Protea plans for a better 2021
The musical Mary Poppins is still on the cards for this year despite being cancelled last year.
Like all other amateur plays in the entertainment industry suffering the consequences of Covid-19, Protea Stage Productions also bore the brunt but refused to give up.
“We are planning to again showcase Hang Ten later in the year either at a Benoni venue or again at one of the other performing societies’ venues,” said chairperson Bob Stone.
“This year’s Hang Ten will be for homegrown scripted plays only of 10-12 minutes.
“In addition to the senior plays, we are looking to open a Hang Ten script-writing competition for the juniors to encourage budding young thespians who are missing out on theatre due to lockdown to still get involved.
“Several of the best plays will be performed at the Hang Ten showcase and adjudications for content, performance, direction and entertainment value will be handed out.”
The musical Mary Poppins is still on the cards for this year.
“Our junior show Mary Poppins, which was in rehearsals when Covid hit, had to be postponed to the end of 2020 and then to abide by restrictions – eventually cancelled,” Stone explained.
“The 2021 AGM had to be postponed, with a new date to be advised as it appears as if it will also be a challenging year, with social gatherings still not allowed and the pitifully slow rollout of vaccinations in South Africa.
“A performance venue, since the closure of the town hall, has been a major problem for community theatre in Benoni and is likely to continue for Protea until schools get back to normal learning and full-size classes.
“Despite this, Protea has some exciting plans for this coming year.”
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Update from Stone
• We planned to still produce our Hang Ten showcase the gathering of the Jo’burg and East Rand societies as a memorial to Margaret Todd. This senior showcase was almost cancelled due to the return to school.
• With only half-class sizes as we lost our performance venue due to the school hall and stage being required to store all the desks and chairs from the now socially distanced half-size classrooms. The show must go on and we moved the showcase to the Edenvale EADS society’s venue.
• Financially it was a flat year for Protea – a donation from the UK helped us to donate locally to the SPCA, a local family and Dreamerschild, a charity managed by Kim Cloete.
• We maintained our support as a community association and with only a minimal loss for the year retain funds sufficient to restart performances as soon as restrictions are lifted.
• Sadly, three friends and past committee members died: Des Price, set and backdrop artist, Alisoun Passmore, secretary and seamstress, and just recently Noel McDonald, the chairperson of Sancta (South African National Community Theatre Association).
• Also, four committee members immigrated to the UK: Michael Brownhill, scriptwriter and director, Carole Worrell, director, Phoebe Worrell, scriptwriter and actor, and Louise Bratherton seamstress.
“We discussed the possibility of virtual performances but decided it was not the way for Protea,” he said.
“As a youth society most of our potential actors have to struggle with many hours of missed education, disruptive learning and difficult homeschooling, the importance of education in these times is paramount and must be the prime focus for learners.
“When we eventually return to a normal life, then theatre and Protea Stage Productions will be there to relieve the past stress and once again bring fun back to the community.”
