Acclaimed South African cabaret performer and Roodepoort native Tonya Koenderman is set to light up Johannesburg this April with her hit one-woman show Growing Old Disgracefully!, promising audiences an evening of music, comedy, nostalgia and sharp-witted storytelling.

Known as “one of the hottest properties on the cabaret circuit” and affectionately described as a “pint-sized dynamo”, Koenderman has built a career spanning more than three decades, performing locally and internationally in productions that combine vocal power, theatrical flair and humour.

Koenderman’s journey began at the University of the Witwatersrand Drama School, where she trained in performance before entering the professional theatre world. Shortly after graduating, she landed a role in Kevin Feather’s cabaret production The Dooh Wah Girls in 1990, a show that ran for four years and helped launch her career.

Working closely with director Feather, Koenderman quickly established herself as a standout performer.

“I think I’ve always had an old lady in me,” she reflected, describing how an early acting role helped shape her confidence in character-driven performance and comic timing.

From ensemble work to solo productions, Koenderman became a familiar name on the South African cabaret circuit. Her credits include We 3, Juke is King, Jive to the Juke, Wurlitzer, All of Woman, Shake Your Bootie, and her signature production Growing Old Disgracefully!.

Her one-woman shows, including A Night in Paris, The Sound of Musicals, Bassey and I, and Born to Diva, highlight her ability to shift seamlessly between comedy and music.

A defining feature of Koenderman’s career has been her acclaimed impersonation of legendary entertainer Liza Minnelli. She first encountered Minnelli at Sun City as a teenager, an experience she describes as transformative.

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“She had an energy I related to – imperfect, a little too much, but completely magnetic,” Koenderman said.

That inspiration later evolved into a full performance persona, culminating in productions such as Stars in Your Eyes and the Sun International spectacle Beyond Belief, which ran for 16 months at Sun City and featured her Minnelli-inspired act.

Koenderman’s versatility extends far beyond cabaret theatres. She has performed for major corporate clients including Investec, Standard Bank and Nedbank, among others, and has appeared internationally in Australia, Italy, Mauritius and the Seychelles, as well as on MSC cruise liners.

Despite the challenges of sustaining a career in the arts, Koenderman said cabaret remains inseparable from her identity.

“I keep coming back to it. It’s in my blood. I need to create to feel alive,” she said. “Without creating, I don’t know who I would be.”

She added that one-woman shows demand constant presence and energy.

“You don’t get to switch off for a second. You have to be on from beginning to end – and I love that challenge.”

Koenderman’s signature style blends humour with emotional depth. Her shows often begin with light-hearted comedy before shifting into more reflective themes around ageing, identity and resilience.

“I love being funny, but I also want to take audiences on a journey,” she said. “It starts with laughter, and by the end, there’s something deeper to think about.”

Audiences can catch Growing Old Disgracefully! at Die Pienk Kerk Restaurant and Coffee Shop in Melville on April 17 and 18 at 17:00. Tickets cost R400 via Quicket and include a two-course harvest-style meal (own drinks permitted). Seating is limited, and early booking is advised for what promises to be an intimate evening of world-class cabaret.