Northcliff High School will be hosting their major production, Sister Act, between 23 and 25 May.
The production is a feel-good musical comedy based on the hit 1992 film. The production is directed by Nick Jourdan who has been producing Northcliff High’s productions and musicals for 36 years.
The school is known for its extremely high calibre of theatre productions, not just in Gauteng but across the country. They do a professional week in Durban at the Playhouse Theatre and this year it will be taking place from 26 June until 2 July.
Pride Mncube (14), who plays Deloris in the production and is the lead character, is one of the youngest to land a lead role in the production.
Mathew Vey (17), who plays Curtis Jackson, recently made it to the South African Dramatic Team and is set to tour the USA in July.
We asked Pride and Mathew what they have in store for us:
Q. What inspired you to try out for this role?
Pride: My mom inspired me to try out for the lead role because she has been doing productions for five years and she got me inspired to sing and dance. I just love how big Deloris is and how big I am.
Mathew: When I heard it was Sister Act I went on to look for the most relatable role, and I chose Curtis. He is very different to what I have done before so this is a cool challenge for me.
Q. How are you preparing for this role?
Pride: As soon as we knew that we were going to do Sister Act last year, I practised the song until the auditions. I also prepare by walking and dancing in the famous purple boots that Deloris wears in the production.
Mathew: I learned the song far before the auditions and I took my own interpretation of the role and character and that’s how I prepare.
Q. Do you enjoy live productions or would you like to be in front a camera one day?
Pride: I enjoy live productions but later on in life, I wouldn’t take drama as a career, I would do it on the side.
Mathew: I actually haven’t decided yet, I’ve always wanted to be on Broadway singing and dancing but recently I found that I’m better at acting than singing and dancing so I think I belong in front of the camera.
Q. How do you relate to your character?
Pride: I’m big and I’m very loud. I’m also sassy and I just love who Deloris is, I just want to be more of that and she brings that out of me.
Mathew: I just like how much of a good character he is and how much of a gangster he is in the play. He’s very cool and adds an edge to the story.
Q. One fun fact about you that people don’t know?
Pride: I like walking around in high heels all the time! I eat, cook, clean in high heels, I do everything in high heels!
Mathew: I play the ukelele professionally. It’s is a small guitar.
Q. What is it like to work with Nick Jourdan?
Pride: It’s my second time working with Nick. He’s a hard man to work with but you have to know that when he says that something is amazing then you know its excellent, so I’m happy to work with him.
Mathew: This is my fourth year working with Nick and he’s a professional. He has put Northcliff High on the map in the 36 years he has been here. I love working with him.
Q. Do you work well with your castmates and who is your favourite to work with?
Pride: Yes I do, and my favourite to work with is Mathew because he always helps me through times when I’m feeling very nervous.
Mathew: I work very well with my castmates, Pride and I are quite a strong team.
Q.Have you played any other role besides this one?
Pride: No I haven’t really played a major role, I was just in an ensemble last year.
Mathew: I have been acting since I was 12 so there are quite a lot of roles that I have played before.
Q.Who is your favourite actor/actress?
Pride: My favourite actress is Millie Brown from Stranger Things.
Mathew: I have a few, Jeremy Jordan, Jake Gyllenhaal and Meryl Streep.
Q. What’s your favourite subject in school?
Pride: My favourite subject is biology.
Mathew: English is my favourite subject.
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