Kaylee’s taking after her mom, Lisa, in what’s being called a standout role!
Durban, South Africa (2 October 2025) – When Kaylee McIlroy steps onto stage as Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show, she’s stepping straight into her mom’s shoes, the very same role Lisa Bobbert played when the cult musical first hit South Africa back in 1992.
Rocky Horror needs no introduction. We’ve written about how Kickstart has just brought it to Durban. Over decades, SA has seen many productions of it, but this one feels close to the Colin Law original that first set the stage for the cult classic locally, many moons ago.
Lisa was just starting out then, cast as the high-energy tap-dancing Columbia. She became the very first actress to play the part in SA. Since then, she’s built a career in theatre with bucket-list roles. She’s been Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and The Witch in Into The Woods.
Now, over three decades later, it’s her daughter’s turn. Kaylee, 26, is carrying on the family tradition with Kickstart’s new run of Rocky Horror.
This isn’t her first time taking to the stage, though. The Bobbert-McIlroys are a theatre family through and through. Lisa and her husband, Aaron McIlroy (you might recognise him as the dad from the Spud movies) have spent their adult lives touring and performing together on stage.
Their four children grew up in that world, and its rubbed off.
Their son Declan now works behind the scenes on technical, Grace is studying musical theatre, Fiona performs on the side while working as an interior designer, and Kaylee keeps a full-time acting career, now stepping into Bobbert’s shoes.
Theatre history doesn’t often repeat itself this neatly.
We’ve read the reviews, and according to those who’ve already been to see the show, Kaylee’s is a standout role. Making mom proud.
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