WINDHOEK –Sandy Rudd, well-known theatre director is thrilled to be presenting her latest theatre
production at the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at seven O’Clock (19H00) with an extra show at ten O’clock in the morning (10H00) on Thursday . A ticket goes for N$50 for adults and N$25 for children and are available from Computicket.
Rudd is still revelling from the achievement of MEME MIA! The most successful musical ever to be staged at the NTN. “There is not a day that goes by that I am not complimented on that production, pretty amazing as the show was staged exactly a year ago,” The public will not be disappointed with this rendition of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. It has all the elements to entertain and enthral. The well-known play is based on the book with the same title, which was written by Roald Dahl in 1964. We are celebrating its 50th anniversary. A film of the famous book was transformed into a movie, which had Hollywood actor Jonny Depp cast as Mr Willy Wonka.
It is one of Rudd’s theatrical strengths to take a well know play or book and give it a local Namibian twist. Whilst adding the obvious Namibian elements to this production, Rudd said the best part of adapting the play was decolonising the Oompa Lumpas!!, “what a fabulous statement that is!” enthused a delighted Rudd. The book is 50 years old and needed a bit of sprucing up to a modern worldview. “Mr Wonker was a pretty dark character, ours is a lot more attractive and appealing. We are trying to create a modern charming version of the book whilst keeping to the true creepy side of Dahl.”
Rudd is extremely proud of the production as the play features COTA African Performing Arts (APA) students, former (APA) Graduates and five children from Van Rhyn Primary School who are part of the graduates’ drama programme. In effect, according to Rudd, her student’s students’. It is like working with my grandchildren!!. “What a great privilege and treat this experience is. The children playing in the play are fabulous, highly motivated and highly talented. Perhaps the most talented cast of children I have ever worked with. Hats off to the Van Rhyn Primary school for embracing this project with such enthusiasm and allowing a drama club to take place in the school. I really salute the school for celebrating and teaching the arts. The learners at that school are very lucky to be there,” says Rudd.
APA graduates coordinate the drama club at the school and is part of a new theatre initiative called Chi Namibia, providing arts education for development. Last year 30 learners from Van Rhyn Primary went to Zimbabwe where they had a two-week cultural exchange programme, a sister organisation to ChiNamibia called CHIPAWO Zimbabwe. The trip was sponsored by the National Arts Council of Namibia. It was a great experience for all.
The innovative set has been built and designed by Helen Harris and Katie Muller, whilst the musical score and sound is being supplied by the indomitable Lize Ehlers and assisted by Karl Ehlers.
This is a NTN production for youth development, sponsored by Directorate of Arts. It is a great initiative, hopefully over 4 000 youngsters will be attending the 10 shows, some whom have never attended the theatre before.
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory promises to be a theatre experience you will remember for many years to come. Book now to avoid disappointment.