"We create powerful, unforgettable theatrical experiences that educate, inspire, heal, and change lives — one performance at a time."
We Don't Just Deliver. We Transform.
"We don't just perform — we transform. Every story we tell is a seed planted in someone's life, designed to grow long after the curtain falls."
Founded in 2016 by director and writer Ishmael Siyabonga Gumede, Ishmasiya Discoveries was born from a conviction — that theatre is not entertainment, it is medicine. Starting as Enthrone Creative Arts in 2020 and evolving into the registered company we are today, we've grown from a community arts group into one of KwaZulu-Natal's most purposeful theatre companies.
Selected for the National Arts Festival in Makhanda. Showcased at the Playhouse New Stages Fringe. Winners of a Best Writer Award. Our productions reach over 50 schools annually — from intimate school halls to national festival stages.
We use Applied Theatre — a proven methodology where drama is the vehicle for real dialogue, reflection and behavioural change. We don't come to fill a programme slot. We come to start a conversation that doesn't end when the lights go out.
Schools. Corporates. Churches. Government bodies. Festival stages. Community halls. Boardrooms. Wherever there's an audience that needs to be moved — we show up. Based in Umlazi, Durban, serving KwaZulu-Natal and beyond.
Whether it's a festival stage, a school hall, or a corporate boardroom —
we create theatre that stays with you long after the curtain falls.
"A world where the performing arts are not a luxury — but a lifeline. Where every performance educates, every story heals, and every stage changes lives."
"To create powerful, unforgettable theatrical experiences that educate, inspire, heal, and change lives — one performance at a time — by delivering exceptional theatre that speaks directly to the hearts of our audiences."
Every engagement is bespoke — crafted to the unique requirements of each client and audience.
Full-scale original or adapted productions staged for general public audiences with professional direction, staging, and performance.
Curriculum-aligned dramatic performances and workshops delivered directly in schools, colleges and universities — bringing learning to life.
Entertaining content with embedded educational messages, designed specifically for children and young adults.
Drama-led storytelling to communicate critical social messages on health, GBV, substance abuse, child rights, and more.
Bespoke corporate productions covering safety, diversity, HR policy, leadership, and team culture for businesses.
Uplifting, spiritually enriching theatrical productions for churches, ministries, and faith communities.
Applied theatre facilitation, drama workshops, and performance skills training for individuals and professional groups.
Premium theatrical entertainment for launches, conferences, gala dinners, awards ceremonies, and special occasions.
Our multi-sector model ensures broad social impact and meaningful engagement across South Africa.
A structured end-to-end process that guarantees maximum impact with every engagement.
Understanding the client's needs, audience, and desired outcomes before a single word is written.
Creating bespoke, purpose-built content and production design tailored to your context.
Professional, high-impact performance or facilitation — wherever your audience is.
Post-performance reflection, evaluation, and impact assessment to measure lasting change.
Theatre that moves, challenges, and stays with you long after the curtain falls.
"The performance left our learners completely still — and then bursting with conversation. That kind of impact is rare. Ishmasiya Discoveries does not just perform; they transform."
"John The Baptist was one of the most powerful pieces of theatre I have witnessed. The rawness, the intention, the craft — every element served the story. Exceptional work."
"Ishmael brings a rare combination of artistic vision and educational purpose. His productions do not just entertain — they change how people see themselves and their world."
From township stages to national festivals — these are the stories we have told.
Watch the full performance and go behind the scenes of the 2026 school outreach tour across three KwaZulu-Natal schools.
Full Performance
Tour Highlights
Stage Manager: Ntokozo C Mkhize · KwaZulu-Natal School Outreach Tour · 2026
The story that travelled from Durban to Makhanda returns — stripped bare, reimagined as an intimate two-hander, and more powerful than ever. The Bleeding Dust is coming.
Ishmael Siyabonga Gumede
Founder & Creative Director
Ishmael is an award-winning theatre director and writer with professional experience creating socially engaged performances for educational, festival, and community contexts. Based in Umlazi, Durban, he has dedicated his career to using theatre as a force for social change — particularly for youth and township audiences.
His work spans theatre-in-education, youth mental health advocacy, industrial theatre, and community arts development. He has led national touring productions, managed multidisciplinary teams, and secured placements at prestigious festivals including the National Arts Festival in Makhanda and the Playhouse Company New Stages Fringe.
Ishmael founded Ishmasiya Discoveries from a conviction that God creates and we discover — that every community, every young person, every story carries within it something profound and sacred, waiting to be uncovered through the power of theatre.
2026/191954/07
Private Company (Pty) Ltd
Level 1 Contributor
135% Procurement Recognition
100% Black Owned
CIPC Verified
9157493298
SARS Registered
4 March 2026
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Whether you are a school, corporate, government body, church, or event organiser — we would love to create something powerful with you. Tell us about your needs and we will be in touch within one working day.
Send Us An Enquiry
Thank you for reaching out. We will review your enquiry and get back to you within one working day. We look forward to creating something powerful together.
"We Don't Just Deliver. We Transform."
Umlazi, Durban
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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2026/191954/07
Level 1 | 100% Black Owned
9157493298
Arts, Culture & Education