NATALIE GAMSU
[biography]

An Extraordinary Performer...
Natalie Gamsu is a multi-talented performer on the international stage. She is a singer, actor and songwriter whose performances have been acclaimed in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Sydney and Johannesburg.

The keystone to Natalie’s showbiz persona is her stunningly rich and evocative voice that moves audiences with its uniquely timbered resonance and its soaring range of emotions. It is a voice that “bespeaks wisdom and passion” (Backstage NY).

Much of Natalie’s work is original material that she prepares in collaboration with Amsterdam-based writer Gary Carter. This 20-year-long association has produced some wonderful on-stage storytelling and Natalie has been proud to perform it, worldwide.

Born in Namibia, Natalie Gamsu studied Drama at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. On graduating, she established a cult following on the South African cabaret circuit with the duo Strictempo, her own solo cabaret shows, and appearances with the a cappella group, Not The Midnight Mass. It was in these innovative and provocative shows that Natalie honed her performing skills.

On the SA cabaret stage Natalie revealed a sharp, insightful political consciousness and a deep commitment to change in her adopted country. Her razor-edge satire was tempered by disarming, self-ironic humour.

Gamsu's musical theatre credits include a Dalro Award-winning performance in Nunsense. She also starred in Blues In The Night, and then Candide, for which she won a VITA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.

In the classical domain she performed the part of the Witch of Endor in the oratorio King David (Linder Auditorium, Johannesburg), and played Carmen in a highlight from the South African Broadcasting Corporation's televised adaptation of Bizet's masterpiece. She appeared in several series of the SABC drama The Big Time, earning a Tonight award for Best Actress in a Television Series, and a VITA award for Best Supporting Actress.

Gamsu's musical repertoire has always been eclectic, including material from the American Songbook, from Africa and the Middle East.

From 1992, Natalie lived and worked in New York City. She made her Manhattan cabaret debut at the Greenwich Village cabaret room, Club 88, where she subsequently headlined six seasons with her own show. She performed at the famous Oak Room (The Algonquin Hotel), The FireBird, Fez (under Time Café), The Russian Tea Room, The Ballroom, Bradstan Country Inn and the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention at Town Hall (NY), Chicago and Philadelphia.

Natalie has also performed at The Cinegrill in Los Angeles, and The Express in Fresno, CA. She won the Backstage Bistro Award in 1994 for Outstanding Vocalist and was nominated for an MAC award for Outstanding Debut in the same year. She won an MAC Award for Outstanding Female Vocalist in 1997, and again in 2000.

In September of 1996 she made her London debut at the ICA, in Gary Carter's Acts And Revelations, and in 1997 completed a run at the Dukes Theatre in Lancaster, England, where she also performed her one-woman show, Karizmatik, with cellist Kathryn Locke.

In 1999, she played the title role in Fefu And Her Friends, written and directed by Maria Irene Forness, for Sante Fe Stages. Her association with Gary Carter continued in 2000, with Anger Is Not A Place I Like To Be, commissioned for the Fierce Festival, and performed at The Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

In 2001, Natalie released her first CD, titled Weave (for which she received a MAC nomination for Best New Recording). Produced in New York by Steven Santoro, it includes the self-penned Abisai, a moving recollection from her childhood, as well as George Harrison’s Something and Peter Gabriel’s Washing of the Water.

Natalie also featured in the documentary Showbiz Is My Life with Julie Wilson and Baby Jane Dexter.

In 2003 Natalie made her Australian debut with a concert at the Paddington Uniting Church, backed by a three-piece orchestra. She has since performed in clubs in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra as well as at the Adelaide Festival.

In 2005 Natalie returned to the UK where she performed in Masque of Water, commissioned by the company Queer Up North, at The Royal Exchange in Manchester and at The Birmingham Rep in Birmingham. She also starred in cabarets in Berlin and Amsterdam.

Natalie recently co-wrote, produced and performed 2 Divas 1 Comeback with Joanna Weinberg (an autobiography of two performers’ unique friendship across three continents), at The Bondi Pavilion and The Statement Lounge.

Natalie’s journey continued in 2006 with her performance in Stephen Sondheim’s Putting It Together followed by a run of Sunday In The Park With George at the Cue Theatre in Penrith.

Natalie wrote and produced her one-woman show Hallelujah To Her which ran successfully at The Statement Lounge in August 2007 and at The Bradstan (NY) in July 2008.

Natalie is at present in rehearsals for Women Of Troy at The Sydney Theatre Company - directed by Barrie Kosky opening on September 20th.

Latest News

Biography

Photo Gallery

Audio

Reviews

Buy Natalie's CD

Teaching

Contact