Mamma Mia! Here she goes again
Gqeberha performer overcomes health setbacks thanks to the music
Diagnosed with a chronic, inflammatory bowel disease in 2006, an operation later to remove her entire colon, and left with an ostomy bag, Gqeberha performer Caron Strydom did not let her health struggles keep her from her biggest love — music.
In fact, it was the inspiration from her performer father, Andre Strydom, and their shared love for ABBA, that pulled her through some of her toughest times, even when doctors told her parents that they should say their goodbyes.
Fast forward a decade, and though she has had some setbacks, including being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, Strydom has started up her own production company and, fittingly, her first ABBA show at Remo’s Italian in South End sold out in under 12 hours.
Having cut her teeth in the music industry under the Centrestage banner and the guidance of her well-known father who runs his own recording studio, Strydom is open about her health struggles and desire to nurture talent through Goodnight Productions.
“I was officially diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2006, however for many years it was just seen as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and high stress.
“My condition gradually deteriorated, up to a point where I could only walk with the assistance of crutches. I had cracked ribs from all the vomiting and my parents were advised to say their goodbyes. Yet I actually performed in these conditions because I loved music that much.
“In 2014, Dr Emile Coetzee took one look me and said they were operating. I tried to fight it, but it was inevitable.
“I really am so grateful for Dr Coetzee and his level of expertise. He quite literally saved my life. The surgery left me with an ostomy bag, which in itself was a huge hurdle to overcome,” Strydom explained this week.
But just as she thought she was on the road to recovery, last week it was confirmed that she has full blown Crohn’s disease and would need to go to Cape Town for guidance. She said she had also been on immune suppressant treatment for quite some time.
Asked how she got into performing, she said it was through her dad, Andre, who had been in the music industry for years.
“In 2014 he, together with Roger Gilson and Rob Palmer and their wives, decided to put together a tribute to the Bee Gees at the then Boardwalk Tsitsikamma Conference Centre.
“It was my first time doing a professional show of that scale.
“ABBA had always been a huge influence in my musical upbringing, and my dad and I would spend hours dissecting the music. It was then that my mom, Hayley, pushed the idea of doing a tribute to ABBA with Centrestage.
“My solo song for that show was
Andante Andante, which I wasn’t entirely impressed with, however, it became the song that defined me as an artist.”
She said after going to Sweden last year to visit the ABBA Museum, her energy was lifted.
“Watching people dance and sing to the music, no matter their age, really birthed the idea of creating a celebration to the music of ABBA.” In 2022, they did a sold out ABBA
Returns show at Running Waters in Kragga Kamma.
“Myself and [fellow performer] Lisa Love had done quite a bit of travelling as an ABBA duo already. I then presented the idea of this celebration to the owners of Remo’s. We wanted to create something different and interactive.”
She said Remo’s had a baby grand piano and she knew it needed to be the centre piece for the Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! One Night at Remo’s show.
The performers would work from there and filtrate into the rest of the restaurant.
“With great costumes, great food, and great staff, we knew we had hit the mark. I really believe we managed to create something magical with intimate, acoustic moments and absolutely incredible harmonies.
“I think it is safe to say we nailed the ABBA sound between myself, Michelle Mattheus and Lisa.
“The music itself does the talking, but this was obvious when we sold out in under 12 hours.”
Strydom said due to popular demand they had a few more ABBA shows lined up, including another trip to Durban.
Next weekend they will be at the Italian Club.
“We are in talks with some other venues that have reached out. And we are hoping to take the show on the road to some special places that have shown interest,” she said.
On the birth of Goodnight Productions, she said she had always considered nature vs nurture because of her dad and how, through him, she was given some incredible opportunities.
“My hope is to do the same with other artists. After working with the Erle Felkers Big Band, I saw the incredible power of musicians working together, supporting each other, and reaching diverse audiences.
They launched with ABBA Returns in 2022, Dancing through the
Decades in 2023, and then Double Diamond: The music of Neil Diamond and the Bee Gees, which brought Andre back to the stage.
A woman of many talents, Strydom recently left the teaching profession to enter into the wine and spirits industry.
She said she was working on trying to get new wine into the city, offering them marketing opportunities.
And she said this actually paired well with the music.