Giving talented people a chance to shine on stage
HOOK or by crook a group of people, many in the cast with no acting experience, will take to the stage in a play by award-winning actor and director Rajesh Gopie later this month. The aptly titled play Hook or by Crook is a political satire which will be staged at Sibaya’s izulu Theatre from
June 27 to July 8.
Gopie set up a performance internship to give skills training to previously disadvantaged Durban artists. Familiar with that upbringing, Gopie felt compelled to share some of the skills he acquired to blood new talent in Kwazulu-natal. The play’s participants spent the past three and a half months in daily workshops that focused on acting, singing and dancing.
Wife and husband, Crystalene Nair, 29, and Talmon Lawrence,
30, both teachers, are part of the cast. Nair was previously a finalist in the Idols SA competition in
2013. The Phoenix couple said they have always had a love for the stage and theatre but didn’t have the training. Through Gopie’s “Actorwize” internship they got the chance to chase their dream.
“It’s been great working with Talmon. It’s always wonderful to share new experiences with the person you love,” said Nair. “My character is Linda, she has a teenage daughter and an abusive husband. She put her dreams and ambitions on hold for her husband and daughter.”
Lawrence plays “Uncle Pillay”. Hook or by Crook, He said this had been a great learning experience for him.
“It’s been fun, exciting and full of laughter,” said Lawrence. “Yet, at the same time, it is stressful having to juggle between our full-time jobs and the rehearsal. Crystalene and I hope we get the opportunity to do this again. We have a new self-confidence, acting, singing and dancing skills and we now know how to work and perform as part of an ensemble.”
Melloshini Naidoo Gilbert, 46, a teacher from Stanger, is a drama graduate from the University of Kwazulu-natal. She has starred in a few plays over the years including Hasina Kathrada’s controversial Look at Yourself in 1988 and Pieter Scholtzs Mango Leaf Magic, among others.
“I’ve loved acting since I was a little girl,” she said. “I have three roles in Hook or by Crook – varying from ‘Good God’ to the evil and corrupt ‘Captain Nyar’ and shallow ‘Shirley Curley’.”
Sue Vasikan Govender, 38, said the experience was “scary and amazing” at the same time.
“Acting is an absolute first for me,” she said. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with the cast and crew, they were amazing, encouraging and together we had a blast.”
Tickets can be purchased at Computicket.