Muizenberg's Bronwyn Craddock takes on her first role in CHICAGO

When the world-famous musical CHICAGO opens at Artscape later this month, Muizenberg resident Bronwyn Craddock will be among the all-South African cast taking to the stage.

At just 25 years old, she will be performing in her very first musical, bringing her training in ballet and contemporary dance into the razzle-dazzle world of Bob Fosse choreography.

Born in Johannesburg, Craddock trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, Latin, ballroom and rhythmic gymnastics.

She performed with Joburg Ballet in productions such as Swan Lake, Giselle and La Bayadère, before moving to Cape Town in 2019 to study at the Cape Academy of Performing Arts.

Since then, she has danced with Cape Town City Ballet, Mzansi Ballet, the South African National Dance Trust, and Darkroom Contemporary, featuring in their award-winning short films Shifting Sands and Blue Funk.

Taking on CHICAGO marks a major step into the musical theatre world.

“I feel extremely honoured to be given the opportunity to perform in CHICAGO The Musical,” she told the Echo.

“Out of all the musicals I know, this was one that always appealed to me because of its style of subtle, but strong, choreography by Mr Fosse. Coming from a predominantly ballet and contemporary background, it was also very exciting for me to learn new skills like singing.”

She will be playing the role of Hunyak, a Hungarian woman locked up in Cook County Jail for murdering her partner - a crime she insists she did not commit.

For Ms Craddock, the most challenging part has been finding the focus to embody Mr Fosse’s famously intricate choreography.

“It’s incredibly nuanced with an internal combustion of energy that is never outwardly shown in a flashy manner,” she said.

“It’s a fine balancing act to uphold the inward physical tension without looking academic or stiff. But when you get that balance right. It’s a feeling you can’t quite put to words.”

Her diverse dance training has prepared her for the demands of the production.

Ballet, she said, gave her the technical support and control Mr Fosse’s style requires, while her experience in contemporary and classical works taught her the importance of detail, spatial awareness and teamwork.

“The entire musical is also danced in heels – so I thank my Latin and ballroom experience that helps with this,” she said.

Ms Craddock, who has lived in Muizenberg for the past two years, told the Echo that the seaside suburb has become an important source of inspiration and that the atmosphere of Muizenberg carries into her work.

“A coffee and a croissant enjoyed on the beach with the locals before rehearsals truly makes the day better. It carries me in my work ethic, my approach to learning new skills and the way I interact with people during the day. I am constantly boasting about the grounding atmosphere that the Berg has.”

As the cast prepares to dazzle audiences with iconic numbers like All That Jazz and Cell Block Tango, Ms Craddock said she is most excited to explore her character further throughout the season.

“Every time we’ve run the show in rehearsals, I’ve seen or learnt something new about my role. Each show provides that extra opportunity for growth, and I’m excited to see where it takes me – as well as where it takes the cast.”

She also hopes audiences will take more than just entertainment from the performance.

“Even though the musical is set in the late 1920s in Chicago, Illinois, the message of the production is still relevant today. I invite those who watch it to decode it – to understand the true essence of the production and why it was created in the first place.”

Although she had originally planned to take a break from performing this year, the chance to audition for CHICAGO was too good to pass up.

“It completely changed this year’s trajectory,” said Ms Craddock.

“As a freelance performer, we hardly ever know what’s next, even if we might think we do.”

CHICAGO runs at Artscape from Wednesday, August 27 to Sunday, September 28, before moving to Montecasino’s Teatro in Johannesburg. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.co.za.