Kuils River artist stars in digital concert

Kristina Burge from Wynberg

Kaylene Hendricks of Kuils River is among 15 performers who will star in Bonny White’s Almost Real virtual musical theatre show this weekend.

Bonny White is a singing instructor based in Pinelands. She started a WhatsApp group for her singers at the beginning of the national lockdown and got the idea to host a digital show after artists started submitting videos of their performances.

Ms White said the production was born from a need to maintain a creative community during “a hectic lockdown period”.

The show is about telling stories through song, she said.

The performers are from all over Cape Town and have never met in person.

They are: Kristina Burge from Wynberg, Simon Thompson from Rondebosch, Noah De Villiers from Tokai, Michelle Botha of Plumstead, Nicole van Blerk from Claremont, Mia Hough from Bellville, Christine Thonissen, Jasmine Minter and Kirsten Pienaar of Pinelands, Martine Kawalsky of Milnerton, Georgia Bailey of Constantia, Frances Sholto-Douglas of Hout Bay, Claire Kieffer-Walker of Landsowne and Andrea Terhoven of Bothasig.

Ms Hendricks who featured in Northern News last year for her role as Liat in the musical, South Pacific at the Artscape Theatre, said doing a virtual production has come with many challenges.

The 27-year-old artist feels performing to a camera, instead of an audience, has had a negative effect on her energy.

Performing at home was not the same as being in a theatre, with quality lighting, an effective background and better performing space, she said.

“When doing a production in theatre, things come together naturally. Raw talent is what is expected from a live show and can quickly be corrected on stage if making a mistake but recording a show is emotionally and physically draining,” she said.

The show will be aired at 7.30pm on Facebook on Friday June 19 and then again on YouTube on Saturday June 20 at the same time for free.

For the Facebook stream, like their page @AlmostRealFB (https://fb.me/AlmostRealFB) and for Youtube here

The production encourages viewers to donate to the Pineland Community Action Network (CANS) by clicking on this link