Local performers shine under the Big Top at Barnyard Theatre
Behind the lights of Big Top Rock are local performers whose journeys from church halls and school stages led them to one of Barnyard’s biggest productions.
As electric guitars roar and the lights rise inside the Barnyard Theatre at Emperors Palace, a familiar East Rand story unfolds-local talent stepping into the spotlight.
Big Top Rock is more than a high-energy production; it is a showcase of performers from communities like Boksburg and Benoni, bringing years of experience, resilience and passion to the stage.
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The Barnyard Theatre at Emperors Palace is currently hosting Big Top Rock, a production that blends rock anthems with physical theatre and circus-style performance. Behind the spectacle is a cast of experienced local performers whose careers span theatre, television and live music.
Boksburg resident Phillip Schnetler (35) is one of the featured performers in the show. Schnetler said his journey into performing began in church and through acrobatics during his teenage years, but it was in 2008, during his final year of high school, that theatre became a clear career path.
Audiences may recognise Schnetler from television series such as 7de Laan, Suidooster and Getroud Met Rugby. On stage, he regards his role as Felicia in the Broadway adaptation of Priscilla Queen of the Desert as a major career highlight, earning him a Naledi Award. He has also released music, including his latest single Sinoniem vir Intiem, written by Johan Vorster.
In Big Top Rock, Schnetler performs as a vocalist and physical performer, describing the production as a hybrid of singing, movement and physical theatre. He said the combination of classic rock music and high physical demands makes the show both challenging and exciting, particularly in maintaining vocal stamina throughout multiple performances. His favourite segment is Chest La Vie, a physical-theatre feature that allows him to combine storytelling, movement and vocals.
Drummer PW van der Walt (40), who lives in Benoni, brings decades of professional experience to the production. Van der Walt began playing drums at the age of eight in his father’s church and started his professional career in 2004 at the Performer Theatre in Brooklyn, Pretoria.
His career includes eight Janice Honeyman pantomimes at the Nelson Mandela Theatre, as well as performances in productions such as The Rocky Horror Show at the Fugard Theatre, Burn The Floor, Spamalot, Saturday Night Fever and numerous Barnyard Theatre shows across the country.
In Big Top Rock, Van der Walt is the drummer and describes the production as the best Barnyard show he has been part of. His favourite moment is the opening rock medley, which he said sets the tone for the entire performance.
Also part of the cast is Amy le Roux (30) from Parkrand. Le Roux said her passion for music and performing began in childhood, growing up surrounded by music and attending dance classes. Her professional career started at the age of 21 after auditioning for the Barnyard Theatres, an opportunity she said marked the beginning of her career in the industry.
Le Roux described her growth as a performer as the result of working alongside talented artists and pushing through periods of self-doubt.
She said returning to the stage after losing her father to Covid-19 in 2021 became a significant turning point in her life and career. In January 2024, she released her first original single, followed by two more, with another planned for release in the new year.
In Big Top Rock, Le Roux performs as a vocalist and dancer and said it is a privilege to be part of one of Barnyard’s most successful productions. She highlighted the opening rock medley as a standout performance moment, as well as a drag number and the Bond medley, which features music by Adele and Billie Eilish.
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Big Top Rock combines rock music spanning several decades with dynamic choreography, live musicians and physical performance elements. The show features music from artists including Queen, AC/DC, Def Leppard, Heart, Roxette, Elvis Presley, Pink, Michael Jackson, Adele, Billie Eilish and Benson Boone, delivered with the energy of a live Barnyard band.
Now on stage at the Barnyard Theatre at Emperors Palace, Big Top Rock brings together local talent and a high-impact production that blends music, movement and spectacle into a single theatrical experience.
For more information, visit https://www.barnyardtheatre.co.za/show.aspx?sid=838&vid=19
