Reps Theatre: Latest newsletter

Latest Reps Newsletter - November 2009

Greetings to all members and friends as we head towards the festive season and the end of another year. It's been a great year for Reps in many ways and we on the administrative side hope that members have gained something from their membership.

I know that many of our members are what we call 'social members' who come to make use of the bar and see a show or two, but I am making a call to them to perhaps give some thought to doing something more active during the coming year.

You don't have to act or even know anything about backstage work - there's a lot else that is done on and off the stage to make Reps tick, and more volunteers are needed in every area of activity in our society. As I said, give it some thought and call the office or speak to a member of ExCo to let us know you are keen on doing something extra during 2010.

Telephones playing up

Just a short note to say that the telephone at Reps - and in the surrounding area - have been working erratically of late, so please be patient and if when you call the number rings but is not answered, it could be that it is out of order. TelOne is aware of the problem.

Simply The Best showed the best of so many people

Special thanks go to Eve Stranix and the Dance Trust of Zimbabwe for arranging the Simply The Best show on November 15. This was the brainchild of Eve, and served to raise much-needed funds for Reps as we embark on a period of refurbishment and upgrading. The show was excellent and very well received and I would like to thank the cast, crew and all the other people whose efforts in and around the show made it happen and led to it raising good money for us. Look around you to see the benefits - already we have new lights in the foyer and have erected our long-awaited water tank, which will allow us to have water flowing even during the regular dry spells. Well done and many thanks to all concerned - what a splendid show of solidarity and community spirit!

Christmas is coming - and so is the panto

Graham Crutchley has assembled a great cast of new and familiar faces for the 2009 panto, always a highlight for a great many people. This year's panto is Sing A Song Of Sixpence and features Marc Thomas, Sue Bolt, Martin Bolt, Nigel Hopkins, Sue Evans and many more of our 'stars' in what promises to be fun production that people of all ages will enjoy.

We are delighted to have the support of Spar Zimbabwe, which has sponsored our posters and fliers and is giving hampers for lucky draws at each performance - thanks to Jane Witz and her colleagues at Spar for this gesture.

Thanks also to Poppy Psillos and Crystal Candy for their annual donation of sweets for the children - always much appreciated.

The show starts a few days earlier than usual in order to be available to people leaving Harare on holiday as soon as schools break up. Booking is now open at The Spotlight. The special FREE performance for senior citizens is Tuesday December 8, which is part of the run rather than a preview showing. At this show all seniors will come in for free and everyone else will pay as usual. I would also like to thank Richard Wilde and the CBZ team for supplying us with a bus on preview nights to allow us to collect some folks from senior citizens homes to being to the shows.

The panto runs from Tuesday December 1 to Saturday December 19 and there is one matinee during the run - 2.30pm on Saturday December 5. Don't miss this great show and spread the word - Reps' panto is a great start to the festive season.

Linda's flying high again

Linda Hyde has also assembled a strong team for another festive season delight - her now-traditional end-of-year/new year 'funny' - which this time is Flying Circussissess, a Monty Python laugh-out-loud show that opens on New Year's Eve and has only four performances between then and Saturday January 2. Booking for this is opening on December 1 at The Spotlight. Quite a few members like to watch the New Year's Eve show and then enjoy the social in the bar afterwards, seeing in the new year with their friends.

Socials on the go

Two social events are on the card for Reps' members bar in coming weeks. Rob Moore will entertain on Friday November 27, from about 7pm onwards, while Middle Aged Spread will perform at the New Year's Eve social, which is called our Blue Moon night. Why? That's because December 31 features a Blue Moon - a full moon in the same calendar month as its predecessor. This happens once every few years or so and we decided to give our New Year's Eve social a theme. So come dressed in blue - or do whatever you like to fit the theme. Kathy Keen is organising a Christmas raffle, too, so get tickets for this and stand a chance of winning a prize. Burgers and steak rolls will be on sale on November 27 as usual, and a more substantial meal will be supplied on New Year's Eve.

Upstairs treats in December

Rory Kilalea's award-winning play Colours will be staged again for a very short run in early December. Hosted by Oxfam to celebrate the Susie Smith Award won by the play, it stars Marcella Sant'ana and is directed by Rory himself. It will be staged at 7pm on December 3, 4 and 5 only and booking is now open at The Spotlight. Then follows a very innovative production from the popular and creative Zane E Lucas: it's called Striking 12 and it's a 'wacky rewiring of the story of The Little Match Girl' set to music. A band in Theatre Upstairs? I can't wait to see how it'll be done and it has a great cast that includes Josh Ansley and Chloe Cattin in the leads. Zane comes to this very soon after his huge success on Main Stage with Cabaret. Booking for this opens in early December and it runs from December 17 to 22 and again from December 28 to January 2. It will sell out very quickly so book as soon as you can.

50/80 celebrations start soon

In our December newsletter we shall list all the things we are planning for our anniversary year, but this month I would like to remind you of the event itself. January 13 2010 is the 50th anniversary of the opening of Reps Theatre and February 17 2011 is the 80th anniversary of The Repertory Players' first performance. The 13 months of that period are being called the 50/80 Celebration and we doing all we can to commemorate such momentous occasions.

As you now know, we are producing commemorative memorabilia and you need to call Erin Cooper at the Reps office right away if you wish to be able to be in the first order for these.

A committee chaired by Stan Higgins, with Steve Bonney, Erin Cooper and Teri Grimmel on board, is spearheading it all - but please remember this is a celebration for each and every one of us and for the memory and contribution of the people, living and dead, who have been part of Reps' history but are not now involved. Sue Bolt is working with Ireland-based Dawn Parkinson to stage our anniversary show, 50 Golden Years, which will have a gala night on Wednesday January 13 and will have four other performances that week - finishing on Saturday January 16. Booking for this will open in mid-December and it is likely to sell out very quickly, as it will be an entertaining revue. The calendar for productions on Main Stage in 2010 is now full and there are a number booked for Theatre Upstairs, so it will be a rewarding and entertaining year.

Did you know -

- that Reps has its own website, www.reps.co.zw , which is a venue for people to find out what is happening and what Reps is all about. It is managed for us on a voluntary basis by Mark Hyde, who sits on the Marketing and Publicity Committee. If anyone would like to suggest changes, additions and deletions, or has ideas and suggestions, mail them to the committee chairman, Stan Higgins at aquarius[at]mweb.co.zw or to Mark at mahyde[at]pentact.co.zw

Until next time, keep well

Dramatically yours,

Teri Grimmel, Chairman

Last updated: 10 September 2020
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