WHILE it seemed that Charis Alexander had taken her final bow on stage, her passion for the acting world has always kept the chance to perform again open.

After years away from the stage, taking time to raise her children and providing care for her mother, Lucile Alexander, Charis has returned to the theatre world, doing so with a renewed sense of purpose. 

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The Bluff actress made her return, captivating audiences at the Westville Theatre Club’s latest production Hello… Your Future Calls

The latest musical

The production, which ran from May 21 to 31, whisked the audience through time, from 1956 to 2056. It wove together elements of romance, comedy and destiny, including aliens, all to explore themes of fate and enduring love. Charis played Gigi, a glamorous and cunning socialite. “Gigi is a manipulative femme fatale socialite from the 1950s trying to lure the male lead from his destined meeting with his future wife/true love,” she said.

Passion from a small age

For Charis, performing has always been about more than stepping into a character, it provided her with a sense of community. Long before she stepped onto professional stages, six-year-old Charis was creating her own productions to perform during her school assembly.  Her passion only intensified during her years at high school.

“I am a former Grosvenor Girls High School learner, and I would take part in every school play. I was the first learner at the school to receive honours for drama,” she said. 

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Blossoming career

Beyond the classroom, Charis was building a reputation for herself in the community, competing in countless festivals, winning awards as a producer and lead actress. 

“During this time, I was also performing in Bluff Drama productions under direction from the amazing Steven Stead (of Kickstart Theatre Productions). I consider him the influence that truly ignited the spark,” said Charis. 

Life eventually took her in a different direction. After moving to the UK, she kept performing at festivals, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Eventually, she stepped away from the stage to focus on raising her family and pursuing a career outside the arts.

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When she returned to South Africa, she stayed connected to the entertainment industry through children’s theatre productions that toured schools, as well as brief appearances in television commercials and the popular soap opera Egoli.

Finding inspiration in her origins

Despite these opportunities, her full return to acting did not come easily.

“I was catapulted back into acting last year. My mother who had always been passionate and supportive, died after a long battle with Lewy body dementia. We lived together for many years, and I cared for her at home until the end. From a grief that I still cannot get my head around came this new flame to be that actress she always supported and cheered on,” said Charis.

Since then, Charis has immersed herself in various facets of performing arts like singing in bands as well as learning the drums.

As she continues to seek out new roles and larger stages, Charis carries the memory of her mother with her as she navigates her journey in the worlds of arts.

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