The Ramon Alexander Quartet, who were scheduled to take to the stage for the Toyota US Woordfees at 21:30, had to delay their set until 22:15 to accommodate venue changes as a result of load shedding, on 11 March.
Ramon Alexander on the piano. PHOTO: Callan Riddles
Initially, comedian Nik Robinowitz was scheduled to perform at Amazink Live in Kayamandi. However, after load shedding affected the area, Robinowitz’s event moved to the Visual Arts Square, where the Ramon Alexander Quartet was scheduled to perform.
“There was load shedding in Kayamandi, so we had to move Nik Robinowitz’s event to this venue and move Ramon Alexander’s event later,” said Inge Ephraim, Woordfees venue manager at the Visual Arts Square.
Woordfees management confirmed that the Visual Arts Square had access to back up generators and was not impeded by load shedding as Kayamandi was.
Some of the audience members were not informed about the jazz quartet’s delay.
“I thought I was at the wrong place,” said Carin Thompson, an audience member who arrived at 21:30, to find Robinowitz in the middle of his stand-up comedy show.
“I waited really long to watch the show and was a bit disappointed it was pushed back, but I didn’t mind because I knew it would still be a really great show,” said Thompson.
The venue’s management allowed audience members who had arrived early to watch the last bit of Robinowitz’s show as they waited for the Ramon Alexander quartet.