Theatre Week has seen 31 winners advancing to battle it out for the 2020 Top 16 spots in an intense round that required contestants to focus on their performance while having very little social interaction with their peers.
Season 16 Theatre Week had 107 Golden tickets winners battling it out over four hectic days.
“Theatre week is a stage in the competition where viewers get to know their contestants better and to choose their favourites and first round of theatre week was filled with everything to keep the viewers on their edge of the seat – heartbreak, tension, and entertainment,” says Nomsa Philiso, the channel director for Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net.
Theatre week day one:
It was a nerve-wracking and disastrous start for some, and a glorious ending for those who showed the tenacity to advance to the next round.
Brandon, who got his golden ticket from the Durban leg of the auditions, was the first contestant to hit the stage. He was nervous that he even forgot his lyrics. Judges are usually unforgiving to people who forget their lyrics but, they were gracious. The opening of the show was promising. “If you promise to forgive yourself, we will forgive you,” Unathi said.
His performance was followed by the Durban auditions Idols SA early favourite, Jerodine, who also got a nod for the next round. This was followed by more thumbs up from the judges to give more contenders a chance to fight again.
By the end of Day one of Theatre Week, 20 hopefuls went home.
Theatre week day two:
The second day kicked off with Mfundo from Pretoria. He forgot his lyrics and didn’t quite impress the judges. “It’s okay. It happens to the best of us. Unfortunately, your journey ends here today on Idols,” Somizi said.
At the end of Day two, 47 people were sent packing, so 60 contestants made it to the group stage.
The group stage was equally frustrating for most of the hopefuls as they had to prepare for a song that they were going to sing in a group with people they couldn’t rehearse with due to the Covid-19 regulations. This time they were in the company of the pianist and the awesome judges, Unathi, Randall and Somizi. Social distancing was the order of the day.
Philiso adds: “While the objective was to create a bigger, better show than last year, the production team ensured that they do so in a safe environment where social distancing and all the necessary safety precautions were adhered to.”
In the end, 29 contestants did not make it through the group stage. They included Vhudi, 'Mr Yoki Yoki', whom many South Africans had grown to love from his first audition.
However, the winning singers showed that when you want it as badly as they do, you focus on what you can deliver on, and give your best. At the end of the four days of Theatre Week, 31 contestants made it through the infamous Theatre Week.
The fight for the 16 spots begins!
Season 16 of Idols SA broadcasts on Sundays at 17:30 on Mzansi Magic Channel 161. Get exclusive updates and a behind the scenes look at all the action right here on our site. Don't forget to join the conversation by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #IdolsSA.