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A note from Daphne Kuhn:
Happy New Year and a very warm welcome to Theatre on the Square’s first show of 2026. It feels wonderfully fitting to begin the year with music, storytelling and an artist whose voice still echoes so powerfully around the world.
I am absolutely delighted to welcome Kerry Hiles back to our stage. Many of our audiences will remember her dazzling performance in A STAR IS BORN, her Judy Garland show. Having Kerry return with Amy Winehouse – The Diva and Her Demons feels both exciting and deeply special.
2026 marks 15 years since the world lost Amy Winehouse, yet her music remains as raw, relevant and irresistible as ever. This production celebrates that legacy with warmth, humour and heart – honouring Amy not just as a pop icon, but as a gifted jazz singer and a once-in-a-generation storyteller. Stripped back to an intimate acoustic setting with Kristo and Roscoe, these songs remind us why her voice still stops us in our tracks.
At Theatre on the Square, we believe there is no better way to start a new year than by sharing extraordinary talent with our audiences. I hope this evening makes you smile, sway, reflect and perhaps fall in love with these songs all over again.
Please take a moment to ensure your phones are on silent.
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KERRY HILES is a South African singer and bass player, actress, emcee and voice artist. Previously a goat farmer and cheese-maker based in East London, she is now a full-time performer based in Port Elizabeth and tours nationally (and sometimes internationally) almost permanently.
Kerry acted in the television soapie “Isidingo” for many years and also played bit parts in feature films shot in SA. She is well respected in the voice-over industry for her skills in the recording studio, whether it is for radio adverts, documentary narration, or on-hold messages for companies worldwide, and Kerry has become well-known for her effervescent hosting style as an emcee. But it is performing music which really resonates with Kerry. She has years of experience in cover bands, original bands and show bands, covering various styles of music. She worked extensively for the Barnyard Theatre Franchise countrywide and has enjoyed contracts as a bass player/vocalist on cruise ships and for hotel residencies in the Middle East. Equally comfortable as part of an ensemble or performing solo, this award-winning artist engages her audiences every time she takes to the stage.
Theatre on the Square patrons will remember Kerry for her role in “A Star Is Born – the rise and fall of Judy Garland” – a show which falls under the Wela Kapela banner (Vincent, The Tramp) – a role which earned her a Fleur du Cap Best Actress nomination in 2023. “A Star Is Born” is a multi-award winning show that received rave reviews at Edinburgh Festival 2023.
The last 4 years has seen Kerry travelling an average of 4000km a month, towing a trailer filled with PA and lighting equipment, and accompanied by drummer Kristo Zondagh and (usually) guitarist Rob Thompson. Together, they form a formidable live trio, Misery Loves Company, and have earned respect and a growing fan base wherever they perform. On top of original music and cover band repertoire, the trio tours with the “pocket musical” shows, “The Story Of Eva Cassidy” (Wela Kapela Productions), “Jou Ma Se Platespeler”, “My Story With The Blues” and this one, “Amy Winehouse – the Diva & her Demons”.
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KRISTO ZONDAGH
Often dubbed “The Chameleon,” drummer and percussionist Kristo Zondagh’s ability to span genres has left fans dumbfounded.
His early career was punctuated by orchestra pit playing in musicals, concerts with the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, and metal gigs, often on the same weekend. His neo-sould band, VuDu, won the 2016 Young Legends competition landing them a highly coveted spot at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.
He has recorded and performed with pop-folk singer-songwriter, Stuart Reece, boasting chart topping singles on national and regional South African radio stations, and performances at Algoa Live and the Grahamstown National Arts Festival.
While working for Barnyard Theatres, he was part of highly successful shows including Celtic Rock and Cirque Rock.
Besides his various session gigs, Zondagh currently divides his time between groups like Franky & The Misfits (swing), Straight, No Chaser (jazz), Johnny Foxx & The Jack Rabbit Slims (rockabilly), Rob Thompson Band (blues/rock), Tim Sedso & The Linebackers (rock) The Reunion (rock), GEESx (techno/DNB), and Boiling Point (hardcore).
For the last 4 years, he has been touring with Misery Loves Company, a live rock trio that hails from Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha, with a series of theatrical tribute shows, some of which have won Ovation Awards at the National Arts Festival. Not content with being just a drummer, he has been heavily involved with the artistic direction, musical direction, and some script-writing for these projects.
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ROSCOE NEFDT is a musician/producer/performer from Gqeberha, South Africa, known for his extensive discography and lively performances with his various bands and projects, including Undead Generation, Coastal Clones, Twiza, and others. His multi-genre solo project, FiveSidedDice, has a catalogue of over 30 releases, all spanning the musical soundscape. Roscoe also performs acoustic solo shows of both covers and originals across South Africa, as well as in England when he is not touring his home country with his band/s. With his bands, Roscoe has performed at prominent festivals including the National Arts Festival of South Africa, Mandela Bay Arts Festival, as well as the Gqeberha Music Festival. He also tours extensively with his most active band, Undead Generation, playing some of the best venues in South Africa, including Sognage in Johannesburg and The Music Kitchen in Port Elizabeth. He has shared the stage or worked alongside large national names such as Wonderboom, Fuzigish, Arno Carstens, Prime Circle, and many others, as well as international acts such as Comeback Kid (Canada) and Vuvuvultures (UK).—o0o—
DAPHNE KUHN is a well-known South African theatre producer, artistic director and owner of the THEATRE ON THE SQUARE in Sandton. She began her career in the arts as an actress, working in both film, TV and theatre. Daphne Kuhn, holds an MA Degree in Drama from Pretoria University and her special skills range from acting to directing, PR to producing.
In 1994, Kuhn founded Theatre on the Square, first in Rosebank, then in Sandton in 1997.
This 200-seater theatre is one of Johannesburg’s most popular venues for both local and international productions. Over the years, the theatre has showcased a diverse range of plays, from classic dramas and musicals to contemporary works, experimental productions, comedies and youth theatre. Kuhn has been instrumental in bringing many important international plays to South African audiences, including the South African premieres of plays like HANSARD, SOME GIRLS, SHIRLEY VALENTINE, TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, ROSE, HARD LOVE and ROMANCE. Theatre on the Square has produced and presented more than 3000 South African plays, concerts and corporate events. Daphne has also nurtured the talents of many South African artists, providing a platform for emerging writers, directors, and performers to showcase their work while generating thousands of work opportunities for those in the industry. In addition to her work at Theatre on the Square, Kuhn has also produced several successful productions that have toured to other venues around South Africa. For her contributions to South African theatre, Kuhn has received numerous accolades, including the Naledi Theatre Award for Executive Producer for her contribution to South African theatre. She continues to be a driving force in the South African theatre scene and her work has helped to shape and elevate the country’s cultural landscape.
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Share your experience online and tag us on Instagram at @TheatreOnTheSquare
or on Facebook at Theatre on the Square, Sandton
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For THEATRE ON THE SQUARE
Owner / Producer / Artistic Director: DAPHNE KUHN
Resident Stage Manager: REGINA DUBE
Online & Design:MIKA STEFANO
Front Of Manager: MELIDAH THAKADU
Technical Manager: LOFTUS MOHALE
Assistant Technical Manager: REGGIE MATHEBE
Production Assistant: ZA MVUBELO
Photographs for Theatre on the Square: PHILIP KUHN
Theatre Assistants: MAGDALENE GRACE, PATRICIA RAMOTATHA and NHLANHLA ZUNGU
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Don’t forget to switch your phone to silent during the show!
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