You've heard about it and maybe seen it on TV but now Durban theatre audiences can get a taste of speed dating for themselves.
"Speed dating has pretty much become the way of meeting new partners overseas," says Pippa McHale, writer and director of the musical production Speed Date soon showing at the Rhumbelow Theatre.
"I wanted to do a musical review using the idea of women's names and this concept fitted so well," she says of the show which performed sold out at Westville Boys High. "I've edited the script and cast down to suit a fringe venue, it's still fun, vibrant and alive."
Speed Date tells the story of Average Joe (Andrew Martins) who gets dumped by his girlfriend and resorts to the Internet where he signs up for a round of speed dating with Dr Date (Verdasha Singh).
"The line-up of songs is multifaceted and encompasses everything from the Beatles, Beach Boys and Simon & Garfunkel to Snow Patrol and Justin Timberlake," says McHale.
"There is also a comedy item, which is a parody of men and dating."
Speed Date is the first production for McHale's White Butterfly Productions, which was only registered just last month.
"It's aimed at promoting and developing rising talent, particularly in the performing arts," she says. "People always want tried and tested performers and so they're losing out on talent. I want to develop teenage talent and give them a chance to do it."
What McHale also wants to do through her company is develop a younger theatre-going audience and she hopes that with Speed Date they will attract everyone from 10-year-olds to their grandparents.
"I think this production will work for the fringe theatre because it has to start introducing new talent and go in a new direction," she says. "Theatre in Durban needs to encourage a consistent audience. If there's more young talent out there, then more young people will willingly go to the theatre because it will appeal to them."
Meanwhile, McHale is busy with her new production company and is bringing out its first CD of music by SA teenagers as well as Andrew Martins's debut CD. She will also be producing the official first production of High School Musical for Westville Boys High School in May.
- Speed Date , Rhumbelow Theatre, April 26 to 29. Shows start at 8pm Thursday to Saturday and 6.30pm on Sunday. Tickets: R60 on 031-205-7602.