she performed in various play as part of the drama department’s Honours Festivals which include: ‘The Bus Stops Here’, ‘Prince Senie: The Forgotten Prince’, ‘Impractical Magic’. Her professional career began in the 2005 Actors Co-operative and Playhouse production of Macbeth (Lady MacDuff/Witch) for which she was nominated for Best Female Newcomer at the 2005 Durban Theatre Awards. Later in that year she performed as a narrator of poetry as part of a Flatfoot Dance Company piece ‘Transmission: Mother to Child’ at the Durban Arts Gallery. In 2006 Shika was a drama coach in various Glenwood (Durban) Primary Schools with Centre Stage Studio’s, moulding the youth in fun, education and communicative Speech and Drama skills. She has also been heard on various Lotus Fm Radio Dramas acting in the following: ‘Kismet Court’, ‘Hitch Switch’, ‘Grandasia Lodge’, ‘Blue Alert’, ‘The Waiting Room’, ‘Muti’ and recently took the lead in the radio drama of ‘Spice and Stuff’. In 2006 Shika was seen in ‘To House’ (Kajol) written by Ashwin Singh and directed by Caroline Smart at the Playhouse Drama; for which she won the Best Actress award at the annual 2007 Fools Awards. Last year saw her starting her year on stage at the Catalina Theatre in ‘Spice and Stuff’ (Rita) playing the lead female, written by Ashwin Singh and directed by Caroline Smart. Shika has also done various screen projects including a trainee video for Boxers Superstore, a role in the SABC 1 Bay of Plenty television series, and a corporate advertisement. This year saw her make her debut in a short film “One Wedding and a Funeral” directed by James Brown, and a lead in the Lotus FM radio drama, “All for Justice.” She is currently touring with the musical comedy show, “Devil in Disguise” in which she makes her singing debut. She most recently has begun providing voice training for those performers who wish to improve the quality of their voice for performance and (corporate) work purposes. She is also currently teaching/ coaching in Drama at Saint Anthony’s Primary School in Durban. She has most recently started her writing adventure, the final result being her exploration into writing for radio, stage; as well as poetry for didactic purposes.
Was nominated for Best Actress in the 2008 Durban Theatre Fools Awards for her performance in Spice and Stuff. Winner of the/a Charisma Award at the 2008 Fools Awards, held on the 1st of April 2008 at the Elizabeth Sneaddon Theatre.

You can contact Shika at:
Email: leo_shika@yahoo.com
Cell: 0824343212

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