Terrigal’s Joe Kalou loving ‘rewarding’ Hi-5 role

CHILDREN’S entertainers Hi-5 return to the Nine Network for their 17th series on Monday and Terrigal’s Joe Kalou is loving being a part of the all-new cast.

Emma Herd - May 11, 2017 - 4:01PM

Joe Kalou, of Terrigal, is a member of the new Hi-5. Picture: Jude Stevens.

CHILDREN’S entertainers Hi-5 return to the Nine Network for their 17th series on Monday and Terrigal’s Joe Kalou is loving being a part of the all-new cast.

Kalou, 25, is one of the new quintet selected from more than 450 applicants in a nationwide audition process late last year.

Bailey, Courtney, Shay, Lachie and Joe each bring unique talents to the group and all possess the triple-threat talent of singing, dancing and acting.

After debuting at Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve in Melbourne, they have had plenty on their plates including filming the 25-episode series in six weeks.

“It’s been a great introduction – I didn’t realise I’d learn so much on set,” Kalou said.

“I learned about camera angles at different times and learned a lot about the production way of shooting.”

The 17th series of Hi-5 screens on the Nine Network from May 15. Picture: Jude Stevens.

And in the breaks between takes, Kalou and his castmates kept themselves occupied­. “Lachie and I bought a basketball hoop for toddlers and set it up in the green room,” he said. “And we were pretty good at it!”

Kalou and his Hi-5 castmates are two weeks into an extensive tour of Asia, after which they will head into rehearsals before embarking on an Australian tour.

“It’s full-on but it’s so rewarding,” he said.

The 17th series of Hi-5 is bursting with energy, songs, bright modern costumes, vibrant sets and plenty of playful learning.

It will feature new scripts, content and fresh new characters including the introduction of new puppets The Jupsters, and a new song called Hi-5 Danceoff.

Hi-5 was formed in Australia in 1998 to entertain children aged two to eight with music, movement, problem solving and play.

Eighteen years later the children’s musical group is well known around the world, with an estimated audience of more than 10 million children globally enjoying Hi-5’s tours, music and TV shows.

Hi-5 will screen at 9am Monday to Friday on 9GO! and will be repeated at 2.30pm.