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

Reps Reporter - July 2011

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Dear Members

A warm July greeting to you! Isn't it good to know that there is hot soup in the Members' Bar on Wednesday evenings as well as good healthy food on weekends? (More of this later).

What is ExCo up to?

As members already know from previous communications, one of the key areas of concentration for the Executive Committee at the moment is getting the finances right.

In common with many organisations and venues of all kinds, we have experienced reduced income, but our expenses – despite careful management and cost-cutting where possible – remain in place, of course, and we have to work hard to balance the books and meet the costs of running a venue as active as Reps.

Our streams of income – membership, stages, bars, box office and wardrobe – need to be stimulated and increased, and we are doing this through a number of means and measures, which have been outlined and announced.

The question arises: how can members help make their society survive and grow in a challenging environment?

The answer is: in a number of ways.

• First, staying on as members and putting money into the coffers through supporting the shows and the bar, or even by putting money onto your bar card and not necessarily using it right away.
• Second, by encouraging many other people to join as members. (There will be an announcement in the next few days concerning a competition for you in this regard!).
• Third, by helping promote the shows staged at Reps – passing on e-fliers, or handing out posters and fliers, or simply giving positive word of mouth.
• Fourth, by supporting initiatives that come along (eg, the seat subscription one just announced).
• Fifth, by helping us find corporate members, corporate sponsors, show sponsors and people or organisations who are willing to support an institution like Reps through financial and other means.

We cannot stress enough how important it is for all members to actively join in the effort "to keep Reps 'live'" through one of the means outlined here or through some brilliant idea you may have and which you would like to share with us! We have had 80 very successful years (though not without its ups and downs) and our plan is to keep it going for another 80 years – or more – and perhaps make the coming years even more rewarding and exciting. ExCo cannot do this alone and we ask for your active support.

On the stages ...

This week:

Main Stage: M&M's Dance Studio present Books-a-Million.

Mitzi and Mel Carruthers and their teams light up the stage with their annual, dazzling and exciting dance show. Books-a-Million runs until Sunday afternoon.

Theatre Upstairs: Accidental Death of a Radical – a Reps joint venture with Theory X.

The fourth of the HIFA 2011 “sold out” shows to be brought back to Reps, and not to be missed. Runs until Saturday evening.

Next week:

Main Stage: July 21 – 24: Cinderella.

National Ballet brings us a full length classical ballet, telling the wonder-filled “rags to riches” story. Produced by Gail Boardman, and featuring Humberto Ruiz Montero (South African Ballet Theatre), Natalie Bradbury and Christie Clayton, this is a not-to-be-missed.

Theatre Upstairs: July 21 – 30: Reps Double Bill (An Evening with Sherlock Holmes and Happy Haunting)

Two one act plays bring you intrigue, and “feel good” humour to warm your evening. Come and support our emergent talent.

Later:

Watch this space for more details, but to whet your appetite ...

August 4 – 13: Shirley Valentine. (Main Stage)

Fiona Garrity is directed by Zane E. Lucas.

August 30 – September 17: Motown Golden Jubilee. (Main Stage)

October: A Thousand Clowns.

Gloria Prentice is coming from Australia to direct this.

December: Robinson Crusoe

Off the stages ...

There is lots happening in the Members' Bar this month, and we would love to see you all there!

Every Wednesday from 6:30pm while the weather is chilly, there is homemade soup with French bread and flavoured butters, and payment is by donation towards bar food expenses.

Every Friday lunchtime Mahendra, Mal, Mike & Steve put together a Ploughman's Lunch with fantastic variety of choice, which sells at $5.00 per portion.

Also on Fridays there are bar snacks from 6:00pm, and these are free; Happy Hour from 6:30pm - 7:30pm; and the Members' Bar Draw between 7:00pm - 800pm, and you have to be there to win!

There is a new menu for Adrienne's Restaurant Saturday Lunches, and a choice of two meals at $5.00 per portion, so come along to your Bar and have a quality (hot) meal at a reasonable price!

More details on the Karaoke (31 July) and Reps Social Golf Day (31 August) will be in a future edition of Reps Reporter.

And behind the scenes ...

Don't forget the Set Design Classes on Thursday evenings.

And the weekly "Wardrobe Cataloguing" sessions continue on Saturdays

Over to you

A reminder of what we said at the top – we need you!

Spread the word! As we all come to the various events, as we spread the word and encourage our contacts to come along, as bring in new members of various kinds, as we come up with good ideas, we can make the difference.

Here's to great month.

Reps Executive Committee

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