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

Latest Reps Newsletter - April 2007

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Easter greetings to you all - here's hoping you have a safe and enjoyable break during this time and in the coming weeks, when there are two more holidays coming up (April 18 and May 1).

Reps has had a busy year so far, with two productions to date - the very successful Lucky Lips in February and the joint venture show Do U Wanna Rock Again in March. Next up will be Doubt (Theatre Upstairs in May) and Fiddler On The Roof (Main Stage in June), so there is lots to look forward to, then and beyond.

There have been some changes in the Reps office, all designed to enhance operations and efficiencies: Mike Foster is now Bar Manager, responsible for all aspects of the bar operations within Reps, while Lynn Buckingham is the Theatre Administrator, working on a range of areas to do with the running of the theatre and the Reps complex. The executive committee will continue to make changes in coming months, as part of the ongoing and evolving strategic development plan.

That's Entertainment!

Eve Stranix is directing another flowers-and-music production, this time to be called That's Entertainment!. It will be run on Reps' Main stage as a hire show to raise money to send floral artists to this year's Chelsea Flower Show in the UK. Floral artists will create flower displays that interpret musical pieces while singers perform the works.

Musical direction is by Paul Shephard and stars include Josh Ansley (whose recent performances have been in Lucky Lips and Do U Wanna Rock Again), Caroline dos Santos (last seen in the floral show last year called The Spirit Of The West End Shows) and two newcomers, Shirley Warrington and Tiri Madzima.

Music featured will range from Ipi Tombi to The King and I. A feast for the eyes and ears, the show will run for only four performances (Friday April 20 at 7pm; Saturday April 21 at 2.30pm and 7pm and Sunday April 22 at 2.30pm). Booking opens at The Spotlight on Tuesday April 10 and ticket prices will be $20 000 (pensioners $5 000 at the two matinees).

Texpo 2007

John Bonney and the Backstage Committee are laying on a Texpo on Saturday April 28 and Sunday April 29, when participants can learn all about the technical aspects of theatre and of Reps in particular. This will appeal to people already involved as well as to others who may wish to get involved or wish to find out more, whether active in Reps or not. Anyone can attend and there is no charge for participation. Focus will fall on sound, lighting, costumes, flying, props, special effects and stage management.

Texpo will start at 9am on the Saturday and end with lunch on the Sunday, and is highly recommended. It is also hoped that the Reps technical team will find some willing and able new hands from this exercise. Book a place with Lynn in the Reps office.

Annual General Meeting

The notice has already gone out for the Repertory Players' 77th annual general meeting, which will be held in the theatre at 11am on Sunday May 6. Members are encouraged to come along and be part of the decision-making process and to elect the chairman, vice chairman and executive committee for the coming year. The Social Events Committee, chaired by Kathy Keen, are organising a surprise entertainment for that day, so keep watching your e-mails and the notice boards for more on this!

Fiddler On The Roof

Teri Grimmell is well into planning for one of this year's big productions, a revival of the popular Fiddler On The Roof. There have been two presentations of this in the past 35 years, one starring John Keeling and the other starring Brian Cooper, and this one looks set to bring a great musical show to a whole new generation of people, as well as to folk who know and love the story so well. Mike Lanchester and Fiona Garrity will be the leads and Teri enjoyed a great response to her auditions on April 1, so a cast of well-known performers and newcomers to the Reps stage will soon be in rehearsal.

Teri is still looking for some 'middle-aged men' for a couple of roles so anyone able to sing and in this category should contact her through the Reps office as soon as possible! The show opens on June 14 and runs until June 30, with booking at The Spotlight from late May/early June. This show will be great family entertainment.

Doubt

Reps/Afdis award-winner Graham Crutchley is back in the director's chair for Theatre Upstairs' drama called Doubt, which runs from May 3 to 12. With a number of recent dramatic successes in this venue, Graham will no doubt (no pun intended) present yet another stirring production that will appeal to lovers of more serious theatre. Booking opens during April at The Spotlight and extra seats are being placed in the theatre to accommodate expected good audiences.

