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Taliep a 'deeply caring man'
22/04/2008 13:24 - (SA)
Verashni Pillay
Cape Town - David Kramer remembered his late entertainment partner, Taliep Petersen, as a man concerned with the welfare of his community, as the murder trial for the popular musician continued at the Cape Town High Court on Monday.
"His passion was very much for what he considered to be "my mense" - his people: their upliftment and the creation for opportunity," said Kramer. "He identified very strongly with that because of the struggle he went through himself as an extremely talented young person trying to make a career during apartheid."
Kramer, who created musicals with Petersen for 20 years until his murder in 2006, said the second run of The Petersen Kramer Songbook on at the Baxter till May 3 was not intended to coincide with the trial.
Showcase
The production showcases a selection of the pairs' songs from their various collaborations, which started with the popular District Six musical in 1986.
Petersen's wife, Najwa, is standing trial along with three men she allegedly hired to carry out the execution-style shooting.
On Friday, one of Taliep Petersen's alleged killers formally admitted being at the scene of the murder.
Kramer still gets emotional when talking about his friend and partner's death. "I can't remember what my thoughts were," he told News24. "You can't really describe the shock of that.
"You can't process that kind of information and that's why it took me six months to accept that fact that he had been murdered."
A celebration
After six months he began working on the show which he calls a celebration of Petersen's life and work, rather than a tribute. "It's the kind of production I could imagine him directing," he said.
While the show opened in December 2007, it was brought back for a second run in April by popular demand.
"He was able to capture the flavour and the essence of the Cape in his music and at the same time move theatre forward to a point where we created a new audience and new opportunities," said Kramer.
Watch out for News24's exclusive video interview and feature article with David Kramer on Wednesday as he talks more about the production and his relationship with Taliep Petersen.
- News24
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South Africa
