National Children’s Theatre presents Duck for President
PARKTOWN– National Children's Theatre has something for you these holidays.
With the national elections around the corner, National Children’s Theatre (NCT), Parktown sets to kick-start the year with a production enlightening children on the voting process.
Duck for President is a musical adaptation of Doreen Cronin’s best-selling children’s book. The witty, fast-paced script with catchy songs will take the audience on an entertaining and fun journey through the election process with shows daily until 7 April.
The story begins on Farmer Brown’s farm, where the good farmer is fed up with doing all the work while the barnyard residents have all the fun. He then gives each animal a job to do and after a day of hard work, the animals don’t like the new arrangement.
So Duck decided to organise an election to pick someone kinder where all the animals get to vote and Duck wins.
Now he is in charge, however, Duck’s ambitions did not end there. He soon becomes mayor of the city, and then president of the country. He sooner learnt that being a president was not fun and didn’t know what to do.
Along the way, Duck is seen learning some important life lessons, lessons that spill over into learner’s future lives as responsible citizens. What is an election? What is democracy? Who can vote? What is the debate? How to vote? Why does every vote matter? Can a person escape having responsibilities?
The set is appealing and the costumes are clever enough for us to believe and identify with all the characters. Although Duck targets learners aged five to 10, adults will find much to enjoy in this whimsical play.
The book written by Doreen Cronin was adapted by James E Grote; music and lyrics by George Howe.
The creative team includes artistic director Matthew Counihan; musical director Daniel Geddes; choreography – Phillida le Roux; costume
design – Sarah Roberts; set design – Stan Knight and lighting design – Jane Gosnell.
Talented cast includes a piano-playing Farmer Brown (Daniel Geddes), Jay Hlatshwayo (Duck), Dolly Louw (Pig), Ashleigh Butcher (Hen), Carmen Tromp (Cow) and Rene Setlhako (Swing).
School bookings by arrangement daily in March and April.
Public bookings for Saturdays at 2.30pm, Monday to Saturday in March and April.
Ticket prices: Tickets for chairs are R120 and tickets for cushions are R100. Phone for prices for schools and block bookings.
Details: bookings@nctt.org.za; Claudy or Rene on 011 484 1584/5.
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