Reps Reporter – September 2012

Reps Reporter – September 2012

Greetings to members and friends of Reps as the month of September progresses and we rapidly approach year end. As always, it’s busy down at Reps and all that’s needed to complete the picture is the pleasure of the company of Reps’ members and friends … at the show, or in the bar, or generally supporting and taking part in the various events and activities.

On stage in September and October

Running until Saturday September 22 is the Repertory Players’ 700th production – a presentation of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, an O Level set book this year. Special discounts are available for schools’ bookings. It has been directed by John Dennison and, after 400 years, still a play with a powerful message. Advance booking is open at The Spotlight (call 308159). Performances this week are each evening at 7pm (no show Thursday because of the Combined Schools Concert elsewhere in town) plus a matinee at 2.30pm. Those of you who only come to musicals: break the mould and come for some serious dramatics!

In rehearsal now is Hairspray. Zane E Lucas directs the snappy, fun-filled musical all about a 60s girl with big hair and big ideas, offering fun for the whole family. Preview night is Wednesday October 3 (pensioners free) and then it runs from October 4 to 20. This offers huge fun and everyone is invited to experience the magic of this uplifting and exhilarating show, given the Zane Lucas treatment! Also coming up in Theatre Upstairs in October (October 3 to 6) is When Angels Weep, which made a successful showing earlier this year at HIFA 2012 and is being brought back to provide a rare theatrical treat to audiences who did not see it then. It’s a drama about life and abuse … and it will move everyone who sees it.

     The audition for the panto, Peter Pan, will be held on Sunday September 30 at 10.30am, in the Adrian Stanley Room. It’s open to everyone and what is needed is a large cast of people of all ages to sing or dance or act and generally make this great production a huge success for the public who flock in good numbers to enjoy it. Graham Crutchley will be directing and he will run the audition. The panto runs in December and rehearsals will be underway between September and December.

Membership news

All Reps members are asked to actively encourage friends and family members to join the society. If each member brings in one new member this year, we can easily just about double our numbers, thus ensuring our continued growth and vitality. Reps members also now enjoy an additional benefit through a partnership with the National Gallery of Zimbabwe – free entry to the Gallery and a discount on purchases in the shop there. Visit www.nationalgallery.co.zw for more information about this vibrant place. Also being finalised is a similar relationship with the National Trust of Zimbabwe, which looks after historic and interesting properties in Zimbabwe, including the Nyanga Historical Exhibition, Nyanga; World’s View, Connemara, Nyanga; Fort Gomo, Kadzamu, Penhalonga; Murahwa’s Hill, Mutare; La Rochelle Estate, Penhalonga; Mubukuwene, Burnside, Bulawayo and Sebakwe Poort Park, Kwekwe.

Reprobates back in action

Reprobates back up and running, meeting every Thursday at 6.30pm. Initially the group gathers in the bar, just to live up to its name of course! Anyone over the age of 18 is more than welcome to come along and all prospective members are welcome. Reprobates is about all the various aspects and disciplines of theatre, not only acting. Sadly Reprobates will not be represented in the one-act play festival this year, principally because everyone is so heavily committed here.

Repteens active in the third term

Repteens has started up again for the third term, this week being the third session so far. As always, the third term will focus on original writing, allowing the Repteens to test their creativity and build on their scriptwriting and reading skills. All this is a build-up to the end-of-year original sketch show in Theatre Upstairs at the end of term. This year we will also be taking this show "on tour" to local old-age and children's homes around Christmas time, as we try to give back to our community the fun we have and the skills we have learned. The second half of this production will be a one-act play directed by Reps Regular and Repteen Parent Larry Greeff. More info on this to follow soon. In the third term it is typical for Repteens numbers to drop as our older members write O and A Level exams, so this term is mostly about our younger members. Repteens would like to thank everyone for their continued support, and we wish our older members and all their peers the very best of luck in their exams.

Preps’ busy third Term

Preps offers drama and theatre classes for children under 12 and is run by David Bvumbe and Faith Ganyau, meeting every Saturday morning during school terms to play games and learn how to make theatre. Preps provides a fun and interactive age-appropriate environment that will allow even the shyest child to grow and blossom. This term we continue in our exploration of character and movement as we work towards a final presentation that all members of the Reps family are invited to attend. Expect some favourite Christmas characters with twists only the imaginative minds of the Preps children could come up with! The cost for the term is $20 per child. Important dates for Preps this term: No Preps (Half Term): Oct 20; Preps ends: Dec 1 (end of term presentation and party).

Reptechs news

Things have been really busy for the backstage teams, with five shows in five weeks and maintenance included. Thanks to all the volunteers who pitched in willingly in maintenance week to help clean and repair vital equipment in the backstage areas, including Thania, Joy, Ken, Naphtali and Blessing, who are not actually members but who put in some hard work over the maintenance period. Looking ahead, we have some great shows coming into the theatre and if anyone would like to know more about working on shows backstage they should contact PJ Smyth through the Reps office.

Social events in September:

Sunday September 23 - THE WEAKEST LINK, the latest edition of this popular version of the great TV show. 6pm start. All welcome – no entry fee (day visitor cards available for non-members to buy drinks). Come to be a contestant … or come to watch. Light supper on sale afterwards. Friday September 28 - DUDU MANHENGA: live entertainment in the bar from Zimbabwe’s international songbird. from 8pm to 10pm. All welcome for a spectacular evening. Coming up in October are many events, including an Evening of Words (Monday October 8 at 6pm), the monthly Fun Pub Quiz (Sunday October 14 at 11.15am) and a Family Day (Sunday October 21) at which the band Retrospex will play and there will be braai.

Did you know …

… that Reps has two very generous and supportive Corporate Sponsors and that more are sought? A Corporate Sponsor helps keep Reps up and running and enjoys a number of benefits in terms of mileage and tickets for shows, as well as the satisfaction of supporting Zimbabwe’s most active theatrical group. Our Corporate Sponsors at present are Old Mutual and ZB Financial Holdings … and discussions are in place to bring on board more such vital supporters. Anyone wanting to know more about this can contact the Reps office.

Until next time, keep well

Reps Exco