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

Reps Reporter - September 2011

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Hi everyone

It's been a while since we sent out a newsletter, but that's not because there's been nothing happening – more like many, many things happening and preventing Exco from getting it all down in writing and out to you all.

Reps continues to be very busy, and there is much constructive development and progress, counter-balanced by some financial worries, more of which is contained in this newsletter.

What has been really good is to see a Theatre Manager (John Bonney) in place and to witness the results of his hard work and that of the rest of the staff working for us at Reps – as well as everything done by the members and friends of Reps.

On the Society Secretary front, we said farewell recently to Erin Cooper (now making her millions by selling Kindles!) and we welcomed Philippa Johnston, who is also quietly making her mark on the society.

Special General Meeting on October 9

You will all have had notice of this and its purpose, but we need to encourage as many members as possible to attend this meeting and hear of the plans Exco has made (and for which we need your approval and active support) to overcome present financial difficulties, brought about in the main by falling income, and to prepare us for a much steadier and less worrying 2012.

A prospectus is being mailed out separately before the SGM and this will contain all the relevant information on the planned issue of Reps Debentures, the rationale behind it and the way forward, and what it means to members now and in the future.

One Act Festival 2011: the awards

The Repertory Players sent two productions to the 2011 One-Act Play Festival, held in Kadoma this past weekend.

Congrats to Lara Hundermark on winning an award for Best Newcomer and to all those who made these two productions happen and took them to Kadoma to represent us. Sue Bolt is now looking into bringing some of the other productions for staging at Reps – here's hoping she succeeds.

Here is the full list of award winners from among the nine productions staged by companies from Harare, Mutare, Kadoma and Masvingo.

Best Production

- Courtauld Mutare - ROOM MATES

Best Actress

- Caroline Magengo - Masvingo Drama Circle - A DOG'S LIFE

Best Actor

- Donald Ndokwani - Courtauld Mutare - ROOM MATES

Best Supporting Actress

- Holly Jones - Campbell Theatre Club - WILFRED COMES A'COURTING

Best Supporting Actor

- Leroy Machiso - Courtauld Mutare - ROOM MATES

Best Cameo

- Robin Grant - Campbell Theatre Group - WILFRED COMES A'COURTING

Best Newcomer Female

- Lara Hundermark - Reprobates - AN EVENING WITH SHERLOCK HOLMES

Best Newcomer Male

- Tino Mashingaidze - Masvingo Drama Circle - A DOG'S LIFE

Best Costumes

- Masvingo Drama Circle - A DOG'S LIFE

Best Technical

- Campbell Theatre Club - THE VIRTUOUS BURGLAR

Best Achievement

- Mike Banda and Masvingo Drama Circle - THE REUNION (Playwriting script and production)

There's a lot to say about Much Ado About Nothing

... but we won't say it here. Rather, come along and see for yourself this splendid piece of Shakespearean comedy, a schools set book this year. It runs from October 5 to 15 and is being directed by John Dennison.

There is a special booking offer for schools, with schools earning back some of the ticket money, and we hope that audience support will be as good as it should be for what promises to be an excellent production from a large and talented cast headed by Kevin Hanssen and Ashleigh-May Bawden (her first main stage appearance although she has been in Theatre Upstairs previously for Whatever Happened to Betty Lemon earlier this year).

Members, members and more members

We have had a pleasing response to our membership drive, with several dozen new people welcomed into the fold since April (compared to no applications in the four months before that!). It is the duty of each and every member to introduce newcomers to the society, whether social members or active members, and to help us build up membership to levels which are more satisfying all round and which make the society even more vibrant. Welcome to all the newcomers, and here's to many more new members of the Reps family coming on board.

Theatre School has started

The Theatre School devised and run by Kevin Hanssen, our new chairman of training and development, is already under way with a pleasing response. It covers a wide range of areas of theatrical activity and is well worth being involved in. If you are not in it and would like to be, call the Reps office to find out how, even though it is already under way.

Preps and Repteens doing well

Preps and Repteens are back in action after the school holidays and Katie Cooper seems to have a good number of pre-teens while Kyla Render reports good regular attendance from the teenage group.

We look forward to end of year productions from both groups, and if you would like to come along to these, let the Reps office know of your interest. It is usually only parents and Exco who watch these shows, but perhaps a wider audience would be appreciated. Exco would like to pay tribute to both Katie and Kyla for the huge amount of time they spend in making these very worthwhile Reps initiatives happen!

Farewell and hello in the bar

We said a sad farewell to our former barman, Robert Chawasarira, who passed away in September after a long illness. Charles Makina is starting a small initiative to get together funds for Robert's family and we encourage support for that.

We have appointed a trainee barman, Taurayi Kazvita, a former member of our team of security staff. Please give him full support as he learns the ropes and tries to make the bar an even more pleasant place for you.

Social events keep us fed and entertained

Jenni Ferguson is doing a sterling job in getting action going in the bar, supported actively by Tim Garrard as chairman of the Bar Management and Social Events committee. There have been a great many events and many more will come, and the introduction of snacks and light meals has been warmly welcomed.

Our bar is a really pleasant place to spend a few hours in the evenings and daytimes and the Friday lunch supplied by some of the regulars is also great value for money. There's great choice in the various things coming up, from karaoke and quiz events to sing-alongs and bar shows … and don't forget the Friday night bar draw, in which you could win good money!

Backstage help needed

We need more people active in the backstage area – especially with sound, lighting, flies and other areas so understaffed that some folk are literally doing every production. If you are interested and have put down your name – or even if you have not – please contact Stage Director Marc Thomas and Assistant Stage Director PJ Smyth.

Although it must be said we have not been as active in this kind of training and development as we should have been in recent years, we would very much like to become so now and your involvement will be welcomed. The backstage team is as important as the on-stage team in any production and nothing can happen without a good team behind every successful show.

Gala nights make for a great show

We would like to invite you to help us source gala nights for all our productions. These serve a dual role of bringing into the theatre many people who might not otherwise come in, and it helps greatly with bringing in much-needed income for Reps and also for the beneficiaries of the gala nights.

What happens is that the organisation concerned (school, charity, social group ... whoever!) books a whole performance (or part thereof) and pays accordingly. They then sell tickets at a greater per seat fee and make money for their causes. When it is done well, as was the case with the Arcadia Community Centre for night two of Motown – what a night, with all 461 seats full – then it is simply splendid for everyone: cast and crew, Reps, the organisation … and the people in the auditorium, too.

Did you know ...

... that Tim Garrard has recently been invited to become a Trustee of the Dance Trust of Zimbabwe? This is excellent as he will give them a wonderful contribution of his experience, expertise and ideas, and he will also further help bring them together with Reps, which already enjoys wonderful working relationship with all sections of the DTZ, thanks to Eve Stranix, PJ Smyth and the many others with whom we have worked over the years. Tim remains a member of Exco and one of Reps' most ubiquitous and useful members.

Until next time, enjoy the return of summer!

Reps Exco

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