Reps Theatre Maasdorp Ave / Sam Nujoma St, Harare, Zimbabwe

Latest Reps Newsletter- February 2009

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It's amazing how time flies - no sooner do we get over the festive season that here we are in February. I hope all members are getting into their stride for this year and that the year will bring a better environment for us all. Planning for 2009 at Reps has been completed and we have a busy schedule for the year ahead - one that we hope will suit all members and serve their interests.

I have only one message to give in this newsletter: I know that many people consider themselves social members of The Repertory Players, but I would appeal to them to take an interest in the various areas of activity in the society, selecting something that they can do to help the society, the theatre or the activities of this very valuable and exciting family of people. Every little bit of effort makes Reps what it is and helps the team realise the Reps goals and objectives.

Top Of The Pops

Next up on Main Stage is a fun musical show featuring popular songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s, called Top Of The Pops. It will run for only one week and bookings are already pretty good, so early booking is recommended. Directed by Stan Higgins, with musical direction by Meg Mackenzie and choreography by June Cloete, the show stars 17 singers, 10 dancers, 3 MC-actors and a guest singing group of five ... so lots of young talent to see on stage, including some favourite faces and some really great newcomers. A super way to relax and forget all our troubles for a couple of hours, and please spread the word to friends, family and colleagues about this excellent production. Preview night is Mon Feb 16 (pensioners FREE and all others $5 for two people). Opening night is Tues Feb 17 (almost all seats gone but some left to buy). Then there are performances at 7pm on Weds Feb 18, Thurs Feb 19, Fri Feb 20 and Sat Feb 21, plus a matinee on Sat at 2.30pm. And that's it - no chance of an extension at all! Book now at The Spotlight - members enjoy their 20 percent discount, of course.

Reps Afdis Awards

Next up on Main Stage will be the annual awards show, which this year features a selection of entertainments specially created by Sue Bolt and her team for this one evening. As usual our great friends at African Distillers are sponsoring the awards and the whole awards night, and this will be a glamorous evening out for everyone. Come and see who wins and also enjoy a night of recognition for the achievements of 2008. Details: 7pm on Sat Feb 28, with doors open from 6pm. Complimentary wine in the foyer from Afdis for all guests. All members are invited, however, you must book in advance for this (at no cost, of course) and you can get tickets through the office.

Go bats if you like

Kathy Keen in bringing back to Zimbabwe the legendary South African pop group The Bats, who were here late last year for a short visit. This time their show will be staged at Reps and they promise a good time for everyone visiting their marvellous show. It will run from Weds March 4 to Sat March 7, with 7.30 shows each night and an additional matinee on the Saturday. Booking is now open at The Spotlight. More on Kathy's next SA import in our next newsletter but diarise now for late March for Vibravo, starring the irrepressible Rory Rootenberg and four other singers in a show featuring classical songs and songs from the shows.

Zane Lucas gives Coward a go

Zane Lucas will stage a production of Blithe Spirit in Theatre Upstairs during March, promising his usual high standards for an old theatrical favourite from The Master himself, Noel Coward. Cast members are well into rehearsals and booking will open soon - keep a watch out for news on this production.

Be our Valentine

Kathy Keen has set up a fun Valentine's Day social in the members' bar, where from lunchtime onwards Illana May - who was very popular on New Year's Eve - will be back to entertain at a lovers' day social. Food will be served and this will, we hope, be yet another really entertaining social event for members and their guests.

Belgravia Shopping Centre News

As you know, we are active in an association of owners and tenants and we are driving efforts to upgrade the shopping centre and make it a venue for more pleasurable visits for all of you. From time to time we ask members for help in exercises like clean-ups and I would appeal for you to seriously think about getting involved if and when you can, after calls for help are made as this is a very easy and very good way you can, as a member, assist your society in its endeavours. At this time, I would ask anyone who can spare a gardener and gardening equipment, including lawmowers, for a day or so, to call Stan Higgins on 496943, on 023 404454 or at aquarius@mweb.co.zw. The main drivers of this initiative are Reps, National Ballet and Adrienne's Restaurant and we are trying to get all the businesses in and around the centre to be fully active in the drive to make this the city's best shopping centre.

Bar prices

Just a reminder that when prices of inputs go down we share this with members and that when things go up we have to pass this on - we hope you have seen how prices have come down in recent months. It would seem that inflation on the US dollar is now stronger than before, so we could possibly expect to see rising prices in the near future. Mike Foster and his team have been hard at work trying to source product at best price and I thank them for what they have achieved on our behalf.

Water, water everywhere - but not in Harare

Thank you to all those people who helped us get to a point where we can almost get a water tank operational for purposes of having a supply when - as happens more and more frequently - the main supply dries up. We hope that the return of responsibility for water distribution and treatment to the City of Harare will help ease the problems we have seen, but we have had to make alternative plans and we thank those people who made it possible - especially David Lee, who gave us a second-hand tank for FREE! Others gave money to help with expenses of installation - all of this was much appreciated.

Generator

As always we would like to thank Ralph and Rose Stead for the very generous support they give in letting us have their excellent generator at very reasonable cost for our shows. Without this support we would not be able to mount the productions we do. We do not have that many power cuts in the Reps area due to our wonderful contacts in ZESA who do their best to keep us up and running, but when we do they are faults and they can sometimes be lengthy, making use of a generator essential. The Steads' support is tremendous.

Lighting up

Mike Blackburn has been busy undertaking a project to upgrade the lighting in the theatre foyer and in putting up a security light at the front of the theatre (the latter is part of the Belgravia association's efforts I referred to above). Efforts to maintain standards, improve things and bring in new ideas and innovation are all part of our plans to keep Reps going despite the odds! With the 50th anniversary of the theatre now only 11 months away and the 80th anniversary of the society less than two years off we are continuing to do what we can in regard to repair and maintenance and developmental work.

EGM

Many thanks to all of you who attended the Extraordinary General Meeting on Sunday 11 January 2009. The following resolutions were passed unanimously by all members present at the meeting:

a. To replace clause 18 (4) of the constitution with: "The financial statements of the Society shall be reviewed annually by the honorary treasurer in conjunction with the Society's finance committee. In addition, the committee may arrange for a suitably qualified accountant to check and advise on the accounts generally including the reconciliations and the systems of internal control"

b. To replace clause 18 (5) of the constitution with: "Copies of the financial statements shall be made available at the offices of the Repertory Players for perusal by any member who so desires, at least seven days prior to each Annual General Meeting. Copies of the financial statements shall be available for each member attending the Annual General Meeting and a copy will be made available to any member upon request."

c. To replace clause 15 (1) C of the constitution with: "adoption of the annual financial statements for the preceding year"

Did you know ...

... that the Reps Theatre as we know it (albeit not with all the facilities and amenities we enjoy today) was officially opened by the Governor General of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland on January 13 1960? We are planning a celebration of that, being the 50th anniversay of this event in January 2010, leading into the Repertory Players' 80th anniversary in 2011, so keep watching for news of what is planned and how you can either help or get involved.

Until next time, keep well

Regards

Tim Garrard, Chairman

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