Storytime with Idols Shekhi and Chloë

Best friends and Idols SA finalists Shekhinah Donnell and Chloë Kiley catch up with the Nal’ibali Reading-for-Enjoyment initiative to talk fairytales, growing up and the next chapter in their careers.

If you had to give your journey on Idols SA a book title, what would it be?

Shekhinah: The Road to Success.

Chloë:  The Girl Who Sang.

If you were a fairytale character, who would you be?

Chloë:  Ariel from The Little Mermaid!

Shekhinah: Jigglypuff from Pokemon.

If Randal was a fairytale character, who would he be?

Shekhinah: Randal the antagonist from Monsters Inc.

Chloë:  Grumpy, one of the dwarves from Snow White.

You’ve both had passion for drama… What kind of stories do you like to tell through your performances?

Shekhinah: Stories of hope, life, growing and happiness. I try to stay clear from things I’m not that familiar with, like love.

Chloë:  With every performance I’ve given or story I’ve told, I’ve found that there’s always someone who’s been affected or moved by it. That’s all I want, is to make the audience feel something and I think all stories manage to touch someone in one way or another. After performing our musical, Her & Him (a story about a brother and sister) in Grahamstown earlier on this year, we had audience members saying to us, “that just makes me want to phone my sibling!” and that’s exactly what I hoped would happen. I always want to keep people feeling and thinking.

Fashion mag, novel or newspaper?

Shekhinah: Heat magazine.

Chloë: Novel, novel, novel.

Favourite author?

Shekhinah: Jacqueline Wilson

Chloë:  Difficult… I never have a proper answer for this question, it’s similar to ‘favourite band’ or ‘favourite singer’. Can I pass?

What was your storybook moment during your time on Idols SA?

Shekhinah: It would definitely have to be performing at Joburg Day. The whole day was just fun and exciting filled with signings, photos and many more awesome things. It was just so much fun, definitely a day to remember.

Chloë:  Definitely the little bits of stolen time Khaya and I would take to sit by the piano and just make music. I believe it’s connections like that which make stories beautiful.

Shekhinah, you were cast as Kangaroo in Seussical. What was it like stepping into the world of Dr Seuss?

It was quite weird for me to play the villain of a play but I enjoyed Sourr Kangaroo, she was funny most of the time. I didn’t really read Dr Seuss but enjoyed the movie The Grinch a lot!

Chloë, what story or book do you always turn to when you’re in need of some inspiration?

That’s a good question. I’ve never really had a specific book, I have many favourites I’ve read countless times over the years. I guess the books I turn to for inspiration are my musical scores, my favourite one being Next to Normal. That counts, right?

What’s the next chapter in the Shekhinah Donnell & Chloe Kileystory?

Shekhinah: I hope to move to Johannesburg in the New Year and start making music for the country to enjoy and appreciate.

Chloë:  I’m still busy writing/deciphering it. At the moment I’ve started a new musical project called Take Cover, and we’ll be playing around Cape Town for the next while. I’m also continually writing and creating my own music, which I hope to release at some point in the form of an album. How exciting!

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For multilingual stories and tips to spark your children’s potential through reading and storytelling this Children’s Day, visit www.nalibali.org or www.facebook.com/nalibaliSA