Actors reflect on how they found their roar in upcoming Disney’s The Lion King JR
Two young actors, Buddy Sacks and Jason Woollatt, one a veteran of the National Children’s Theatre in Parktown and one just starting his journey talk about what the stage means to them.
Two young men, Buddy Sacks and Jason Woollatt, who credit the National Children’s Theatre (NCT) with transforming their lives and their stories, illuminate why NCT’s upcoming production of Disney’s The Lion King JR is about more than putting on a show.
When Jason first walked through the doors of NCT, he had just recovered from cochlear implant surgery.
Jason, who will perform as Scar in this season’s production said he found rehearsals fun. “When I’m on stage, I just feel alive and at home. I feel I was born to do what I’m doing.”
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For the 12-year-old, theatre became an unexpected path to healing. After losing his hearing to a cholesteatoma tumour during lockdown, he underwent multiple surgeries and extensive speech therapy.
NCT chief operating officer Bellinda Germeshuizen noted that having Jason and Buddy as part of NCT’s story is inspiring for the organisation. “Especially, because we can accommodate them on an ongoing basis and to see them being successful, like Buddy has demonstrated the basis that theatre is for everyone and we believe that we should be able to accommodate everyone.”
When Buddy discovered NCT at age 12, he was a neurodivergent learner searching for somewhere he could truly belong. Now 24 and living in London, he traces his career back to the formative years at NCT.
An autistic performer who joined the theatre’s Saturday classes as a nervous 12-year-old, he went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre and now works as a teaching assistant supporting autistic children. “I was the only neurodivergent one there when I first joined.”
Also read: Lion King Jr to hit National Children’s Theatre stage
He added that the coaches, especially the late Francois Theron, welcomed him with open arms.
“Something clicked inside me during my last showcase. I was playing the Cowardly Lion, my family was watching, and I just knew that my heart belongs to the stage.”
From July 3–19, audiences have the chance to witness 51 young performers bring the Pride to life in a production that has been reimagined with new artistic direction by Ivor Jones, directed by Game Bovana, and musically grounded by vocal coach Nthambo Rapatla.
Tickets are available here.
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