Africa Centre's Book Launch

On Tuesday (11 November), the Africa Centre had a swish launch of "The Artist's Handbook". It is a really good buy if you are trying to get going as a business in the arts, with lots of good advice and contacts. A wonderful evening to network and meet up with people. I was pleased to meet up with a past colleague (from my community development days) and find that she is also now in the arts field - truly a small world.
As always there were guest speakers. Ismail Mahomed , CEO of the National Arts Festival, was controversial hitting out at the lack of leadership in the arts from both the state and artists themselves. He made a call for the energy of the past when new critical works were produced. He also emphasised that the arts is a business and should be approached as such. It gave me encouragement that there is a role for Encore Entertainment Guide to help promote the arts.
Angela

Oy Vey, its Ida Levin

Paul and I were invited to see Ida Levin last week at The Carvery in Sea Point. It was a captivating journey through the highs and lows of this kugel's life. I must really congratulate Ida on the gracious way that she coped with the technical problems, the flu and static hair. It was done so well that it could have been part of the script. The first half was great, ending with the her left with nothing, and horror of horrors, living in Brakenfell (local Cape Town joke). It was a good combination of story telling with songs where the audience was invited to sing along.
I personally hate participative theatre as I feel such a twit - especially when it comes to singing - and so hide at the back. There was someone in the front who obviously didn't know that anyone who responds is fair game. I cringed on her behalf even though it was very funny.
The second half seemed to lose steam. Our friend George commented that Ida didn't come across as strongly kugel as in the first half - maybe the 'flu got to her. During the evening George and I had a debate as to whether Ida was a woman or a man. I was convinced that she is a man as the build is not quite right, eventhough she has a stunning figure and I love the fabulous clothes. Despite the technical hitches it was a good night out, and I must admit that I am a sucker for sing-alongs, must be the Brit in me.

Tygerberg Children's Choir

The Tygerberg Children's Choir won second place in the children's choir division at the World Choir Games held in Austria in July - Well Done Guys! You can find out why they are so good at their Christmas Concert Series held during the weekends of November at the Endler Hall or 29 November at the Cape Town City Hall. More details on the encore web site www.encoreonline.co.za Angela

A MECCA Award for Peter Hayes

Peter Hayes took his play "The Tricky Part" to fesitvals in Canada and won the best visiting play. He has performed the play at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown (2006&2007), the Downstairs Theatre in Jo'burg and here at the Baxter. We went to see the play in September 2007. The best that I can describe this emotional performance is captivating. I hung on every word waiting for what was going to happen next. The production was not well supported but those who attended were blown away. It is fabulous that South African artists are recognised internationally. It just confirms that immense talent that we have at home. Now we need more people to support the productions. Well Done Peter!!!!
Angela

What is Culture?

We are starting to build Encore into a business and are working with a consultant on a marketing plan. When asked about our focus we said the performing arts. What was interesting was the assumption that this was the formal disciplines such as classical music, opera and ballet offered in the formal theatres. We were asked "what about the rich culture in the townships?" In my mind that is included in performing arts. Our challenge is to find the artists and include their events in the diary.

It got me thinking about our perceptions of the performing arts and culture as something separate and something that is "good for you". A bit like having to take horrible tasting medicine because "its good for you". But culture and performances are part of our identity and found in public spaces, community halls and any place where people come together to celebrate. Instead of seeing the performing arts as a luxury, it should be a part of our daily lives, something that is easily accessible. I was reading a document where there was the statement "the pleasure of the arts can not be restricted to a priveleged few". Hear, hear we all need more beauty in our lives.

If anyone knows of artists and events,especially grassroots events, send us an email (paul@encoreonline.co.za) and we will gladly put it in the newsletter and on the web site. The deadline for the newsletter is the first Friday of the previous month but there is also the calendar for events planned well in advance so people can get extra notice of forthcoming events.
See ya at the "theatre"!

The Full Monty

We went to see the stage production of The Full Monty the other night. The show was good but the audience was literally dead. Nobody seemed to give these guys an apllause afterwards. I suppose the lack of response was because the ladies in the audience were accompanied by there husbands or boyfriends. We gave thenm a standing ovation anyway.

When speaking to the actors in the bar after the show, they said they thouraghly enjoyed the show and were wondering who the two people in the middle of the auditorium were that stood up at the end to give a standing ovation. When we asked about the nude scene at the end they said that part of the show was the longest two seconds of their lives.

The Full Monty is on at the Artscape until the 17th of August before going to Johannesburg in September. Ladies go out and see it, before it's to late.

