“A masterpiece of modern musical theatre.”
Winner of a Drama Desk Award and named one of TIME Magazine’s 10 best shows of 2001, Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years has captivated audiences with a score of mesmerising brilliance and an ingenious libretto. It has been successfully revived Off-Broadway, first in 2002 and again in 2013. An acclaimed film adaption starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan in 2014 and numerous international productions, established the musical’s place as a masterpiece of modern musical theatre.
“All I could do was love you . . . and let you go.”
A funny and bittersweet musical, The Last Five Years is an intimate window into the relationship between Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress, and Jamie Wellerstein, a budding novelist on the brink of success. This well-known story of two people meeting at the wrong time in their lives is told in a fresh and new manner. Cathy tells her story backwards from the dissolution of their relationship to first meeting, whilst Jamie tells his story chronologically; they meet only once, in the middle, at their wedding.
“Featuring incredible local talent.”
This local production of The Last Five Years will be on in the intimate 172-seater Golden Arrow Studio at the Baxter Theatre Centre the perfect venue for this honest and heartfelt musical. At the helm of the creative team is award-winning director Paul Griffiths with musical direction by Jaco Griessel. Featured in the coveted role of Jamie is Fleur Du Cape nominee David Ralph Viviers in his musical debut. Making her professional debut as Cathy is Fleur Du Cape nominee Zoë McLaughlin. To fully realise Jason Robert Brown’s vision, the cast will be accompanied on stage by an ensemble of six musicians.
- Jason Robert Brown
- Paul Griffiths
- Jaco Griessel
- David Ralph Viviers & Zoë McLaughlin
- 90min
Behind The Scenes
Meet the Team
Click the names for profiles & biographies
Zoë Mclaughlin
KATHLEEN HIATT
Zoë is a freelance vocalist and musical theatre performer based in Cape Town. She graduated from the Waterfront Theatre School (WTS) in 2018. During her time at the college, she received the following awards: The Richard Loring Trophy for most outstanding performance (2018), The Gillian Lynne trophy for most outstanding individual performance (2017) and the award for best overall dramatic performance (2016). In 2017 her role as Mother Superior in the WTS production of Sister Act garnered her a Fleur Du Cap nomination for the most promising student.
Her production credits include playing the roles of Hope Cladwell in Urinetown (2018), Mother Superior in Sister Act (2017), and understudy to Mable in Pirates of Penzance (2015). She was also one of the original cast members of the revue Sondheim Etc. that ran successfully at the Galloway theatre and Alexander Bar in 2017 and 2018 respectively. She has also worked on children’s theatre productions with Cheryl Abromowitz, playing the role of Princess Arabella in her 2017 production of The Frog Prince and as Snow White in their 2016 production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
David Ralph Viviers
JAMIE WELLERSTEIN
David is a Cape Town based film and theatre actor. He graduated in 2014 from UCT (Theatre and Performance) and is currently completing his Masters in Creative Writing. In 2016, David was the recipient of the Brett Goldin Bursary award which allowed him to study with the Royal Shakespeare Company for a month in Stratford-upon-Avon. For his work in both English and Afrikaans theatre, David has received several nominations including Fleur du Cap, Kanna and Fiesta nominations. Career highlights include playing an overly enthusiastic mime in the Afrikaans comedy Klara Maas se Hart is Gebreek (written and directed by Wessel Pretorius), playing Lady Macbeth in Fred Abrahamse ‘s Macbeth and playing the virile virus Rabies in Jemma Kahn’s Cellist with Rabies (directed by Jaco Bouwer).
Paul Griffiths
DIRECTOR
Paul is an award-winning director with a long career as director of plays and musicals. He started his career in the early 90’s as an actor in Musical Theatre. He soon relocated to the UK in order to complete his MA in Theatre Directing at Middlesex University. Following his qualification, Paul worked as trainee director at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, London. This was followed by a period as Acting Artistic Director at The Bridewell Theatre (just off West End).
Upon returning to South Africa, he joined The Waterfront Theatre College in Cape Town as a part-time lecturer in acting technique. He also set up his own company, Big Leaf Productions, to provide a platform for his directing work to be showcased locally and nationally. In 2006 Paul was appointed head of Drama and Musical Theatre at The Waterfront Theatre College. He continues to be involved in a range of projects outside of the Waterfront Theatre College. His production credits include up to 30 acclaimed productions which have garnered a string of accolades including Directing Awards, Ovation Awards and People Choice Awards.
Paul is always eager to pursue opportunities within the Performing Arts industry to create opportunity and stimulate productivity and is driven by a genuine belief that the Performing Arts has the power to shift the way a society thinks and feels.
Jaco Griessel
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Originally from Bloemfontein in the Free State, Jaco moved to Cape Town in 2014 to pursue a career as musician and theatre maker. He holds a M.Mus in composition and arranging, as well as a Diploma in Theatre Making, both obtained at the University of the Free State. Since 2008 Jaco has worked on numerous productions, as music director, pianist, guitarist, production designer and/or producer. He has been privileged enough to work with some of South Africa’s finest directors and has been employed by major production companies in various capacities. Jaco is still active as a composer and arranger. He has completed many writing commissions and frequently arranges music for local orchestral ensembles and choirs. In addition to his freelance work, Jaco has been involved in developing the next generation of theatre performers. He taught at the Waterfront Theatre College from 2014 to 2017 and is currently teaching part-time at the Luitingh-Alexander Musical Theatre Academy.
