Bluff actors are footloose and fancy free

BLUFFITES Rendani Mufamadi and Monique Nel hope to sing and dance their way to stardom as they take to the stage in a performance of Footloose in the 14th annual young performers’ production this month.

The 20-year-old Rendani plays Ren – a young man at odds with the local community and its strange laws, while 17-year-old Monique takes on the role of Eleanor, who she calls a ‘sassy and stylish loud mouth’. Both are excited about the production and believe audiences will gain much from it. “Footloose is conceptually relevant to this day and it’s a timeless musical that most people will relate to, not just because of the dancing, singing and acting but because of the message of ‘freedom of expression’ behind it,” said Rendani.

Rendani, who matriculated from Kingsway High School, moved to the Bluff in 2003 and attended Brighton Beach Senior Primary School and Grosvenor Boys High School. During his school career he performed in numerous school productions, which prepared him for his studies at the AFDA school of Film, Television and Live Performance in Cape Town – where he is currently in his second year of study.

“Acting is one of my four passions, which also include singing, dancing and playing music, so I’m hoping to be able to juggle all of them and become a household brand in South Africa before sailing off into greater horizons,” he said.

Monique, who was born and raised on the Bluff, is in her final year at Grosvenor Girls High. She attended the Helen O’ Grady Drama Academy for two years before taking a break from acting. This performance of Footloose marks her returned interest in the performing arts.

She plans to study psychology at the University of Cape Town and follow that up with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. In October she will be part of the International Talent Showcase in Johannesburg.