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When a fire tore through Delfi Greek Taverna in Windermere last month, the Teranes family lost far more than a much-loved Durban restaurant. Their home of six decades, their possessions, and countless family memories were destroyed in a matter of hours.
Now, the city’s creative community is coming together to offer something the family could use a little more of right now: an evening of joy.
A night of music, magic and comedy
Durban Loves Delfi is a special one-off variety show taking place at the Milkwood Theatre at Danville Park Girls High School on Monday 19 October at 7pm.
The best news? All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to the Teranes family.
Hosted and MC’d by Hello Poppy, the evening will bring together an eclectic mix of musical theatre, magic, comedy and young performers.
The line-up includes the sparkling musical theatre trio the Glitter Girls, featuring Lisa Bobbert, Liesl Coppin and Marion Loudon.
Also taking to the stage is Mo Magic, the prominent South African magician, mentalist and MC known for combining illusion, mind reading and family-friendly comedy.
Storyteller and entertainer Rory Petzer will bring his trademark blend of humour and heart, while young performers from the International School of Performing Arts will add another dimension to the evening.
And the generosity extends well beyond the performers.
The Hello Poppy team and the entire line-up are donating their performances.
Danville Park Girls High School principal Linda Scholtz has made the Milkwood Theatre available, under the leadership of Liesl Coppin, while Black Coffee has provided the technical infrastructure.
That means the money raised through ticket sales can go directly towards helping the Teranes family rebuild.
READ: Fire tears through much-loved Delfi Greek Taverna in Durban
From devastation to hope
The fire started at the back of Delfi Greek Taverna on 3 September before spreading through the entire building.
Doddy, Maria and Manuel Teranes had lived above the restaurant for decades, and the blaze destroyed their home and possessions along with the restaurant.
“A devastating fire on 3 September took away not only the beloved Delfi restaurant, but all their lifelong possessions. Their home of six decades is gone, along with all the beautiful memories. It was not only a restaurant. It was a home filled with love, kindness, and warmth. They were left with the clothes on their backs,” said family member Linda Landzanakis.
The fire also saw an extraordinary rescue when Ayakha Godlwana, 32, a chef at Palm Terrace Cafe, entered the burning building and rescued Doddy from her room as the flames spread through the upstairs apartment and restaurant.
The family has since received an outpouring of support from the Durban community, with the Delfi Will Rise From the Ashes fundraising campaign also helping them begin the difficult process of rebuilding their lives.
READ: After the fire, Durban is helping Delphi’s family start again
‘We have been overwhelmed by the love’
For Maria Teranes, seeing people rally around the family has provided some much-needed hope after an extraordinarily difficult few weeks.
“We honestly never expected anything like this. To see performers giving their time and so many people coming together for us has been incredibly moving. Since the fire, we have been overwhelmed by the love and generosity of the community. We are so grateful to each and every person who has reached out, helped and supported us,” she said.
For Hello Poppy founder Jane Linley-Thomas, the fundraiser is an opportunity to celebrate the role the Teranes family has played in the community while bringing people together through the arts.
“Hello Poppy is incredibly proud to be part of the Durban Loves Delfi fundraiser, supporting a much-loved family in our community who recently lost their home and business in a devastating fire,” she said.
What you need to know
- Date: Monday 19 October
- Time: 7pm
- Venue: Milkwood Theatre, Danville Park Girls High School, 21 Middlebrook Ave, Virginia, Durban North
- Tickets: R220; R200 for students and pensioners via Webtickets
- Parking: Available on the school grounds, accessed via Newport Ave. Use the gates between the astro turf and the church.
- Refreshments: Available for purchase in the foyer before the show.
There is also a Delfi Will Rise From the Ashes BackaBuddy campaign for those who would like to support the family separately from the show.
If there’s one thing Durban does really well, it is showing up for its own.
See you there!
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