Hanco Kamper
ART DIRECTOR
Both Hanco’s parents are highly regarded theatre practitioners. Hanco grew up in the vibrant Afrikaans theatre community in Bloemfontein which accounts for his affinity to theatre, he however decided to pursue a career in the visual arts. After graduating highschool he left South Africa for the Netherlands, where he later graduated from the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam. Following his graduation, Hanco has been working as a graphic designer, on a wide array of cultural and commercial projects. His layered style and artistic sense portray captivating narratives to engage its audience in visual storytelling.
Click the names for profiles & biographies
The Band
Danielle Wynter
VIOLIN
Danielle is a versatile performer with a rich and diverse musical background.
A first class graduate of UCT (Bmus), she holds a masters from Trinity College of Music, London (Mmus) and during her formative years was fortunate enough to study with the likes of Prof. Jack de Wet, Jurgen Schwietering and Ofer Falk.
At UCT, Danielle won numerous awards and played as soloist with the UCT Symphony Orchestra for their performance of Allan Stevenson’s Concerto for two Violins. Whilst in London, Danielle was a member of the award winning Chimera String Quartet and the contemporary ensemble G+, which afforded her the opportunity to tour the United Kingdom and play in various prestigious venues including The Royal Festival Hall.
Danielle has played as an ad hoc member of the English Chamber Orchestra, St. Paul’s Sinfonia, the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and occupied the first chair for the international tour of The Sound Of Music in China. She has also played violin for numerous local productions including The Phantom of the Opera, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Funny Girl.
In addition to her playing, Danielle is a devoted musical educator and has worked in various schools across Cape Town including Reddam, Westerford, Beau Soleil and Parklands College; she is currently the Head of Music at Herzlia Middle and High Schools.
Natasha Otero
VIOLINCELLO I
Whilst Natasha was born in South Africa, she was raised in Argentina after her family decided to move back to their country of origin. Natasha demonstrated a keen interest for music at a young age and started to play piano when she was only four years old. She attended the Bernasconi Music School for children in Buenos Aires, where she discovered the violoncello.
At the age of 13, Natasha was accepted to the Conservatoire of Buenos Aires to study violoncello and piano with acclaimed musicians, Herman Pochenrieder and Alicia Pez. After moving back to South Africa, she enrolled at the South African College of Music UCT studying under Annamarie Van der Westehuizen and Christian Chernev. She graduated in 2012 with a BMus Honours degree in violincello performance.
Natasha has performed extensively as an orchestral and chamber musician around the country and overseas.
Ariella Rosanna Caira
VIOLINCELLO II
Ariella Caira was always destined to be a musician. She obtained Grade 8 Diplomas for piano, cello and percussion during her high-school years, performed extensively in orchestras, ensembles, competitions and was awarded the Herschel Girls School music scholarship in 2000.
In 2008, Ariella completed a BA in Theatre and Performance at UCT, but returned to her musical roots proving to be one of South Africa’s most versatile and in-demand cellists. Ariella is a founding member of Sterling EQ hailed as “South Africa’s all-female instrumental-pop supergroup”. The trio has won Sama awards, a Huisgenoot Tempo award, a Ghoema award, travelled to 12 different countries and landed a major record deal with EMI South Africa (now Universal).
Outside of her work with Sterling EQ, Caira has collaborated with celebrated artists such as Jeremy Loops, Good Luck, Hot Water, Paige Mac, Stealth Ulvang, Nicky Schrire and Alice Phoebe Lou. She also performs with numerous classical chamber ensembles such as Simply Strings, Wired, Zest Music and Trio de Musique. Arts journalist Gwen Ansell described Caira as “an empathetic partner, judiciously underlining and enriching textures and moods”.
Furthermore, Ariella is a seasoned voice-over artist and has hosted a radio show for Fine Music Radio Inc. for several years. She is also a music educator at St Cyprian’s School and Rustenburg Girls’ High School, Cape Town.
Graeme Lees
GUITAR
Graeme is a guitarist, composer, arranger and teacher based in Cape Town. He has worked on many different productions as guitarist and/or arranger. His most recent projects include two productions with Vasti Knoesen, ‘The 27 Club’ and the deconstructed Afrikaans folk music project ‘Tonteldoos’.
Outside of music Graeme enjoys gardening and historical photographic processes.
CJ Duckitt
ELECTRIC BASS
CJ is a Cape Town based bassist and producer who has been working professionally as musician since the age of 19. He has spent the majority of his time contributing to the studio recordings and live performances of numerous artists, both locally and internationally.
He is currently focussing primarily on writing and releasing original material with his band “murray.”, as well as performing regularly with one of Cape Town’s premiere cover bands.
CJ is always open to new opportunities and challenges that stand to widen his scope of experience.