Reps Theatre: Latest newsletter

Latest Reps Newsletter - August 2007

Now that winter is behind us and summer is on its way, it is hoped more people will be coming out to support the various productions being staged in and around Reps. It is always surprising how many people do not like to go out at night during our short winter, but we do notice that there is a definite trend of staying in when it is colder. So, for those of you who fall into this category - come on out!

Cockroaches in Theatre Upstairs

Don't panic - it's not an infestation! It's a new production called Hunting Cockroaches, which has a short run (this week only!) in Theatre Upstairs. It is a dark comedy with intelligent humour written by Janusz Glowacki and presented by Under The Affluence - Jamie McLaren, John Dennison, Jason Linforth and Matthew Trustham. It runs from Tuesday August 21 to Saturday August 25, with performances at 7 o'clock each night. This will be a good production for people who particularly like more serious theatre. Booking is open at The Spotlight. We have been delighted to have had Jamie back these past couple of months, and she has been involved with Mitzi Carruthers' Lights Camera Action and the Silent Knights' Black & White this past weekend. She returns to Canada in a couple of weeks' time and we wish her well there until she comes back again - hopefully in 2008.

Those Were The Days

Next up on main stage will be the musical review Those Were The Days, directed by Stan Higgins and starring Alex Fairlie, Storm Evershed, Nigel Hopkins, Richard Sticklen, Rowland Amm, Erin Cooper, Scott Newman and nearly 20 other singers, dancers and musicians. It focuses on the music of the 50s, 60s and 70s and is a chance to enjoy some of the great songs of that era. Many of the cast members were involved in Lucky Lips earlier this year and there are some bright new faces among the line-up. The production will run from September 5 to 22 and booking opens later this week at The Spotlight.

Reps Entertainments get under way

One of the decisions made at the strategic planning workshops earlier this year was that, in addition to theatrical ventures, Reps should be hosting what are called 'entertainment' - shows not necessarily on either of the stages or that do not fall into the category of theatrical productions. Two are lined up for the remainder of 2007. The first features trad jazz and will be a joint venture between Reps and the Dance Trust of Zimbabwe. Called Jazz It Up, it will take place on an open-air stage at National Ballet next door to Reps and it will feature for one night only - Saturday October 13, when the Detema Jazz Band will perform from 4pm to 10pm. There will be an entry fee and parking will be available in the Reps car park next door. Reps will run a bar and no drinks will be allowed in. Food will also be on sale but people can bring their own picnic baskets if they choose. It is an open air event and people will be able to bring along chairs and blankets to sit on the lawns of the National Ballet grounds. After that the focus will change to rock and related music with a show in the Reps car park called Rock, Stock and Barrel, featuring three bands - Luba Blues, Middle Aged Spread and a brand new outfit called Negative Equity. This will be on Saturday November 17. More on these shows later, but diarise now for two very entertaining nights out.

Front of House and Box Office

A small but enthusiastic group came along for FoH and BO training a few weeks ago and we now have a few more volunteers for these important areas of Reps involvement. But we still need more people to get involved and we would ask you to think seriously about this. If you are interested in knowing more please call the Reps office to advise Erin Cooper and we shall set up some more training. Box office operators need to work on the computer and man the box office before and during performance times, while FoH people will manage the foyer and getting people into and out of the main stage and Theatre Upstairs venues. Graham Crutchley manages this exercise and works closely with a team, some of whose members have been involved for many years. Please give this some real thought, especially if you are not involved in any other areas of Reps activities.

Thanks to ZESA

We would like to thank ZESA for close co-operation during periods of performance on either of the Reps stages. The team at ZESA have kindly worked with us to try where possible to keep us powered during these performances and we advise them of when the theatre is and is not in use. They cannot always guarantee support but they have tried their best - so well done and thanks to the ZESA team.

Brush Up Your Shakespeare

Linda Hyde and cast are working hard on a new production called Brush Up Your Shakespeare, which will be staged on the open air stage being used by National Ballet for their annual Starlight Dancing show (and later for the Jazz It Up evening). Linda had tried to stage a full production of King Lear, a set book for schools this year, but could not fully cast it. So she is doing excerpts from this and other Shakespearean plays, and it promises to be well worth seeing. It will take place in the first week of October and booking open at The Spotlight in mid-September.

Panto time

Graham Crutchley has agreed to direct this year's panto, which will be Little Red Riding Hood. News of auditions will be out when he gets back from his overseas trip, but here's some early warning for potential cast and crew for the annual panto - one of Reps' most popular and greatly-anticipated ventures. The production will run from the first week of December to Christmas.

The return of the New Year farce

Fresh from successes with Fiddler On The Roof (in which he starred as Tevye) and The Last Tango In Little Grimley (which he directed) Mike Lanchester is planning to direct the return of the popular New Year farce, which will be called Kindly Keep It Covered. It is hoped to run this for the first week or two of the new year and to open on New Year's Eve. Keep watching for news of this - it will no doubt be a very entertaining piece and a great way of starting 2008.

Golfers get ready

Chris Charnley is organising a Reps golf day on Sunday October 14, when he hopes a strong field will enjoy a day on the course followed by prizegiving and party in the Reps members' bar. For more on this contact the office or Chris himself. He will also be looking for prizes, so if you can help here, please let him know.

Seat covers

It is hoped to recover the seats in the Reps foyer with a durable and good-looking red fabric. If anyone has fabric available or who is prepared to sponsor this (it is only about 15 metres of fabric needed), please contact Stan Higgins on 496943

Distribution of posters and fliers

We still have a number of areas around Harare, especially shopping centres and schools, in which we need volunteers to distribute posters and fliers for Reps productions. So far we have the following: Marie Andrews (Avondale), Teri Grimmel (Strathaven), Shana McKeown (Kensington, Mukuvisi Woodland and Royal Harare Golf Club), Kevin Royston (Belvedere and Prince Edward School), Pam Lewins (Arundel), Josh Ansley (Borrowdale Brooke), Meg McKenzie (Arundel School), Martin Bolt (Bishopslea), Stan Higgins (Chisipite and Sam Levy's Village), Sue Evans (Kamfinsa) and Lottie Porzelt (Glen Lorne). If you can do other areas please advise the Reps office. We would also like to ask you to pass on e-mails about productions to your friends and colleagues - we keep them short and small so they do not clog up any systems, even for dial-up users on slow lines.

Until next time, keep well

Regards

Tim Garrard, Chairman

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