FLIPPING BOOK CHRONICLE 2024

as stage manager, and there were hilarious performances from Letlhogonolo Moeng, Siyolisa Finiza, Lwazi Dlamini, Seth Segal, Onalerona Lefakane and Luthando Jonas. It is a huge achievement to write and direct a play, and Kian Moses certainly delivered. Old Boy Mr Isaac Jarvis, serving as a drama intern, was able to support Kian through the process of directing, adding his experienced opinions as a practising professional actor. There was a once-off performance on 23 August to a full house of highly entertained school peers, parents and guests. Two choir happenings of international standard occurred before and after the Michaelmas break. The first was the impromptu pick-up of the touring University of Pretoria Youth Choir on 8 September. The choir played in a number of schools and venues around KZN and we were indeed lucky to host them at the Schlesinger Theatre. In a bid to form a closer relationship with the Drakensberg Boys Choir School, Michaelhouse hosted a brilliant evening of shared song, Music in the Mountains, on 13 October. The Michaelhouse Choir under the directorship of Mr Gareth Dry, himself a Drakkies old boy, performed to a standard that put the two choirs on an equal footing. The Drakensberg Boys Choir

had only recently returned form a world tour and presented their tour programme, a gift that overseas audiences paid thousands for. We look forward to many more concerts in the Schlesinger Theatre with this unique and world-class outfit, our neighbours from the Berg. The final production of the year was from The Upstagers, our local community theatre project. They performed William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew from 17 to 19 October. The play featured Michaelhouse teachers Mrs Rebecca Bubb and Mr William le Cordeur alongside Mr Timothy Redpath, and was directed by Mr Paul Spence. Timothy and Paul are both former members of the Royal Shakespeare Company. The Midlands community and the boys of Michaelhouse were once again treated to a top-quality local performance. The Schlesinger Theatre remains a valuable space for Michaelhouse boys, staff and our extended Midlands community to experience high-quality cultural events. 2025 brings with it many exciting projects and productions, as we work to counter this age of screens with live, intimate, creative performances and exchanges of cultural prosperity.