In an ever-evolving blueprint to increase captivating content for their online streaming platform, &SCENE are excited to launch their exciting new chat show Spotlight in their mid-week prime-time slot on Wednesdays at 8pm, starting on May 27.
Spotlight is created and co-produced by Rowan Bakker and Collett Dawson and will be hosted by the illustrious Queen of South African Theatre, Kate Normington.
Each week the chat show will illuminate an exceptional and admired South African from the entertainment industry now living abroad and achieving great heights internationally within the various facets of the industry.
Kate will delve into these entertainers’ back-stories and career successes in South Africa before leaving our shores to be trailblazers for South African talent internationally and what they’ve been achieving since making the move.
The chat show aims to be entertaining and informative.
It will highlight fabulous behind-the-scenes stories, delve into realistic issues within the industry, challenges, successes, failures, important lessons learnt by the eminent guests, all steered masterfully by Kate’s inimitable quirkiness that she is so well known and loved for.
Kate has a distinguished local and West End career of her own, making her the ideal host for Spotlight.
Her career has spanned more than three decades and her international highlights include Sunset Boulevard, Annie, Aspects of Love and Into The Woods.
Some recent local highlights on stage have been Sister Act and The Rocky Horror Show and on television in Tali’s Wedding.
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Spotlight producer Rowan says: “Inspired by the South African stars proudly flying the flag all over the world in their various fields of entertainment, we are absolutely thrilled to introduce our new show on &SCENE, Spotlight, hosted by the enigmatic Kate Normington.
“Our driving force to create new shows stems from our passion for the performing arts industry and keeping our fellow artists and audiences inspired, reminding them of these magical moments that shaped their lives, in the hopes that when social distancing is at its end, we can fill entertainment venues again.”
Spotlight has four incredible achievers lined up in the first month for viewers to enjoy and be inspired by.
• May 27 – Amra-Faye Wright from New York, USA.
Kicking off the first week with great pizzazz and style will be Amra-Faye Wright, known in some circles as Broadway’s own Charlize Theron.
A powerhouse performer who grew up in East London and moved on to become one of Broadway’s most respected stars, with her face instantly recognisable on billboards across Broadway as the high-kicking murderess Velma Kelly in the hit musical Chicago – a role she has performed internationally for over 20 years.
Amra-Faye says: “After 20 years performing abroad, sometimes I just put on my ruby stilettos, do a time step and say (with feeling) ‘there’s no place like home!’”
• June 3 – Sifiso Mazibuko joining Kate from London, England.
International award-winning Sifiso Mazibuko most recently played the part of Aaron Burr in London’s production of the celebrated hit Hamilton.
Spotlight will talk about Sifiso’s remarkable road to West End fame from his beginnings at The Tshwane University of Technology, where he completed his B-Tech in Musical Theatre in 2009.
Sifiso says: “I am very honoured and excited to sit and have a conversation about theatre and its impact on my life with Kate Normington, a legend in the entertainment industry and an inspiration to so many.”
• June 10 – Suanne Braun will chat with Kate from London.
From her early days as an M-Net presenter, the evergreen beauty Suanne Braun garnered international fame for her portrayal as Hathor in Stargate.
She is a prolific stage and screen actress with a list of never-ending credits, most notably Summer Of Rockets, working with Stephen Poliakoff, and Netflix’s The Princess Switch and its upcoming sequel.
Suanne says: “I am so looking forward to sharing what I’ve been up to for the last 25 years since I left South Africa, and of course having a good natter with Kate.”
• June 17 – Edward Baker-Duly joining Kate from Hampshire, England.
Edward Baker-Duly not only performs in musical theatre internationally with never-ending credits that span 20 years in the industry, but also works constantly on international film and TV productions.
His most recent UK productions being the Grinch who stole Christmas, The Bridges of Madison Country with Trevor Nunn, and on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning Lincoln Centre Production of The King And I.
Edward says: “I’m thrilled to be taking a trip down memory lane, back to where it all began.”
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Kate says: “I cannot wait to speak to these artists about the unique roads they have travelled to find themselves where they currently are.
“Join me on Spotlight each week to find out what makes each of these extraordinary performers tick, what fires them up and what they ultimately feel they still want to achieve, personally and professionally.
“What a line up to get things going!”
Tune into Spotlight each Wednesday at 8pm &SCENE’s Facebook Live and YouTube channel.
For direct viewing links, click here.
* All guests appear on the show subject to availability.
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