The Top 6 in M-Net’s High School Musical: Spotlight South Africa got the surprise of their lives on Tuesday [9 September] when six legends of South African musical theatre turned up in the middle of a routine working day.

The Top 6 were asked to gather in the Studio at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino theatre where camera crews awaited them. Then director Paul Warrick Griffin welcomed Heinz Winckler, Zwai Bala, Tamara Dey, Robert Finlayson, Kate Normington and Buyisile Zama to the stage and announced that they would be special guests in Saturday’s “Musical Theatre” show. For once the normally exuberant contestants were speechless when Paul revealed that they would each be paired with one of these legendary figures, who would not only mentor them for this week’s performance, but also sing a duet with them. In addition, each contestant will also sing a solo from the musical theatre genre.

Daniel is teamed with Kwaito superstar Zwai Bala, who won a Naledi award earlier this year for his first-ever musical, Soweto Story. Zwai and Daniel will duet with “Starlight Sequence” from the musical Starlight Express. Daniel’s solo song is “No Matter What”, from Whistle On The Wind.

Robert Finlayson, who has enjoyed a successful musical theatre career in South Africa and in London, is teamed with Danni for “Last Night Of The World”, from Miss Saigon (one of the many musicals in which Robert starred on the West End.) Danni’s solo is “You Must Love Me”, a new song written for the movie version of Evita.

Tshepi was overjoyed to be paired with Buyi Zama, who played Rafiki in The Lion King all over the world over the past six years. Buyi and Tshepi will sing “What About Love” from Oprah Winfrey’s new musical The Color Purple, and Tshepi will also sing “What I Do For Love” from a Chorus Line.

Legendary South African leading lady Kate Normington is working with Carmen on “For Good” from the Broadway smash hit musical Wicked. Carmen’s solo song is “On My Own” from Les Miserables.

Tamara Dey, better known as a pop diva, played Magenta in the recent revival of The Rocky Horror Show. She teams up with David for “Without Love” from Hairspray. David’s solo song is “Any Dream Will Do” from Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Heinz Winckler needs no introduction. Fresh from an international tour of the Broadway musical Rent, he will perform “What You Own” from Rent, with Lyle. Lyle’s solo is “Footloose” from the musical of the same name.

It is clear that this Saturday’s episode of High School Musical: Spotlight South Africa is going to be an unforgettable musical experience!

Catch High School Musical: Spotlight South Africa on M-Net every Saturday and Monday at 19:00. The performers voted off every week are interviewed live on Go Exxtra: HSM on Go every Monday at 19:30. High School Musical: Spotlight South Africa is produced by EdenRage Media.