|
Kramer: Taliep's death painful
17/12/2006 22:32 - (SA)
Pieter Malan, Die Burger
London - David Kramer says the pain of Taliep Petersen's murder grows more intense by the hour. "I am struggling to believe that it's all true".
An emotional Kramer described his horror when he heard the news of his best friend's death in London early on Sunday.
Kramer and his wife Renaye are in London with 10 actors and musicians for the London season of the Kramer-Petersen musical hit Ghoema.
He said Nicolas Kent, artistic director of Tricycle Theatre, woke him and his wife with the news at about 01:00 on Sunday.
"Getting news like that, the first reaction is absolute shock.
"You can't comprehend it immediately.
"Then a numb feeling overwhelms you. "It's only later that you begin to realise what has happened.
"The pain is just growing stronger. It's a very emotional and difficult time for us."
South Africa's premier and most enduring musical partnership, between Kramer and Petersen, stretches back over 20 years to the bittersweet musical hit District Six, which was first performed in 1986.
"Taliep was my best friend.
"He took me into his confidence and I confided in him. We were very close," said Kramer, very near tears.
"We made music together."
Kramer and Petersen last saw each other shortly before Petersen left by air on Wednesday, after visiting London last Monday for the opening night of Ghoema.
"Isn't it ironic that our last get-together was for an opening night?" said Kramer.
He said Taliep wanted to stay longer but was unable to get a later booking home.
No London performances of Ghoema will be cancelled, and the season will end as planned on January 22.
"That is what Taliep would have wanted.
"Ghoema is a tribute to him and we will perform it with Taliep in our hearts."
Kramer said Ghoema, in which an alternative history of the music of the Cape is brilliantly portrayed, was very important to Petersen.
He was tremendously proud of it and the whole journey of discovery of those musical roots was very important to him.
"Ghoema personifies everything he stood for.
"I am so thankful that this was our last project together, rather than any other."
Kramer said he did not even want to contemplate the fear and anxiety that Petersen must have felt before his life ended.
Jody Abrahams, one of the actors in Ghoema, said he owed his entire career to Petersen.
"He was like a father to me.
"Sitting here in London now, just makes it all the more difficult. It's difficult to digest everything when one is so far away from home."
- Die Burger
|
News
