National Children’s Theatre presents Duck for President
PARKTOWN – The National Children's Theatre has an exciting production for the school holidays.
With the national elections around the corner, National Children’s Theatre in Parktown is ready to kick-start the year with a production that aims to enlighten children about the voting process.
The play, 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 decides to organise an election to pick someone kinder where all the animals get to vote and Duck wins, but his ambitions did not end there. He soon becomes mayor of the city and then president of the country. However, he soon learns that being a president is not fun and that he doesn’t know what to do.
Along the way, Duck learns some important life lessons, lessons that spill over into learners’ future lives as responsible citizens. What is an election? What is democracy? Who can vote? How to vote? Why does every vote matter? Can a person escape 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 was adapted for theatre by adapted by James E Grote and music and lyrics were done by George Howe. The creative team includes Matthew Counihan (artistic director), Daniel Geddes (musical director), Phillida le Roux (choreography), Sarah Roberts (costume
design), Stan Knight (set design) and Jane Gosnell (lighting design).
The talented cast includes a piano-playing Daniel Geddes as Farmer Brown, Jay Hlatshwayo as Duck, Dolly Louw (Pig), Ashleigh Butcher (Hen), Carmen Tromp (Cow) and Rene Setlhako (Swing).
School bookings can be arranged daily in March and April and public bookings can be made for Saturdays at 2.30pm, Monday to Saturday in March and April.
Ticket prices: Chairs are R120; cushions R100 (phone for prices for schools and block bookings).
Details: bookings@nctt.org.za; Claudy or Rene 011 484 1584/5.
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