PEOPLE OF THE MARKET – FLOYD THE SMOOTHEST OPERATOR
Throughout his 25 years of excellent service at The Market Theatre Foundation, Floyd Dlamini has been climbing the ladder – sometimes literally – to becoming one of the institution’s living libraries in its 50th birthyear.
Arriving at the then Windybrow Theatre (now The Windybrow Arts Centre) in November 2001 as a cleaner and later part of the technical crew, Floyd’s story is a testament of the power of recognising potential among employees.
Integrating into The Market Theatre Foundation in 2012, Floyd carries institutional memories, crafted in the thick of technical work where – as he puts it – “if we miss a cue, the show stops.”
If his background as a cleaner taught him the importance of service, his subsequent role in technical reminded him that visibility is not about the person but the work.
The job, he hopes people would know, is not just about moving things, but requires clarity of mind, precision and an attitude of perfection. “Technical crew carries safety and timing. We are the reason the audience only sees the magic,” he describes his work with pride in an industry that often forgets about crew.
With so much that could go wrong, what makes this top-tier operator fulfilled at the end of a shift? “No technical faults, the team is in sync, the set is safe and we finish on time with everyone still laughing and talking backstage.”
Ordinarily, one simply sees human labour when one thinks of crew. However, the job demands agility both physically and intellectually. As technological changes sweep over across industries, and organisations find smarter ways to execute labour intensive roles, Floyd’s resilience hasn’t been by chance but a determined spirit of learning. This is not just a rebellion against artificial intelligence modelling, but a powerful statement about the irreplaceability of the human touch: care, compassion, presence.
“The rule,” he reads a page from his decades-long playbook, “is always the same: keep the cast safe and make sure the curtain goes up.”
What else is in this playbook? Lessons learnt in the thick of high-stakes operations with tight production turnarounds and a difficult financial times that reward reinvention over complacency.
“MTF gave me 25 years of hands-on learning. I grew from stagehand to senior technical crew, handling lights, sound and rigging.”
This to him is not just mathematics; it’s an honour he deeply cherishes. Among his long list of highlights is telling stories, working on touring productions, mentoring up-and-coming crew members and watching The Market Theatre Foundation grow against a rushing wave of economic uncertainties.
“I have been here for half The Market’s life—25 years of truth-telling theatre. And I’m proud my hands have helped build this stage.”
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