TALIEP PETERSEN

Born in District Six, Taliep has been involved in music since a very young age. As a teenager he won the Post newspaper Mr Entertainment competition in 1968/69, after which he entered the professional arena by joining Alfred Herbert’s African Jazz and Variety Roadshow which toured South Africa and Mozambique.

His first experience of musical theatre was when he was cast in the touring production of HAIR in Maseru. This was followed by parts in GODSPELL and PIPPIN which were staged in South Africa. In 1979 he studied at the Fitznell School of Music in Surrey, England, and during his time in the UK saw West End shows, which inspired him to write a revue based on his memories of New Year in Cape Town. This was called CARNIVAL A LA DISTRICT SIX and was a huge success.

In the early eighties he formed a successful band called Sapphyre which played in hotels all over the country. Together they produced a breakthrough album called ROSA which re?interpreted traditional Cape Malay songs in a modern style.

He and David Kramer joined forces in 1986 and wrote their first musical, DISTRICT SIX. This was followed by FAIRYLAND, CROONERS, POISON, KLOP KLOP and KAT AND THE KINGS.

In 2001 Taliep worked on a 13-part television series on the history of District Six, called O’SE DISTRIK SES, which has won numerous awards in South Africa. He conceived a television sitcom called ALIE BARBER, for which he wrote the songs in 2002. Due to its success, they have recently completed filming a second series. He is the presenter and musical director of JOLTYD, a television series in which local minstrel troupes compete.