Front of House and Box Office

More people are sought to help in these important areas and any interested in finding out more should contact Graham Crutchley through the Reps office. These roles are highly important for the smooth running of productions on the Main Stage and in Theatre Upstairs and learning the ropes is very easy under Graham's guidance and that of the old hands already involved.

Afdis Schools Festival

Mike Lanchester is this year's adjudicator for the schools' festival and hopes to see a string of good productions at schools in and near Harare during coming months. If any schools are not yet entered they may contact the Reps office to find out more. Not only do they stand a chance of winning an award, but they receive a useful verbal crit from the adjudicator immediately after he has seen the production, which is valuable not only for that show and its run but also for the ongoing theatrical success of the school concerned and the cast and crew involved.

HIFA 2007

As most of you already know, this year's Harare International Festival of the Arts, hosted by Manuel Bagorro and his team, will run in the Harare Gardens and other areas from May 1 to 6. This will again include a huge selection of superb arts and entertainment, both local and international, and is well worth attending. The HIFA box offices (in Avondale and in the National Gallery) will open after the Independence Day holiday.

Great news is that the HIFA team will be working with Reps during the months after HIFA 2007 to include the Reps complex in HIFA 2008 - as announced by Manuel in The Herald a couple of weeks ago. We look forward to being involved in what has become one of Africa's most important cultural, artistic and entertainment events.

Foyer Refurbishment Continued

The new carpet has been in the foyer for about six months now and has made a difference to the appearance of the venue. Refurbishment work continues and we shall shortly be taking delivery of a fine trophy cabinet, as a result of the ongoing, welcome generosity of African Distillers and their representative Mandy Gaskin. Stan Higgins and the marketing committee would like to find a sponsor for curtains for the windows above the lintel in the foyer and for material to recover the foyer seating. If anyone would like to help please contact Stan on (04) 443289-91. The team would also like to get something done soon about the island in front of the theatre and would welcome help in cash or kind to facilitate this!

Social Events

Kathy Keen and her team have been laying on some great entertainment in the Bar and will continue to do so during April and May. They have also worked hard to make sure the MWEB Wine Bar works well during shows and this has brought in good money to the Reps coffers. There are entertainments on Friday nights twice a month and there will also be entertainment laid on for the AGM on Sunday May 6.

King Lear Workshop

Linda Hyde is hosting a workshop on Shakespeare's King Lear, an A Level set book in schools this year. A production of this play will also be presented at Reps later in the year. The workshop will run on the afternoons of April 23, 24, 25 and 26 and it will cost $60 000 per person to take part. It is aimed at students and teachers, as well as other people interested in knowing more about this play. Early booking through the Reps office is recommended.

Bar

Members are reminded that guests must always be signed in at the Bar - ask the barmen for the book. A reminder is also given that members may not linger in the bar after closing time - the rule is that they should leave within half an hour of closing time, to enable staff to get home. There have been instances of people lingering until the wee hours of the morning and staff being unable to get home, which is not acceptable. Bar hours are Mon-Thurs 12.30pm to 2pm and 4.30pm to 10.30pm; Fri 12.30pm to 2pm and 4.30pm to 11pm; Sat 11am to 10.30pm and Sun 11am to 2,30pm and 4.30pm to 10pm.

Reciprocity with other clubs is also a feature of Reps' membership and if you would like to know which other clubs will welcome Reps members, please check in the Reciprocity Book kept behind the bar. We also welcome their members to our premises. A plan is being developed at the moment to allow day visitors to acquire temporary membership for special events in the bar and information on this will go out once everything has been finalised.

Members

Don't forget that Reps is continually looking for new members, especially people who will be active in the theatre - on stage, backstage or in front of house activities. Please encourage friends, family and colleagues to become members and especially to get involved. Members who are not active should seriously think about getting more involved somehow. Chat to the Reps office, to John Bonney (Stage Director) or to me as Chairman, and we can guide you and find you a role in our exciting theatrical family!

Until next month ...

Tim Garrard, Chairman

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