Dream come true for Bluff novice actress
For Lewis, playing Cinderella comes with its own real-life challenges
THIS year’s Kickstart annual festive season family pantomime, Cinderella will have the magical touch of a Bluff actress who will transform the role of Cinderella.
Newcomer, Roshanda Lewis was chosen from 40 hopefuls in an open audition to play the coveted title role.
Lewis, a second-year student at AFDA, will play the role of the much-loved character who goes through many hardships and challenges in her life.
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For Lewis, playing Cinderella comes with its own real-life challenges as she works towards perfecting the role. “It’s a new and challenging experience as I have never played a character as light-hearted and kind as she is and I aspire to have as much hope and grace as she does and to see the good in every experience I face, as she does. It’s an absolute honour to portray her,” she said.
It took some encouragement and a nudge by her former teacher and play director to get her to audition for the role. “I went just to see how it would be to audition, as I have never done anything like this before.”
Besides rehearsals for the play, Lewis juggles studies and her many hobbies that keep her busy. “I’m currently a second-year student at AFDA College, studying music performance. I play the guitar and my hobbies are hip hop dancing, and I have recently taken a liking to baking.”
Acting has taken her to new heights and she enjoys learning new skills with each character she portrays. She advises youngsters not to give up, no matter how many times they are rejected. “Your time will come, keep pushing.”
Her next goals are to one day be part of musical theatre piece and to play her dream role as Wednesday from “The Addams Family”.
READ: Cinderella to grace Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre
Cinderella comes to the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on UKZN campus from 7 December until 6 January.
With lush sets and gorgeous Baroque costumes, toe-tapping songs, jokes aplenty and masses of audience participation, this is year-end family entertainment at its very best.
It is directed by Steven Stead, designed by Greg King with choreography by Janine Bennewith, and stars Darren King and Bryan Hiles as the Ugly Sisters, Mthokozisi Zulu as Buttons, Nathan Kruger as the Prince, Lyle Buxton as Dandini and Anne-Marie Clulow as the Fairy Godmother. Completing the cast are dancers, Tshediso Kubulu; Katherine Anderson; Kirsty Ndawo and returning is Sanele Mzinyane who performed in the 2008 Cinderella production.
