Theatrics, a tactile form of entertainment
NEWLANDS – Meet Weslee Lauder, a theatre performer who believes that theatre performances create critical thinkers, teach tolerance and the ability to read emotions.
Born and raised in Joburg, this creative, multi-talented performer obtained a B-Tech in Musical Theatre (cum laude) from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
Weslee Swain Lauder, who is currently rehearsing for the Peter Pan production which will show at Joburg Theatre, has been performing for as long as he can remember.
“I started performing since emersion from the womb, but professionally since 2010,” he says with a laugh.
At TUT, he performed in eight dance or musical theatre productions.
You may have seen this energetic performer on most stages. He was involved in Call Me Lee at the Pieter Toerien Theatre at Montecasino and Reik Na Die Sterre at the Pretoria State Theatre.
He has also been involved in some television work and most recently, as Rick Douglas in the Chicken Lickin’ commercial, as the son that gets kicked out in the Standard Bank MasterPass commercial and as the crazy caroller in the MWeb commercial.
In 2009, Lauder was assistant director on Neels Classen’s production of Rent which watered the seed of his love for the creative.
He directed and choreographed the South African première of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and made his professional debut in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at the State Theatre in 2010.
In 2011, he choreographed the South African première of Spring Awakening and starred in the Naledi award-winning family musical, African Adventure, in various roles.
Lauder runs his own production company called Exit-Level Management, and is a regular guest lecturer in musical theatre studies at Oakfield Fields College and writes for Hello Jo’Burg Magazine.
Lauder loves that his chosen career is constantly changing.
“No job is the same – whether it be theatre, film, television, performing or creating, the work, even though it is still entertainment and art. It is always different,” informs Lauder.
He finds his job as an opportunity to bring characters to life and then to do it all again differently.
With full support from his family, he manages to cope despite the difficulties he comes across in the industry.
“There are two things that I stick to – I schedule my life properly and give myself as much ‘me’ time as possible,” he says.
In the near future, Lauder sees himself as a director and choreographer.
However, he intends to keep his performing hat on.
Peter Pan starts showing at Joburg Theatre from 5 November to 28 December.