Encore: How it all started

I thought that I would introduce myself better and the intention behind the blog.

It has been a dream for over 12 years to start a publication about the performing arts in Cape Town. I use the word publication because magazine sounds very grand, especially for someone with much experince but not in publishing. The idea started when I was part of the Silapha oureach committee of the then Nico Malan Opera House (now Artscape) looking at how to make the complex more accessible and relevant.

I felt that there was a need for some means of advertising shows well in advance so that people had no reason for not attending a show. I must admit that I was guilty of saying that I love going to the theatre but never actually getting there. Since starting Encore we go at least twice a month, and love every performance.

In April 2007 I started an electronic newslettter which lists as many different performances as we (Paul and I) can find in the newspapers, web sites and referrals. I thought that the newsletter would be about 5 pages long, I had no idea just how much is going on in just Cape Town and the newsletter averages 22 pages! Just over a year later we have at least 4000 readers.

Towards the end of 2007 we started the long learning curve of electronic media and slowly getting the hang of web sites and blogs. In May (2008) we started the web site which gives us much more space to give details about the different performances and we want to start including articles on local artists, companies and other interesting information about the theatre.

I started the blog as a way of joining a conversation about the theatre and relevant issues. What I didn't bank on was feeling shy about sharing my thoughts. I am an enthusiastic member of the audience and not really qualified in any way to comment on shows. What I am hoping is that this will be a space where other enthusiastic members of the audience can share their comments on shows. Just think the whole of the Western Cape becoming theatre critics!

Or just a place to be enthusiastic about theatre. What do you think?

We All Benefit Concert

I received this press release from the Performing Arts Network of South Africa. It was a fabulous show and it is made even better by getting such positive feedback.

PANSA would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everybody who made the We All Benefit on Sunday 1 June possible. We are exceptionally pleased to announce that, through the combined efforts and talents of all who participated, we have raised over R70 000 and a mountain of goods for our beneficiaries. We’d also like to make a special mention of the sizable donation from the Premier, Ebrahim Rasool, and his office.

Perhaps equally important was the emotional impact of Sunday’s event. Our artists opened their hearts and in doing so touched those of the audience. From Brett Bailey’s provocative display in the foyer, to Mbali Kgosidintsi’s honest and touching poem, to Oliver Mtukudzi’s quiet genius, to "Corne’s" swapping of audience shoes... we went on a very unique journey. Melodic sounds, foot stomping, tears, raucous laughter: the We All Benefit was a tribute to the wealth of culture born in Africa, and available to us in South Africa... Thank you!
Karen and EricaPANSA

A list of thank yous: Director Luke Ellenbogen, Stage Manager Jesse Kramer,able assistants Lesoko and the crew, the phenomenal Aki Khan and Eastern Acoustics, the fabulous Allison Foat of Diva PR, the Baxter Theatre, The Baxter Theatre staff, Amanda from Pulse Organic, Paul Harris, Peter Basford, Errol Strachan and the many many others who donated their goods and their time.

And a big Thank you to our performers:David Kramer, Neo Muyanga, Marc Lottering, Oliver Mtukudzi, Nik Rabinowitz, The Rudimentals, Tucan Tucan, CODA, Mark Elderkin, Faniswa Yisa, Louw Venter, Theatre Sports, Magnet Theatre, Mbali Kgosidintsi, Laroumba and West Drum, Matthew Gair, Tristan Waterkeyn, Erica Glyn-Jones,Winslow Schalkwyk, Primrose Mrwebi
Beneficiaries:
The SA Red Cross Emergency Fund
Bonne Esperance Refugee Shelter

Cape Town Book Fair

Paul and I went to the Book Fair over the weekend. My goodness, I never realised that there are so many publishers, and all those fabulous books! It was a bibliophile's heaven. So many books and so little time. It was fantastic getting an insight into the world of books, meeting publishers and authors and listening to talks.

One of the talks we heard was by Tim Plewman about his book Defending the Caveman. He gave over 1400 performances most of which were sold out. I asked if he ever got bored with the show which he said, "Tired but never bored". He has written a play called Designer Genes based on a similar theme. He will be taking it to Grahamstown and then hopefully we will get to see it at a theatre near you. Angela

Siyaya Choir to tour USA

The Cape Times has an article on the Siyaya Choir, based in Guguletu. They are seven young people who use song and dance to educate people about AIDS. They will perform their show "An African Chord" in theatres in New York, Chicago and Washington. The group were looking for a different approach to educate people about living with AIDS, the importance of treatment and preventing alcohol abuse. They compose their own songs which they perform in clinics and schools. Angela