Who's on
the date.

Emma Amber is a writer, Fleur du Cap Theatre Award-nominated director, actress, singer, and voice-over artist. She is the founder of Origen Productions, through which she has developed and performed in multiple productions across South Africa. Her recent theatre credits include You Should Go In, presented at the Baxter Theatre and the National Arts Festival, the musical cabaret Call Me a Diva, and Shrek the Musical, in which she played Fiona. Emma is thrilled to be taking on the role of Casey in the South African premiere of First Date: The Musical. She is especially excited to be collaborating with such a talented and dynamic cast.

Ethan Saunders is a Cape Town based actor who trained at the Byron Bure Academy of Theatre Arts. His recent film and TV credits include “How to Make a Killing”, “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” and his role as William Browne-Clayton in the Netflix docuseries “Churchill at War”. Earlier this year Ethan also performed at the National Arts Festival in the cabaret tribute show “Call me a Diva” and reprised his role in the 2025 Ovation Award winning “Love Me, Feed Me, Never Leave Me”.

Born in Durban and now based between Cape Town and London, William Young trained at the Waterfront Theatre School, graduating in 2024, and has quickly become a versatile stage and screen performer. He most recently played Henrik Egerman in Cape Town Opera’s A Little Night Music. Other stage credits include Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show, Sebastian in Twelfth Night at Maynardville, Antony in Sweeney Todd, and Curly in Oklahoma! — a role that earned him a BroadwayWorld nomination. He has also just completed the National Youth Theatre’s Epic Stages course in London. On screen, he recently appeared as Eddie Bayles in the short film The Ransom of Mackenzie Brown.

Robert is a Cape Town based actor and has been performing on stages both big and small for a little over a decade. His most recent stage credits include the roles of Ben Weatherstaff in Secret Garden, Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde and Shrek/Lord Farquaad in Shrek: The Musical. When he’s not on stage, he’s sharpening his skills with vocal and dance lessons at Byron Bure Academy of Theatre Arts. His hobbies include piano, board games and referring to himself in the third person.

Asanda Mngadi is a Waterfront Theatre School trained actor who has appeared in several musicals (Peter Pan, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Oklahoma!) and plays (My Children! My Africa!, Romeo & Juliet); his other work ranges from voiceovers to television. A Cape Town Theatre Award nominee for Most Promising Student (2026) and only in his first year in the industry, he is thrilled to be originating the roles of Reggie and British Artist in the South African premiere of First Date.

Zoë Chetty is a South African actress, singer, dancer, and voice artist who loves bringing stories to life on stage and screen. A graduate of the Waterfront Theatre School, she has appeared in productions including Peppa Pig Live, Our House, History Girls, and the short film Watching Over You. When she isn’t performing, Zoë teaches dance and works as a voice-over artist. She is passionate about performances that are honest, playful, and emotionally authentic, and is so excited to join the cast of First Date — she hopes you leave having laughed, cringed, and maybe even seen a little of yourself in the story.

Kirsten Pienaar is a Cape Town-based musical theatre and opera performer who studied music at the University of Stellenbosch. Her cover credits include Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, Sister Sophia in The Sound of Music, and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, with Pieter Toerien Productions and Cape Town Opera. She has also served as Assistant Director, working with some of South Africa’s foremost directors, including David Kramer, Magdalene Minnaar, Sylvaine Strike, Steven Stead, and Fred Abrahamse. Kirsten recently completed her Master’s thesis on the operas of South African composer Roelof Temmingh. When she isn’t singing or dancing, she enjoys true crime podcasts, reading, and writing.

Nikita Latimer is a Cape Town-based musical theatre performer and a recent graduate of the Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy (LAMTA). At LAMTA she featured in productions including 20 Years of the Tony Awards, Beyond, Part of Your World, Hollywood, and Vintage Jukebox. Earlier roles include Jill in Blueberry Toast and a waterboy in Tiger Bay, directed by Melly Still. She joins First Date as an onstage swing, covering three characters. Off stage, Nikita is a certified barre instructor and voiceover artist, is completing her BASI Pilates qualification, and teaches children’s musical theatre at Gift of Dance in Durbanville.

Ethan Dunk is a musical theatre performer born and raised in Durban, now based in Cape Town. A recent graduate of the Waterfront Theatre School (WTS), during his time at WTS he performed in the following musicals: Pippin, Oklahoma!, Heathers, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Since graduating, he has performed with Cape Ballet Africa in The Nutcracker and most recently appeared as an ensemble dancer in Cape Town Opera’s Carmen. Ethan is thrilled to make his professional musical theatre debut in First Date the Musical, joining an incredible cast in bringing this vibrant production to life.