Rory’s an all-rounder entertainment Booth
The multi talent also wrote and performed the soundtrack for The Kandasamys' The Wedding.
TREASURE Beach resident, Rory Booth, is making big strides in the entertainment world having starred in local productions, films and everything in between including viral videos.
“I am best known in the country for having co-written the Kandasamy films that have been in cinemas and are currently on MNet, my role as Dr Khan on SABC One’s telenovela, Uzalo as well as for my viral video persona, Traveeno.”
The Naledi Theatre Award winning actor, is also a dancer and singer and says he has always known that entertainment was his calling. “I studied communications with UNISA but I got a lot of street smart training from literally auditioning for productions in theatre and learning everything along the way. I always knew I wanted to be an entertainer, it didn’t matter which facet I’d end up in, as long as it was somehow entertaining people.”
And while studying was more of a way to put his parents’ hearts at ease, he says in hindsight, his degree helped him with his writing and content producing. “I must say, I’m glad I did it because I got some skills that I apply directly to my writing career.”
Rory started his career as a writer with his first children’s play called Festive Fun with Bob and Rob. The production led to two more Bob and Rob instalments. He has co-written several productions and is in demand for radio drama and voice overs. Having made his
film debut in White Gold, Rory proved his versatility once more by writing the title track for the film.
“I met Jayan Moodley in 2009 when I auditioned for White Gold which told the story about how Indians came to South Africa. It was a first time for everybody involved, me acting in a film and she, in directing. After production, Jayan asked us as an aspiring youth what we wanted to do next and I wanted to make more films. And so, we went ahead, got the ball rolling,” he said.
This is how, he said, the now popular movie franchise, Keeping Up With the Kandasamys came to be. “Never in a million years did we think these films would be as high ranking as Leon Schuster films in South African film history.”
The multi talent also wrote and performed the soundtrack for The Kandasamys’ The Wedding. And in 2010, he won the Mercury Personality of the Year Award.
In July, Rory will be performing at the Tara Arts Theatre in London for a one man show, by playright Ashwin Singh, Reoca Light. The play is the first South African Indian piece to be performed at the theatre. “I’ve done the play at the Playhouse but it is daunting because I will be playing 15 characters all by myself. It’s not an easy feat, it is challenging but quite rewarding when its done properly.”
And Rory’s message to aspiring artists? “Don’t be afraid to reach out to ask questions, advice and help. I try as much as I can to respond and give some constructive help and direct them in the right path.”
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