Two Nelson Mandela University students enthralled audiences as they led them along a journey of love, laughs and dance in Everybody Talks, staged at the Savoy Theatre.
Impact Community Theatre’s (formerly the PE Gilbert & Sullivan Society) annual Valentine’s cabaret saw third-year Bachelor of music students Caleb Zola, who performed in Grease and Hairspray, and accomplished young vocal director Hannah Barth in the lead roles as the bride and groom.
The two 20-year-old students were among a diverse cast that brought the delightful production, directed by Danyke de Beer, to life.
The talented cast included audience favourites Lethabo Makuruetsa, Robert Gillmer, Annaline Stiglingh, Timothy Jacobs, Phil Cowie, Leandi Fontini, AJ Josephs and well-known local MC, actress, teacher and performer, Niqui Cloete-Barrass.
Zola, who is originally from Mitchells Plain in Cape Town, said he would never the forget the experience of playing his first lead role.
“We started in the middle of January to practise with dance and singing rehearsals to make sure the production was as beautiful as we could make it.
“I was asked to be a core dancer.
“I had weeks of just learning the choreography, adding the singing on top of that, making sure my voice was ready, that I was show fit so I could do both the singing and dancing at the same time on stage.
“We received some good reviews from the audience after the show on how the production was an easy to follow storyline,” Zola said.
Perridgevale resident, Barth, who is also a vocal coach, said being on stage was a completely different experience to being behind the scenes.
“Behind the stage [as a vocal coach] you are preparing others for their performances, but now being in the spotlight is such an amazing experience.
“Sometimes I would doubt myself when we did the choreography since I was surrounded by dancers, because I would think I am not a dancer. I depended on them.
“It has been so amazing to perform, seeing familiar faces and strangers coming to watch.
“Seeing their reactions afterwards, how they enjoyed it and appreciated us performing,” Barth said.
Impact’s Rose Cowpar said the successful production gave the talented youngsters a great platform to showcase their skills.
“Everyone loved Barth, she is such a brilliant vocal director, we knew she could sing, but she had never given any indication that she wanted to be on stage.
“We had no idea we would get such gold and diamonds.
“She proved to be a beautiful performer.
“And kudos to De Beer, she is in an incredibly gifted young woman.”
De Beer said she had enjoyed the opportunity to direct again.
“It has been nice for me to switch it up a bit. I usually perform or do stage managing so it is nice to be directing again,” she said.
“Basically hyping everybody on stage, like Barth.
“Getting her to just shine on stage was one of the most special things for me, just to give people that space to say, ‘do what you want to do and I am there to guide you’.”
The Herald
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