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Top Billing meets the cast of Calling Us Home
Top Billing goes behind the scenes of the musical Calling Us Home
The multi award-nominated and proudly South African musical, Calling Us Home, has that rare ability to cross cultures and speak to the heart of anyone watching it. The production recently opened in Cape Town and we got to meet the people who make it happen before they embark on an international tour.
Directed by Magdelene Minnaar, this musical is an uplifting way to look at a harsh reality. The story is centred around characters who have to flee their African country after the outbreak of civil war. What follows is a touching human story with some incredible musical performances.
Without the music and song, the message of Calling Us Home would not have nearly the same impact and Allice Gillham’s compositions lend the story its heart and soul.
She wrote both the story and score after walking the streets of London and noticing how many people were from elsewhere. This made her more aware of the topic of large-scale displacement in the world, and the human element of this inspired her to write the show.
Musanete Sakupwanya plays the complex role of Nelson, the brother of lead character Grace, and a young man forced into war, and is one of the incredible stand out performances in the show.
Lynelle Kenned plays the lead role of Grace, and truly captures the change that a person will undergo after experiencing the hardship of life, and returning home a different person.
The love story between Grace and Rafael, played by Richard Gau, is another reason to see the play, and is perfectly portrayed by the two young talents.
A testament to hope, courage and the enduring power of the human spirit, Calling Us Home has a powerful message, and that’s to never give up. The production is a must-see for anyone who feels like seeing an incredible human story, or just want to hear some beautiful music.
