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Got talent, will perform
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August 4, 2009
 By Diane de Beer
In a precarious profession like theatre, one wouldn't think that kids would follow in their parents' footsteps and yet, it seems that once it's in the genes, there's little argument. After all, they must be informed about all the pitfalls.
One hears of passing on the baton and this seems to be happening on a grand scale on local stages at present, from John Matshikiza's talented Lindiwe who is both acting and directing to Paul Slabolepszy's darling daughter Frances Marek who came to national attention in The Boy Who Fell From The Roof.
Putting his unique voice out there, Atandwa Kani, John's son, is currently on stage at the Nunnery at Wits with a double bill while father John is doing his own thing at Pretoria's State Theatre in Nothing But The Truth.
And opening tonight at Sandton's Theatre on the Square, Sarah Richard is joining her mom Louise Saint Claire and dad Michael in Pterodactyls, a play about dysfunctional families.
The youngsters are eagerly following their more famous parents. In some instances they change their names, in others, they give the nod and move on.
Some take a longer time to surface. While actress Jana Cilliers and movie director Reghardt van den Berg's daughter Lika had no problem stepping out and on stage, younger sister Lean only emerged in an acting capacity a short while back in one of her dad's movies.
Bill Flynn and Ann Power's son is also treading the boards in especially musical theatre. And of course there are many more.
They know this world better than most and what's exciting is watching their moves. In the case of a Kani or a Mtshikiza, it's as if they've been given permission to push the envelope and spread their wings much wider.
Watch out for these famous youngsters who are determined to be much more than just a pretty face. Got talent, will perform, is their war cry. It's the future of theatre.
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