Daniel Buckland is an actor, director and theatre-maker who has been working professionally both locally and internationally for over twenty years. He has previously performed lead roles in Cirque du Soleil's acclaimed Vegas show Love as well as their international touring show Saltimbanco. His other theatre credits include FTH:K's Wombtide, Sylvaine Strike's The Travellers, and Lindi Matshikiza and the Hillbrow Theatre's The Donkey Child.
He is the Co Artistic Director of Dark Laugh theatre Company whose production of The Butcher Brothers also directed by Sylvaine Strike, was awarded the 2011 Naledi Award for Best Cutting Edge Production and a Standard Bank Ovation Award. He collaborated with Strike in the production of the Standard Bank Ovation Award winning one man show The God Complex.
In 2013 he began working extensively in film and television, partnering up with The Flying Circus as a performer, writer and director of the company's motion capture performance. During this time, he further crafted his skills in live action direction going on to co-write and direct the 26 part SAFTA nominated television series Silly Seasons as well as co-writing and directing the full length animated feature film Inside Job. In 2018 he directed four feature films for Perplexia Pictures two of which he wrote.
In 2022 he created Urban Circus for the National Arts Festival followed up by Castaways in 2023, both circus theatre productions receiving rave reviews.
Daniel, along with Roberto Pombo, Mlindeli Zondi and Kyla Davis, is a founding member of the Johannesburg School of Mask and Movement (JSSMT). JSMMT is dedicated to the development of artistic excellence in the medium of mask and movement theatre. The experienced pedagogic team offer a variety of workshops and training aimed at aspiring theatre-makers, performers, existing theatre practitioners, and artists wishing to expand their creative and poetic limits.
Daniel can sing and dance on command and plays the musical saw.