Taliep Petersen

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Taliep Petersen (1950 - 16 December 2006) was a South African singer, composer and director of a number of popular musicals, working most notably with David Kramer.

One of "South Africa's best known theatre personalities", [1] Petersen was born in the multi-cultural neighbourhood of Cape Town, District Six. He first sang publicly aged six, at the Coon Carnival.[2] His first theatre performance was a part in a 1974 production of Hair, followed by Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar .[2] After a period studying classical guitar at the Fitznell School of Music in England, he wrote his first revue, called Carnival a la District Six, based on the New Year celebrations in Cape Town.[3]

In the 1980s, Petersen formed a band, called Sapphyre, that played interpretations of traditional Cape Malay songs. In 1986 he and David Kramer collaborated on the first of a number of musicals together, District Six: The Musical, exploring the culture and history of the Coloured community in Cape Town.[4] This was followed by Poison, Fairyland, Crooners, Kat and the Kings, Klop Klop and Spice Drum Beat: Ghoema.[5] A number of these toured internationally; Kat and the Kings had runs in Las Vegas, New York's Broadway and in London's West End. Ghoema had opened in London's Tricycle Theatre shortly before Petersen's death. [6] In 1999 he and Kramer won the Best New Musical Olivier Award for Kat and the Kings, with the cast sharing the Best Actor in a Musical award. [1] [7]

In 2001 he presented a television series about District Six called O'se Distrik Ses and has featured on South Africa reality talent shows, Idols and Joltyd. in 2002, he created a sitcom called Alie Barber. In 2005, a second season of Alie Barber was shown and Petersen released songs from the series on the 2006 album Deur Dik en Dun, his first in Afrikaans.[3] [6]

Petersen, a practising muslim, was twice married and fathered six children. He was shot dead during a robbery of his home on 16 December 2006. [6] In tribute Ebrahim Rasool, premier of the Western Cape, praised Petersen's ability to "capture our entire history, express our deepest pain, articulate our joy, and demonstrate our humanity through music and drama." [1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c "SA celebrity murdered in robbery", BBC News, December 17, 2006.
  2. ^ a b "Living Legend - Petersen is nowhere near done", The Cape Argus, January 07, 2005.
  3. ^ a b Kat and the Kings. The English Theatre. Retrieved on December 17, 2006.
  4. ^ District Six - The Musical. Musicmakers. Retrieved on December 17, 2006.
  5. ^ "Spice Drum Beat: Ghoema", Times Online, December 13, 2006.
  6. ^ a b c "Taliep Petersen shot dead in robbery", Mail&Guardian online, December 17, 2006.
  7. ^ The Nominees and Winners of The Laurence Olivier Awards for 1999. London Theatre Guide. Retrieved on December 17, 2006.

[edit] External links

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