We hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's weekend with the cuddle weather. How ironic - so much water but none flowing from our taps! Welcome to the 20th issue of Melville Untold.

In today’s Melville Untold,

• A Young Superstar In The Making 🎭

• MRA Organising A New Upliftment Project 🧹

• Male Exotic Dancers! 🤭

Let’s go. 

— Aubrey Moloto, 

The Digest

A Young Superstar In The Making 🎭

Today's story is a little different from the usual behind-the-scenes look at businesses. Over the past few weeks, we've celebrated legacies and Melville icons, focusing on the past. Today, we want to dedicate our digest to the future - Melville's future.

Let's meet a product of Melville Montessori Preprimary School, the son of Cuppa Café's new owner, a Melville native born and bred, a multi-talented, well-rounded, intelligent young performer on and off the stage: Vivian Zithande Radebe Llewellyn.

Melville has a legacy of stars, icons, and influential people, with even 7th Street having a television history too. Many of the Melville legends we've told here involve South African icons and household names. Well, Melville, we have another icon in the making.

How It All Began

From a young age, Vivian showed signs of being different. Nokuthula Radebe, his mother, describes little Vivian as a dramatic and theatrical child. He attended our local Montessori Preprimary School from age 2. Soon after, his parents realised he was also clever. On one side, he was raised by parents who nurtured and cultivated his natural talents, exposing his budding curiosity to new things.

On the other, he grasped foundational concepts taught by teachers like Arifa and Sylvia, whom he still remembers, using the Montessori method. That's where he also found a passion for chess. Now in grade 4 at King Edward VII Preparatory School, Vivian continues to excel.

As Vivian grew, he showed an artistic flair and excelled at school, reading at a level much higher than his peers. Nokuthula says Vivian liked to add "a little spin of drama to things." To channel this dramatic energy, his parents sought out drama classes.

They enrolled him in the National Children's Theatre just before he turned six. Although younger than their usual intake age, Vivian was accepted, thanks to his advanced reading skills. Having height on his side didn't hurt either. At the theatre, he attended weekly drama, music, and dance workshops, and eventually performed in his first play, "Hope The Rhino."

A Budding Actor

After his first taste of the stage, Vivian landed roles in two more shows. His last performance at the National Children's Theatre was in the fiercely competitive Young Director's Program. A program where children were cast to assist young directors create original productions to be adapted by NCT. Vivian remembers it as the last time he felt nervous before a play, desperately wanting his director to win.

Following his time at the Children's Theatre, Vivian moved to the People's Theatre in Braamfontein, where he truly came into his own. "He was quite shy and soft-spoken when he first arrived," says Sne Ngcobo, one of the facilitators at his new theatre. She also remarked on how much his parents must have done, as Vivian was reading much better than his peers when he started with them.

Reading was a huge advantage for Vivian. "When he read, he really gave emotion to the words," said Sne, noting his amazing ability to understand and convey the meaning, not just recite the words. This skill helped him deliver good performances from the scripts he was given.

Vivian's first role at the People's Theatre was as an ensemble cast member in "Pinocchio" at the beginning of last year. Sne believes that his politeness and focus are why he grew tremendously as a person and actor since arriving there.

The Support System

These supportive environments provided Vivian with a fantastic platform to thrive, coupled with his intense focus, high work ethic, and what his mother believes is "being able to understand the relationship between input and output."

Sne told us the theatre's structure is designed with the children's growth in mind. Jill Girard, the co-owner and director of the shows, has over thirty years of experience in education. She understands how to work with kids, quickly identifying their strengths and weaknesses. Her experience has shaped the theatre's approach to coaching, catering to each child's needs.

Vivian also receives support from his teachers. During show runs, the children miss two of the five school days, requiring communication and understanding between the theatre, parents, and school.

When asked about his support system, Vivian mentioned a teacher from each grade since starting primary school. The theatre also encourages schools to bring classmates to the shows, garnering peer support.

Vivian's ability to grow on stage, stay at the top of his grade, and maintain a normal social life demonstrates the synergy between all parties, resulting in a culmination of support.

Nokuthula mentioned that without a flexible work schedule, and involvement from his father and grandparents, a busy life like this would be hard to keep up. This support system provides Vivian with a great platform for exponential growth.

