Durban audiences can enjoy the story of pioneering rhythm and blues legend, Buddy – the Buddy Holly Story at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College campus from July 23 to August 7.

Presented by the Catalina UnLtd, the production is directed by Themi Venturas, and choreographed and co-directed by Daisy Spencer.

Also part of the team are Des Govender (vocal coach), Dawn Selby (musical director), Megan Levy (sound engineer), Michael Broderick (lighting design) Clinton and Ronel Stevenson (AV design) and Black Coffee Productions.

Durban has a fine tradition of musical theatre youth development projects. It began in the early days with the VW MusicActive programme. During this time, Durban audiences enjoyed the best of our young musical theatre performers in productions like Hair and Siyajema.

This was followed up by fifteen glorious years of the Young Performers Project, which has operated under different guises and funders, bringing the region productions such as Curtain Up, One Voice, Grease, Annie, The Wiz, Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof, School of Rock SA, Big River, Hairspray, Seussical, Can you Feel it?,  Footloose, and Soldiers in the City.

High school pupils where auditioned from around KwaZulu-Natal and those that were selected are certainly the cream of the 2016 crop. There are 21 talented young performers all of whom can sing, dance and act. Learners selected are from Durban High School, Glenwood High School, Westville Girls High School, Queensburgh Girls High School, Durban Girls High School, Kingsway High School, Roseway Waldorf School, Curro Hillcrest Christian Academy, Skethuxolo High School, St Mary’s High School, and Umhlanga College.

Durban fans will remember the smash hit show that toured South Africa with Craig Urbani as Buddy Holly. In the lead role of Buddy Holly for this version, is accomplished DHS pupil, Joshua Arnold.

The show is filled with toe tapping hits including Buddy Holly classics like That’ll be the day, Everyday, Oh Boy! Maybe Baby, Peggy Sue, Big Bopper’s Chantilly Lace, Ritchie Valens’ smash hit La Bamba and Chuck Berry’s Johnny B Goode. Audiences can expect a rocking and rollicking fun show that tells the story of an amazing music industry legend whose life was tragically cut short.

Bookings are through Computicket with discounted performances at 2.30 pm and 7 pm on Saturday, July 23 and 2.30 pm on Sunday, July 24 priced at R70. General public performances at R120 are from  July 26 to August 7 at 7 pm.

Schools performances (R50 per pupil) are at 2.30pm on July 29 and August 2 and 4. Booking for schools can be done through the company, email info@catalinatheatre.com for more information.