The stage is set, the lights are dimming, and the Friendly City is about to erupt with laughter with the acclaimed comedic production, “A night out at the theatre”.
Riding on the high of five previously sold-out instalments, Tarryn Light will again take to the stage at an intimate setting in Gqeberha to host the exclusive show for 70 people at Elements Speakeasy on Friday.
Explaining the monologue that is making its return due to popular demand, the owner of Tarryn Light Productions said the show was about her life as a performer and the audience could expect to be captivated by songs from her favourite musicals.
“Obviously it will include some great musical theatre classics but there are also very interesting as well as quirky numbers there as well that are very funny and the songs relate to my journey,” Light said.
“However, it is not just about the songs, it is also about a little story that I tell in between about my journey with theatre and performance.”
The Mount Pleasant resident said the production explored her life’s journey from the first moment she fell in love with the performing arts.
The 34-year-old’s career in the arts started when she was in high school, where she passed her Trinity exams and went on to study performing arts and drama at the University of Pretoria.
“I have been in the field for 10 years professionally, five years with my company, but I have been performing since I was 14,” Light said.
“The first musical I ever saw was on M-Net Open time.
“Soon afterwards I recorded Grease on my little VHS tape; I played it over and over again.
“I just got hooked from a young age so eventually I decided to start my own production company because I thought you could not sit down and wait for work in this industry.
“We have to create work, because we are creatives.”
It was during the Covid-19 pandemic that she realised just how much she loved the performing arts and wanted to do nothing else.
After struggling with autism and ADHD, she said the arts became a space of comfort, joy and liberation.
“Performing arts just came naturally for me. It became like my own source of dopamine, so I realised early in life that it would make me a happy person, and Covid-19 helped realign me to go all in,” she said.
“When I was 32, I was diagnosed with autism.
“I have what is called AudiHD, which is a combination of autism and ADHD.
“I get highly over stimulated and overwhelmed in certain situations so I am working through it, learning how to use my brain in a neurotypical world.”
She said she would be blatantly honest about her life on stage while merging comedy into the production.
“I feel like you can only look at certain things in life and just laugh about it which can be the only way you can handle it. It is how we process life and how things can go wrong.
“Life is serious enough. I use theatre and performances as escapism.
“Basically, I will not leave the stage for the entire production as a one-woman show.
“As I move between the characters there will be a dressing rail, but I change on stage while talking, before the next performance, so it is very interactive.”
With a handful of tickets remaining for the exclusive one-hander play, those interested can book at 082-578 0358.
The Herald
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