A Star Is Born

After his ensemble role in "Pinocchio," Vivian landed the lead role of Christopher Robin in "Winnie the Pooh." Sne noted Vivian's excellent performance, development as an actor, and emergence from his shell, showing confidence and leadership among his peers.

Vivian told us he likes to support fellow young actors with kind words of encouragement and help where he can. If another actor were to struggle during a show, he'd say, "Don't worry, you'll get them next time. Today was a bumpy day for you. It's okay."

Following "Winnie the Pooh," Vivian played one of Aladdin's three sidekicks in "Aladdin" at the end of last year. Aladdin was played by an adult, making Vivian's role one of the lead roles for the kids' cast.

He delivered another splendid performance and has now landed the lead role of Jojo in this year's first play, "Seussical Jr." The play, based on the Broadway script and directed by Jill Girard, takes place in Jojo's imagination.

Everyone is proud of Vivian's growth as an actor and continued excellence at school. Sne is excited to see what he brings to the role.

What Next

Looking to the future, Vivian seems to be enjoying his life as an actor, saying, "I'm just in it for the fun." He also says he does what he does to make his family proud.

Vivian tries to make the most of each day. He loves performing and sharing his talents on stage, hoping to continue for as long as possible.

He dreams of being a "famous movie actor and a good mathematician," he wants a career in theatre and to emulate some of his favourite actors, like Raymond Skinner and another smooth-dancing actor named Lesedi.

When asked about a traditional 9-5 job, he said, "I don't think I'd have time because, in the pantomime last year, they were doing 3 shows a day. Yoh, I'd like that!"

His message to other aspiring young actors is, "Never give up, keep doing what you're doing, and you will be fine." Wise words indeed.

I Love Melville

It's always nice to meet another Melville native. Vivian's most memorable moment in Melville was his first day at Melville Montessori.

He loves Melville because "there's lots we can do here," mentioning Emmarentia Park, walks to Melville Boulevard, and time spent in their coffee shop (Cuppa Café), especially when celebrating getting and ending shows. He reminisces, "When I finished Winnie the Pooh, my mommy got this shop."

It's wonderful to have a new generation of movers and shakers in Melville. Being around Vivian, seeing his intelligence and how he conducts himself, you can't help but sense you're with a superstar.

We wish Vivian all the best in his acting endeavours and wherever his creative and academic talents lead him. He's one of us, and we back our people!

Try to find time to support this young lad on stage in his next show, "Seussical Jr.," at the People's Theatre, running from March 11th to April 21st.

Break a leg, Vivian - you are a superstar in the making! Give 'em hell!

If you enjoyed today’s in-depth read about Melville’s young superstar consider buying us a coffee. 

What’s Happenin’ 🤔

There are lots of family-friendly things to do this week: Melville Mudroom, our local markets, and the Koppies hike.

Melville Weather For The Week ☔️ 

Well, they weren’t wrong. When it rains it really does pour. 🌂

Tuesday

19° 🌡️ 16°  | 🌩️ |  🌧️ 97% | ENE 9 km/h 💨

Wednesday 

19° 🌡️ 16°  | 🌩️ |  🌧️ 99% | ESE 17 km/h 💨

Thursday  

21° 🌡️ 15° | ☁️ | 🌧️ 55% | E 13 km/h 💨

Friday 

25° 🌡️ 16° | ⛅️ |  🌧️ 62% | NNE 11 km/h 💨

Saturday 

28° 🌡️ 17° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 40% | NNW 4 km/h 💨

Sunday

26° 🌡️ 17° |  ⛅️ |  🌧️ 40% | ESE 9 km/h 💨

Monday 

26° 🌡️ 18° | 🌩️ |  🌧️ 25% | SE 17 km/h 💨

Live & Music Events Lowdown 🎸

It seems like it's all going down at Coca this week - there are even exotic dancers! 😮 No live music at Chiesa, but Amen DNB is back for another rave at Smoking Kills.

