BY THE BUZ HIVE:
The following afternoon brings a change of pace as Adrian & Emma-Jean Galliard return to a South African stage following acclaimed performances in the UK.
September At the Whirlwind
The father-and-daughter duo will present A Spring Concert with Adrian & Emma-Jean at The Whirlwind on Sunday, 20 September at 15h00, fresh from August performances in Notting Hill and Reigate that earned an enthusiastic response from British audiences.
Their musical partnership began unexpectedly on Easter Sunday 2020, when Adrian and his then 11-year-old daughter uploaded a home recording of Andrea Bocelli and Céline Dion’s The Prayer to Facebook. Within days, it had attracted hundreds of thousands of views. After being shared internationally by The Music Man, it reached millions more.
What began in a living room during lockdown has since taken the pair to stages including the Hilton Arts Festival, where they played to sold-out audiences in 2024, and Theatre on the Square for a successful run of Striking a Chord in 2025. Their August UK concerts marked another milestone in a musical partnership neither could have predicted six years ago.
Their Whirlwind concert moves between light classical favourites, musical theatre, jazz standards and contemporary pop, combining soaring vocals and close harmonies with the relaxed humour and father-daughter banter that have become part of their live performances. The concert runs for approximately 70 minutes without an interval and is suitable for all ages.
Audiences can make an afternoon of it, with The Whirlwind Theatre Café open for lunch from 13h00 ahead of the 15h00 performance.
Saturday, 19 September – Comedy in the Park
Chris Forrest | Rae du Plooy | Dillan Oliphant | Loyiso Gola
Pop-up restaurant and bar open: 17h00
Show: 19h00
Tickets: R180 | R120 pensioners
No under-16s
Sunday, 20 September – A Spring Concert with Adrian & Emma-Jean
Theatre Café open for lunch: 13h00
Show: 15h00.
Running time: approximately 70 minutes, no interval. Suitable for all ages
October Is Already Waiting In The Wings
The programme continues into October, with another eclectic mix already lined up.
Geoff Lockwood’s Bird Talk opens the month on 3 October, another Comedy in the Park on 10 October, Arno Carstens on 17 October, Chris Chameleon on 23 October and Luanda – Jazz on 24 October.
More information on individual October performances and bookings will be released closer to the time.
PLANNING AN END-OF-YEAR PARTY TO UPSTAGE ALL PARTIES?
With the end of the year approaching at an alarming rate, The Whirlwind is also taking bookings for year-end functions, corporate events and private gatherings.
For companies that have exhausted the usual restaurant lunch, The Whirlwind offers something a little different: a 185-seat theatre, a conference space accommodating up to 200 people, comedy and music show options, on-site catering, a fully licensed bar and the option of exclusive venue use.
Companies can build their event around a live performance or work with the Whirlwind team to put together a more tailored function in a setting that is difficult to beat!
The Whirlwind Theatre is located within the Delta Environmental Centre in Delta Park, surrounded by one of Johannesburg’s best-loved green spaces. It is an intimate live performance venue with the park, trees and birdlife just outside and food, drinks and a stage inside.
In other words, the office party can still be an office party. It just doesn’t have to feel like one.
Year-end function enquiries: thewhirlwindtheatre@gmail.com – @NewsSA_Online
Follow us on our social media platforms below: