Natalia da Rocha doing what she loves. Picture: Jeffrey Abrahams Natalia da Rocha doing what she loves. Picture: Jeffrey Abrahams
Cape Town - Veteran entertainer Natalia Da Rocha returns to the stage with her latest offering, I’m Back Bitches!, after a 20-year absence from her first love - music. The show will be performed at the Rockwell Theatre on October 19 and 21.
After spending much of the recent past mentoring young talent, Da Rocha has assembled a talented group of performers to assist her with the show.
Some of her own Applauz Arts Initiative graduates will join her on stage.
The band Supernova will join her in performance for the first time.
Noehaa Fortune, who started with her programme as a Grade 9 pupil in 2005, also joins the show as does Lauren Hendricks, who has been with Applauz since she was in Grade 11.
Da Rocha explains what people can expect at the show. “I will lace the music with anecdotes about why that song resonates with me.
“My first audition in Joburg was for the SA musical royalty Joan Brickhill and Louis Burke I auditioned with Maybe This Time from Cabaret. The first time I got called up by Sam Marais to sing at No 58, I sang Summertime.
“I will talk about my part in Coffee and Cream and the move to doing my solo show.
“One hour packed with 20 years of music and anecdotes!”
Tickets cost R300 per person and includes the show and canapés.
Bookings can be made through Quicket or contact 076 144 4809 or 021 418 2441.
Da Rocha said she felt the need to return to the stage after raising her family and feeling a little bit of empty nest syndrome.
Once the children arrived, touring and its rigorous schedules took its toll.
“So after 33 years of raising children, suddenly empty nest.
“All three of them are working in Europe. I had time to do some introspection about me and my needs.
“Music is my life, music is the life of my family. They are all performers.”
And the boat doesn’t stop there.
There are a number of projects Da Rocha has cooking.
“I am involved with the Theatre in Athlone initiative that will open with For Generations written and performed by multi-talented Kurt Egelhof on Sunday at Art in Athlone at 3pm.
“I am producing the Retina SA Ripped Genes Concert Fund-raiser with a host of artists such as Chad Jubber, Jarred Ricketts, Michele MacFarlane, The Goodwood College Band, The Athlone School of The Blind Marimba band, a young multi-talented band Supernova.
“Anele Da Lasi who is a blind solo artist is also part of that show, plus a Denim fashion show by Tamsyn Johannisen. She is a visually impaired designer,” Da Rocha said.
@LanceTheWitten
lance.witten@inl.co.za