Flashy hands couldn't save Joe Kazadi and Ayanda Sibisi.
The dreams of two aspiring actors were dashed on BET's Top Actor SA on Thursday (9 April) when they became the first contenders to be bounced from the stage.
The show premiered last week - it airs on Thursdays at 19h55 - and features a crowd of aspiring actors competing for recognition, future work, an agent and R100 000.
The first two to see the stagedoor slam on them were 24-year-old Joe Kazadi and 28-year-old Ayanda Sibisi who were eliminated after failing to make the necessary impact with their performances. The task for the week involved the performance of a scene from the play The Prince of Theatre by Antandwa Kani. Contestants had to prove their acting chops during a three-hour rehearsal followed by a performance for an audience and judges.
With Joe and Ayanda out of the way, 10 remain. They are:
Tshepiso Percival Moeketsi
Age: 26
From: Brits, North West Province
Aspiring actor/student; currently studying Musical Theatre at Tshwane University of Technology.
Altovise Lawrence
Age: 23
From: Boksburg, Johannesburg
Aspiring actor just graduated with honours from the University of Witwatersrand with a Bachelor's degree in Dramatic Arts. She had a minor role on the SABC3 soapie Isidingo.
Lauren Jenae Vankeirsbilck
Age: 23
From: Johannesburg
Aspiring Actor/Studied at Rhodes University; majoring in TV Journalism, Media Studies and Dramatic Arts. She then went on to study her honours in Screen Acting at the Motion Picture and Film school, known as AFDA.
Nkokheli "Oros" Mampofu
Age: 24
From: Johannesburg
Graduated from ADFA in 2014 with a degree in acting. Aspiring actor who has appeared in a recurring role on the SABC1 soapie Skeem Saam and in a guest role on the SABC1 drama series Kowethu.
Busi Edith
Age: 27
From: Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
Studied at the University of WITS for her BADA degree. Musician/songwriter and aspiring actor.
Lethabo "Paris" Kalamula
Age: 24
From: Cosmo City, Johannesburg
IMM Graduate School of Marketing and an aspiring actor whose claim to fame is that he was one of the six "Chambermates" who spent two weeks in the Big Brother Mzansi 3 house in 2014.
Lesego Pooe
Age: 24
From: Caltonville, Gauteng
Aspiring actor. No formal training.
Mbali Nkosi
Age: 26
From: Soweto
No formal training. Aspiring actress who has had several roles in television, including the recurring roles of Cindy on the Mzansi Magic drama series Rockville (Seasons 2 and 3) and HR lady Brenda on the Mzansi Magic soap opera Zabalaza. She also played a NSA dancer on the now-defunct GO channel's first original series Angel's Song.
Francois Jacobs
Age: 25
From: Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
Completed his BA in (Drama) with a degree from the University of Stellenbosch. Full time actor who played a guest role in the kykNET comedy-drama series Sterlopers and had a starring role in the award-winning kykNET period drama series Donkerland.
Sipho Nicholas Nkuna
Age: 26
From: Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
Studied Musical Theatre at TUT Pretoria, then specially selected to continue honing his craft at the USA's prestigious Ballstate University, Indiana. He played the recurring role of Sakhile on the third season of the SABC1 soap opera Skeem Saam, in 2015.