Tuesdays | 7 pm - 10 pm | Xai Xai Lounge | Eric Miyeni & Richard Jones playing live music | Free entry

Tuesdays | 7.30 pm - 10 pm | Coca Lounge | Rock Night Curated by Dylan Heneke - 2 bands a night and open floor | Sign up: [email protected] | Free entry

Wednesdays | SIX Cocktails Bar | Live Jazz Sessions - Marcus Wyatt, Keenan Ahrends, Nhlanhla Radebe, Max Liebenberg | 8 pm til late | Free entrance 

Thursdays | Coca Lounge | Open Mic - Plug in, play, sing and rap | Free entry

20/02 Thursday | Blanco On 7th | Student Night | Free Entry

21/02 Friday | 6 pm - 2 am | Smoking Kills Bar | Amen Drum & Bass - Ethans.wav, Oracle, Munnik, Stoney Maroney B2B Antimatter & KingTash | Free entry

21/02 Friday | 7 pm - 2 am Coca Lounge | Good Music For Good People - Big Bear, Tenny_dj & Shakesmusic | Free entry

22/02 Saturday | 10 am - 8 pm | Coca Lounge | Brunch, Beats & Chill | Tickets R100

22/02 Saturday | 10 am - 8 pm | Coca Lounge | Sexy Ladies Night Out - Live Exotic Male Dancers: Music by DJ Kendy | Tickets R100

Sundays | 4 pm | Jo’anna Meltbar | Sola Vida Drum & Bass | 1/2 price cocktails | Free entry all day

If this comprehensive weather and gig guide helped you, consider buying us a coffee. 

For more updates as the week goes on, visit our instagram page @snapson7th

Melville Koppies Check-in ⛰️

We had another fantastic walkabout at Koppies West this past weekend. Though the turnout was smaller this month, the doggies seemed to enjoy it a bunch!

We took the scenic route, going into the valley and crossing over the Westdene Spruit. It's always an enjoyable time with good people and their animals on our monthly Walk With Dogs on Melville Koppies West.

Reply with your number if you'd like to be added to the WhatsApp group and stay in the loop for these monthly walks, which usually happen around the 15th of each month.

This coming weekend, we have the monthly 8km hike led by Allison and Jenny. You can also explore on your own, bird watch, or meditate. Private tours are available anytime during the week.

The guided walks happen every last Sunday of the month, starting from Marks Park at 8:30am. (R100 for adults, R50 for under 18s - call 079 532 0083 for details

Civil Matters 👷‍♀️

Water, water, water. Tisk.

It's been a hell of a week with no water.

The satellite station came in clutch, distributing around 10,000 litres of water to the community. Great job and thank you to the MRA and CREASS for making it happen.

Many thanks also to SIX Cocktails’ owner Ebs, who invited the community to tap into their borehole water supply when the station's capacity started looking grim.

Big shout out to all the mosques in the area for opening up their taps to our community. They've proved to be reliable during bad water supply times, always making a huge impact. Thank you.

Communications from Joburg Water indicate that the water supply to the commando system is fragile. Power outages have been affecting Rand Water and Joburg Water plants.

MRA's Upliftment Day Is Coming

The MRA and CREASS will join forces once again for another major area upliftment day in March. We'll let you know about their targeted areas and plans as soon as they're in place.

Markets Watch 🎪

Come rain or come shine, our markets keep on serving!

Melville Market

Melville Market Since opening for 2025 a few weeks ago, the Melville Market has been growing stronger, with this past weekend's attendance increasing by about 50% from the week before, even in the miserable rain. Impressive!

The jaffles and pancakes from Baciami are a hit, as well as the recently added fish and chips stand. While other markets' numbers dwindle in the rain, the Kruis market keeps growing. Wonderful news.

Hope to see you at the next one!

Melville Artisanal Market

At the Melville Artisanal Market, new vendors grace the tennis courts, and the regular guys come with exciting new stock! There's more variety than ever, with products like homemade ice teas, gorgeous handmade mini sketchbooks, and succulents in glass bottles.

New vendors offer thrift (eclectic vintage), jewellery made from broken ceramics, vinyl records, homemade bath salts, and wellness products.

Come down to Rustenberg Road and check them out!

Thank you! 🙏

Wow, issue twenty! There's no stopping us now - that's five months of Melville Untold. Unbelievable!

We want to ensure each issue helps make your week easier, better, or more entertaining. Please reply to this email and let us know how we can further serve that promise for you.

As usual, we appreciate your support so much! If you loved what we did this week, consider buying us a coffee.

You can also support our mission by sponsoring the newsletter and advertising your offerings to our readers. We'll only consider businesses that share our values and can benefit the Melville community positively.

Even in the rain keep that Melville spirit strong, keep spreading the love, and let's make our neighbourhood shine brighter than ever! ☀️

Sara zvakanaka! ✌️