The 2023 Chronicle

SCHLESINGER THEATRE

2022-2023 SEASON Written by Mr William le Cordeur

future and was a wonderful way to bring pupils from different backgrounds together and to unite the community through theatre, music and dance. The talent was celebrated. In May we welcomed a professional production just off an international tour. Origins , by Janni Young, a previous director of Handstring Puppet Company ( War Horse ), fitted in with our puppetry theme and showcased a Durban dance company with international puppeteers. With well-known guitar maestro Derrik Gripper playing live music for the show, the audience were left in awe of the magic of the puppetry, light and sound that were on offer. The second quarter in the theatre had a loaded schedule, including interhouse music, a choir festival, numerous enrichment talks, open-day presentations and educational cultural events for subjects such as film showings, an isiZulu play, an Afrikaans play, and drama practical exams. A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare was the main school production, performed from 31 August to 2 September in the Schlesinger Theatre in a very successful collaboration with Howick High School. Going back to old traditions of using staff on stage with the pupils, outstanding performances were given by Mr Dominic Gruijters as Oberon, Mrs Sally Cahill as Titania, Ms Aldi Smith as Hippolyta, Mr Righardt Kotze as Egeus and even director Mr William le Cordeur had to step in to perform Theseus at the last moment. From the boys’ side, Seth Segal as Lysander was excellent, giving a very professional showing. Erich van Zyl as Demetrius was excellent, also having played a lead in The Birds ; he showed good commitment and consistency as a natural lead. Gqamile Mbuyazi was a very athletic Puck and is also reaching professional levels in numerous performance genres. From the comedic Mechanicals, Kian Moses as Nick Bottom and Nelisa Zungu as Tom Snout stood out as they both had the audience in stiches in the play within a play. Thanks to Mr Van Wyk Oosthuysen, the technical quality of the show was excellent, making good use of all our equipment, especially the projector. The theatre’s focus after the main production was exam preparation and final exams for A Block on 13 October, then B and C Block on 28 October. Both exams were made more theatrical with full wardrobe, technical, props and set being used. We are trying to grow the relationship between the Drama Department and theatre with exams as the technical component becomes more pronounced in the IEB dramatic arts curriculum. 023 was a musical year, and we roared into the thea tre season with the fabulous, but dubiously named, Urinetown . Written in 2001 in New York City, the play used the eight-piece jazz ensemble to recreate the jazz musi cal of old, with our Music Department and some professionals brought in to master the difficult work. We once again teamed up with St John’s DSG, with the synergy and generosity of the girls being hugely appreciated. From the boys’ side, Gqamile Mbuyazi stole the show as the narrator and tyrannical police captain, with his sidekick, played by Erich van Zyl, doing very 2

Director Schlesinger Theatre: Mr William le Cordeur Technical director: Mr Van Wyk Oosthuysen Technical support: Mr Fish Ndlovu AWARDS: 2022 Half-Colours: Fortune Mpofu, Kian Moses, Daniel Kaabwe, Ethan Cockram, Luke Kaufmann, Abhi Panday, Oliver Jonsson, Anotida Mashamhanda, Siyolise Finiza, Nelisa Zungu, Jayden Wardle, Oliver Mostert, Torin Wright, Maximillian Murray, Isa Shabalala, Jonathan Boesak, Ramon van der Byl, Luke Marks, Thomas Kuhn, Daniel French

Colours: Angus Fleming, Khala-Khulu Mashiyi, Erich Van Zyl, Seth Segal, Gqamile Mbuyazi

2023 Half-Colours: Onalerona Lefakane, Sentso Tlelai, Lwazi Dlamini, Boitumelo Sefotlhelo, Elijah Kangueehi, Luthando Jonas, Sinnon Khosa

Colours: Isa Shabalala, Xabiso Mooi (Ngcime) Honours: Gqamile Mbuyazi, Erich van Zyl

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022 began, as usual, with the C Block drama residency, which took place from 7-11 February. It was led by Vene shran Arumugam, a professional TV and film actor, who has appeared on many local and international programmes. He shared his experiences of collaborative theatre making and the role of the chorus, which he had investigated during his Master’s programme in New York. The outcome was quite avant-garde, and challenged the boys’ perception of theatrical performance. The return to theatre after Covid meant that we needed to choose light, fun productions to attract audiences. The classic Greek comedy The Birds by Aristophanes seemed perfect. We aimed to run in the amphitheatre, but high rainfall brought us into the main theatre, enjoying a good run from 23-25 March. As a senior drama production, the cast was peppered with B and C Block boys, who trained in puppet performance and chorus work. The work in the C Block residency helped this process greatly. Lead roles were taken by Erich van Zyl and Khala Mashiyi, with a chorus of 17 others who each controlled a bird puppet. In 2019 plans began for a musical with Michaelhouse boys and Shea O’Connor Combined School. The Signs musical, written and directed by gospel legend Audrey Mbuyazi, who is also a Michaelhouse parent and wife of OM Phiwayinkosi Mbuyazi, was undoubtedly a highlight of the year. Michaelhouse boys and boys and girls from Shea O’Connor Combined School, Nottingham Road, performed The Signs to full houses from 28 April to 30 April. This unique event should be repeated in the

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