James Whyle turned from acting to full time writing in 1994 when, for the first time, it became possible for the real issues of South Africa to be addressed on South African Television. Among his film credits as an actor are Sarafina, Place of Weeping, 10th of a Second and The Stick. 

In 1981 James wrote his first play, National Madness , based on his experience in, and escaping from, the SANDF. National Madness was performed at the Market and Baxter Theatres in the early eighties and published in a collection - Market Plays.  His second play, Hellhound, was performed at the Market Theatre in 1992. A story, Sapper Fijn and the Cow appears in The Penguin Book of Contemporary South African Short Stories.

His BBC radio drama, Dancing with the Dead was broadcast in the U.K. in February 2002 on Radio 4. The leading role was played by Richard E Grant. A second BBC commission, A Man Called Rejoice, was re-broadcast for the third time in May 2004. It has been  published as Rejoice Burning in a collection, New South African Plays by Aurora Metro Publications.