Reps Reporter June 2010

Greetings in chilly June, and here’s hoping you are keeping warm. The 2010 FIFA World Cup is attracting the attention of many of us at the moment, so it’s worth reminding you that you can watch all of the matches in our own Members’ Bar. Peter and Betty Hobbs have done a grand job in running a pre-tournament tote and now they are encouraging people to come along to watch … with food served on some nights (check with the office as to when this is being done). Mike Blackburn and Rhett Abrams have arranged a large screen and Linda Hyde has loaned her projector, so it can be seen on this larger screen (on quieter nights it’s only the small screen, though). It may be cold outside but inside the bar it’s very warm and very welcoming! Come along for a great social evening or two … or more!

Recent activities

May leading into June has been a busy time for the theatre, starting with HIFA 2010, then moving into Let’s Face The Music and Dance from the Dance Trust of Zimbabwe/National Ballet and onto Zambezi Express – both sold-out shows from HIFA. Also from HIFA was Yours Abundantly From Zimbabwe in Theatre Upstairs. Then came Teri Grimmel’s Ol’ Blue Eyes and The Phoenix and Harare Male Voice Choirs’ Showbiz, as well as Are There Tigers In The Congo? This latter drama was directed by Per Fosser and starred George and Shamiso Gukuta. Most recent was Harare’s Got Talent, a unique offering from Reps that showcased loads of new and known talent and gave us an almost full house! If you missed out on these then you missed out on some wonderful performances and productions. This kind of activity is just what we need on our stages to keep Harare entertained and to ensure a much-need steady cash flow for Reps.

Zane’s treatment of Oscar will be a surefire success

On Main Stage we next host Zane E Lucas’ The Importance Of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy of manners that is bound to be superbly done. It stars Kevin Hanssen, Jason Linforth (who goes off to university in the USA in a couple of months), Anne Fischer, Jamie McLaren, Richard Sticklen, Erin Cooper, Leila Billing and Rudi Basson. If you have never seen this wonderful play, then do yourself a favour and if you have seen it before come back to enjoy a delightful story with an excellent cast, helmed in the usual Lucas style. Booking is already open at The Spotlight and performances run from preview on Wednesday June 23 to the final showing, which is the matinee show on Saturday July 3. A special offer is ‘buy one full price ticket and get one for half price – available only for this Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s performances.

Mitzi and Mel’s magic music and dance

After that, it will be time for Mitzi Carruthers’ annual dance spectacular, this time directed by Mitzi and her daughter, Mel. The show runs from July 15 to 25 and it’s called M&M’s Gotta Shop Mall. As always there’ll be colour, costumes, wonderful music, excellent dancing and a fun time for all, not just people related to the many dancers from the Gotta Dance Studio on stage. This is also now being booked through The Spotlight.

More talent to be showcased at Reps

Because of the success of Harare’s Got Talent, we are doing a second showing of this talent showcase, featuring a line-up of different performers. Auditions for this are being held at 11am on Sunday July 4 in the Adrian Stanley Room, so come along or encourage others to come along. We are looking for performers of every kind – not just singers, but dancers, comedians, acrobats, jugglers, magicians, mime artists …. you name it and we want it. We already have quite a few people who have put their names forward for consideration. The show itself will be a one-off on Saturday July 31, starting at 7pm. The first show was very long and there were over 40 acts, but the second one will be brought down to 20 acts or so and a much shorter running time. Congratulations to Ketan Nagar, Taz and Zainee on winning the first show, with more congrats to runner-up Christessa Duff-Smith and third place ties Nyasha Chakanetsa and Phillip Lee. Kevin Hanssen received a special award for his huge variety and style.

Singers and dancers wanted for the biggest musical show of the Reps 50/80 celebration

If you are 15 and older, come on down to Reps Theatre on Sunday June 27 between 10am and 1pm to audition to be a part of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, directed by Teri Grimmel (three-time Afdis Award winner for Best Director). There are many parts up for grabs including Joseph, Pharaoh, The Brothers, Potiphar and The Narrator as well as places in the very large chorus. Everyone and anyone over the age of 15 is most welcome. The show will be on stage from September 16 to 25 and rehearsals will start in mid July and will run four times a week in July and August. If you would like more information or if you would like to get involved in another way (on the technical side perhaps) then get in touch with Erin in the Reps Office either by email on reps@zol.co.zw or on 336706 or 335626. If you would like to purchase a gala performance of this show to raise funds for your school or organisation, please get in touch with Erin to discuss prices – two performances are already sold.


Bar news

We have spent a great deal of time and energy, not to mention money, in making the bar(s) more appealing and, we hope, more successful for Reps and its members. We have enjoyed an anonymous financial input that has enabled us to stock the cellar and the bars – thank you to the person concerned for that assistance. The range of drinks and snacks in the Members’ Bar is greater than for a long time and we are doing our best to make the Members’ Bar a really enjoyable venue for socialising and relaxing. Social events will be starting again soon, so watch out for news of what will be coming up in this regard. Also, don’t forget the draw on a Friday night, when you could win money for simply being on the premises! Fridays can be extremely social so come along and have some fun. We are making plans for other attractions, such as food, so get the most out of your membership by making full use of the bar.

Quiz time again

The next fun pub quiz will be run in the Members’ Bar on Sunday June 27 at 11am. Come along with a team (or if you don’ have a team come along and join up with one). It’s all fun, pub quiz style, and afterwards there will be food and a chance to watch the grand prix or soccer if you feel like it. If you are visiting the Borrowdale Craft Fair that day, you can always go there either before or after the quiz.

Did you know …
… that the History Society of Zimbabwe came along for a session about Reps and its history? More than 150 people arrived to hear about Reps, past, present and future, and the group not only heard talks but also toured the premises and then ended up in the bar for a social. Some of our members also joined in this worthwhile exercise, the latest event in our 50/80- celebratory year.
Until next time … stay well and warm.
Yours dramatically
Teri Grimmel, Chairman