Reps reporter

Reps Reporter – November 2012

Here’s wishing you all the best as we approach mid-November. Peter Pan rehearsals are well under way and there is huge excitement about this production, as well as the ones coming after it in early 2013. All we can say to members and friends of Reps is: come down and enjoy these great productions and help us get the word out about them, so that the whole community can take advantage of all that happens at Reps to keep the Harare public entertained!

Reporting back on the strat plan

As members know, ExCo devised and implemented a Strategic Plan for Reps, covering the two-year period of AGM 2011- AGM 2013. The latest report-back on this will be presented to members on Sunday November 25 and everyone is invited (and, in fact, encouraged) to come along and find out where Reps is at and what is coming next. It will be at 11am on the Tada Terrace (all other venues being used for rehearsals!) and will be followed by a social in the bar, at which Tony Palmer and Mike Freeman will be providing music.

It’s Panto time

Everyone loves the panto - well, almost everyone! And this year’s Reps pantomime looks set to be one of the best in years. It is Peter Pan, directed by Graham Crutchley, with a cast that includes Amy Bolt, Marc Thomas, Tim Harrap, Sue Bolt, Martin Bolt, Stephane Thomas, Michael Thomas, Munyaradzi Guramutunhu and many more. Musical direction is by Meg Mackenzie. The timeless story of the boy who does not grow up lends itself to a great storyline and many gags … and a chance to see people fly! Book now, as ticket sales have been really good and some performances are going to be well and truly booked out. The show runs from November 30 to December 22. We have once again been kindly sponsored by Spar Zimbabwe and the panto run will be used to help create awareness and fund-raising for Spar’s premier charity target, Childline.

Membership news

New membership recruiting has slowed down, which is not great news but is usual for this time of year. Everyone can help and this means you! You need to be talking to your friends, family and others and explaining to them why you want them to join as a Reps Member.  (If you are reading this and are not a Reps Member yourself, we think you should be!)  For those who thought they would have to wait until January, we have a plan. If you sign up now, you do not have to pay for the whole fourth quarter, but only for the month remaining, plus the joining fee. 2013 subs are due in January but newcomers coming in now can pay for the whole year at this stage. Speaking of January, Exco has decided that the 2013 subs will not be going up - we're keeping the 2012 fees. Renewal notices will be going out soon.

Reprobates

The good news is that, now Hairspray is over, Reprobates meet again. We have had a meeting in the wake of all of us being tied up with this show and although there were relatively few of us at the meeting we did manage to get things moving. We will welcome all members and interested parties that are over 18 and are wanting to learn and do more in the theatre. See you Thursdays at 6.30pm in the bar. If you are interested in the stage, please pop in to see what this is all about. If nothing else you'll end up having a few laughs and a good time.

Repteens

Repteens are currently working on their end of term production for the Theatre Upstairs, an amusing one-act play called Holka Polka (runs November 27-30). What with diminished numbers due to exams and have to work rehearsals around said exams, it's been off to a slow start but it is now well on its way and Repteens look forward to seeing you all at Holka Polka in Theatre Upstairs. This is also the time of the year when Repteens get started on planning their annual Christmas collections of toys, clothes, blankets and canned food for the elderly and underprivileged children. So please go digging through your cupboards and toy-boxes, and watch out for their emails and posters for info on drop off points! They'd also like to wish all the best of luck to their absent Repteens and all other ‘sufferers’ in their exams.

Preps’ News

Preps is going strong and their end-of-year extravaganza is coming along well. The show will be on Saturday Dec 1 at 11am, with a little party afterwards to celebrate the end of the year and say goodbye to those who will be moving on to Repteens next year.

Social events in November

On Friday November 16 Kevin Hanssen and Mande Snyman perform in the bar (starts about 8ish), while the November Fun Pub Quiz will be held there on Sunday November 18 (11am). Mande joins Dean Jones to perform in the bar on Friday November 23 (starts 6.30pm), and after the report back on Sunday November 25, Tony Palmer and Mike Freeman will be performing. Come along to one or all for a good time. Watch out for news of a cocktail tasting evening (a follow-up to the very successful wine tasting) and no fewer than five entertainments during December.

Belgravia news

The Belgravia Shopping Centre is important for Reps, so Reps is well represented on the owners’ and tenants’ association that oversees activity. The committee is trying to get the Municipality to fix potholes, repair broken water mains, get the Sam Nujoma Street lights back on, remove some undesirable vendors and make regular removals of rubbish. There is an area clean-up (the fifth such event) on Saturday December 8 and everyone is welcome to come down and help out (report to the police post at 8am). Coming soon in the car park is a KFC – being created now in the old service station area behind the Zuva fuel station and due for opening early in 2013.

Did you know …

… that all Reps members (and even non-members)can get involved backstage if they so wish. Backstage crew are always needed, for the areas of sound, lighting, flying and all the other important things that go on behind the scenes to make a stage show happen. If you would like to find out more make contact with PJ Smyth, the Stage Director, or with the people who head the different sections: sound (Tracy Garrard), lighting (Marc Thomas), stage properties (Colleen Hardy), costumes (Aileen Taylor)or general stage work (Linda Hyde).

Until next time, keep well

Reps Exco