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

Latest Reps Newsletter March 2009

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The Reps Afdis Awards took place at the end of February and I would like to congratulate all those people who won awards and all those people who were nominated. These awards are a means by which The Repertory Players acknowledge and, indeed, encourage, excellence, and we are delighted that the awards event was once again an opportunity not only to reward people but also to remind us all of just successful our society really is, in terms of achieving what it was set up to do and also in terms of serving the community at large in the areas of arts, entertainment and social activity.

As is often the case, each award reflects not only effort and achievement by the winner but also a similar level of effort and achievement by that person's support base - family, friends, colleagues and so on - and to them we also wish to express sincere thanks.

To our sponsor, African Distillers, we say a very special thank you for once again making it all happen and I would like to extend thanks to George Ditima of Afdis, who worked with us for the first time this year and whose input was greatly appreciated and highly valued. Thanks also to the people involved in putting on the awards ceremony and show, as well as the after-event reception for nominees and invited guests.

And the winners are - the 2008 Reps Afdis Awards

A list of winners of awards for 2008 has already been sent out by the Reps office and has been printed out and placed on notice boards. A copy is also available on the Reps website on the awards page.

Top Of The Pops revived

Such was the success of Top Of The Pops last month that it has been brought back for a further five shows this week. Bookings have been going well and there are still shows on Saturday March 14 (2.30pm and 7pm). The Rotary Club of Borrowdale has booked the performance of Friday March 13 and they are selling tickets for a gala night that includes snacks and wine as well as prize draws (available at The Spotlight). This show was extremely well received on its first run and it includes a large cast of talented young Zimbabweans, including familiar faces and some promising newcomers. Booking at The Spotlight or an hour before curtain up.

Blithe Spirit still on

Zane E Lucas has staged an extremely good production of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit in Theatre Upstairs with performances still to run Friday March 13 and Saturday March 14. The play stars Kevin Hanssen, Anne Fischer, Thea Cutler, Erin Housam (making her debut in Harare), Chipo Chikara, Rebecca Aston and Alex Fairlie. If there are tickets left please don't miss this one!

Please attend the AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Repertory Players will be held in the Main Stage auditorium at 11am on Sunday April 5 and all members are invited to attend. Nominations for the Executive Committee have already been made and as the number does not exceed those required there will be no election. An agenda has been sent out, too. AGMs need support and they are held to give members a chance to take part in the administrative affairs of the society, so we look forward to seeing you there. Kathy Keen is organising entertainment in the members' bar after the meeting.

HIFA 2009 - enlight10ment

A Reps team held a very successful meeting with Maria Wilson and members of the HIFA team, to lay the groundwork for inclusion of Reps in HIFA 2009. We look forward to being part of this remarkable venture for a second year and we congratulate Manuela Bagorro, Maria and their whole team on achieving a decade of excellence and contribution to the arts and entertainment scene in Harare. HIFA is also pursuing membership of its HIFAmigos and we encourage members of the Repertory Players to join up and get the benefit s that come from doing so.

Sad farewell to John Keeling

As most of you will know, one of the greatest actors ever to tread the boards in this country passed away on February 13. John Keeling was a driving force in Reps in the 50s, 60s, 70s and early 80s, until he retired to the UK, where he died well into his 80s.

He was a superb actor and was involved across a wide range of activities in the society, serving as a long-time chairman and helping the society become the hugely successful venture it was been. As a rugby player and as a dentist he also achieved large measures of success and his passing marks the end of an era.

It was with delight, not sadness, that we were able to dedicate the opening night of Top Of The Pops to John and to show him that the efforts on his part, and on the part of so many other people during the past nearly 80 years, continue to realise benefits for this society, our theatre and for the audiences that attend - and enjoy - our productions. A very warm round of applause from a packed opening night house celebrated the memory of this wonderful man.

John played so many roles and did so with incredible force and vigour that it is impossible to single out his greatest achievement, but many people in the past few weeks have commented favourably on their memories of him as Tevye in the original Fiddler On The Roof in the early 1970s. Farewell, friend.

Did you know ...

... that all members are asked to help in the distribution of posters and fliers to help promote Reps productions? If you can assist, by collecting a number of these and then having posters put up around the city (shops, schools, notice boards etc), and having fliers handed to friends, neighbours, family and work colleagues, then this will help us promote greater awareness of our productions and help fill seats! Please advise Erin at the office if you can help and how many posters (usually A4 size) and fliers (usually A5 or A6 size) you can collect for each production.

Visit www.reps.co.zw

Until next time, keep well

Tim Garrard, Chairman

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