PALI alumnus Kaz McFadden has been in the entertainment industry for the past twenty years and has had an incredible career thus far. As an actor, he has appeared in films such as Die Wonderwerker (2012), Strikdas (2014) and Dust (2020). In 2024 he won Best Actor at the Vrystaat Kunstefees for his one man show Stuur Groete vir die Moot. But Kaz’s credits stretch further than acting, he also actively works as a writer, director and producer – forming part of the team at The Third Law. In 2018 Kaz took over as Managing Director of PALI Incubation and the company has gone from strength to strength over the last seven years. Kaz can currently be seen in the Showmax series Reënboogrant, where he also serves as part of the writing team. We recently had a quick catch up with Kaz to get some insight into his career and thoughts on PALI.
When did you realise you would like to pursue a career in the entertainment industry?
I never even thought of the performing arts as a viable career at school. So whilst being unemployed after completing high school, my mom suggested I take a course with Shareen Swart. It was all fun and games, but by the first exam (they weren’t called SGE’s then) I was hooked. Since then I haven’t really learnt to do much else than the performing arts. So… this is me now, I guess.
What is your favourite memory of your time as a student at PALI? Do you perhaps have a favourite student production?
My favourite memory would be shooting a fight scene for our first film, Acting Heroes. Shareen, in all her infinite wisdom, asked Mike Bolhuis and actual bouncers to play opposite us in a fight scene. What you see me playing in that scene is actual fear, zero acting. As for my favourite production, Babbelkous stands out. I was playing Manie Mentz, Andre Velts as Hoendertjie and Rulene Swanepoel as the Babbelkous.
"Talent is fun to have, but not very useful when the rubber hits the road."
Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?
Respect for the craft is the most important element of your career. Talent is fun to have, but not very useful when the rubber hits the road. It’s professionalism that keeps your career going. There are many much more talented actors than me who never got the opportunities I did. It’s who you are, not who you pretend to be.
As Managing Director, what is your future vision for PALI?
What is this? A job interview? As an incubator our number one priority is delivering young artists that can elevate the industry. The COVID-19 stand down has had a detrimental effect on the quality of role players in certain sectors. We desperately need to step out of complacency and be part of the re-professionalization of the performing arts. I would love PALI to be at the forefront of that.
Catch Kaz as the conniving “Henk Kruger” in Reënboogrant on Showmax. New episodes are released every Wednesday and the show also airs on kykNET every Friday.
