Spirited Mama

Living a SPIRITED life filled with wanderlust, emotions and everything in between

Month: October 2019

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Benny Bushwhacker: Human Nature heads to PRETORIA for one night only!

Starrring BEN VOSS

Written by John van de Ruit (SPUD)

Directed by Janice Honeyman

Atterbury Theatre, Pretoria

ONE NIGHT ONLY!

Wednesday 13 November 2019

 

If you missed seeing Benny Bushwhacker – Human Nature, like I did, during the Joburg season in October, don’t despair, Ben Voss returns to Gauteng for ONE NIGHT ONLY at The Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria on Wednesday 13 November at 20h00.

Benny Bushwhacker aka Ben Voss continues his successful national tour of his brand-new, one-man-show and will soon be in Pretoria to delight Gauteng audiences once again.

 

Pretoria audiences loved Ben’s previous shows, including Bend it Like Beauty and Beauty and the BEE and will remember him as Beauty on the Jacaranda 94.2 breakfast show. Audiences get the chance to see this award-winning actor, comedian, writer and producer back on stage in his brand new show!

Benny Bushwhacker : Human Nature kick-started a fabulous tour when it won two Standard Bank Ovation Awards at the National Arts Festival Makhanda in Grahamstown – the very first staging of the show.

The Republic of South Africa proudly welcomes home Benny Bushwhacker (aka Ben Voss), the world’s funniest conservationist. The legend returns to share what it takes to survive the African bush … and for the African bush to survive.

 

The genial South African, who recently trended worldwide for banging heads with swashbuckling British survivalist Bear Grylls, is touring South Africa’s theatres and festivals with an hilarious yet sobering look at the collision between man and environment.

For somebody who has spent more time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life than a hibernating Arctic wood frog, Benny Bushwhacker brings untainted humanity and delicious humour to his performance that will have you laughing out loud and wondering why, when it comes to the bush, the most uncommon human trait is common sense.

Whether it be his opinion on how to spot a know-it-all in Kruger, or the relative chances of his estranged wife, Brenda, replacing the buffalo in the Big 5, Benny delivers time and again with his unique sense of humour and classic bush logic.

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Benny Bushwhacker’s stories and experiences have been translated from bush to page by his unofficial biographer, John van de Ruit, (of Spud fame) and directed from page to stage by the lioness of theatre, Janice Honeyman.

 

When asked about the project, Director Janice Honeyman said:

“I have worked with Ben before and have always enjoyed it. He’s a good actor, and a thinking actor. His Mamba series impressed me, so I chose to direct his alter ego, Beauty Ramapelepele. Ben then worked with me last year on the Snow White Pantomime as Evil Queen Hildagonda, in which he was fantastic. The opportunity to work with him again as Benny Bushwhacker is great fun. The concerns of the content are very close to my heart and putting it into a less didactic, preachy context feels good for me.”

 

 

Writer of the piece, John van de Ruit, expressed his involvement thus;

“Ben and I have been friends and collaborators for over twenty years. In that time, I have had the best seat in the house to witness his talent and versatility as a comedic actor. He has the unique ability to capture reality and extremity, often simultaneously, with hilarious consequences. It does help that he was born with a rubber face, a razor-sharp mind and the body of Frankenstein. This made him the perfect fit for Benny Bushwhacker, a celebrity conservationist with a big heart and little education to speak of.”

 

van de Ruit continues;

“Historically, Ben Voss and I have collaborated on both scripting and performance, but this time we have made a deliberate decision to separate ourselves into writer and actor. This means I won’t steal Benny’s favourite lines on stage, and he won’t tamper with my favourite lines in the script. I think that’s called collaborative uncoupling. It’s been a terrific time developing the idea of Benny Bushwhacker with Ben Voss, although of late it’s been rather difficult to tell the pair apart.”

 

While touring South Africa, Benny Bushwhacker is raising awareness and Moola for the Lebombo Leopard – Human Conflict Survey. And while leopards are not known to change their spots, through this initiative, Benny will try to help humans to do so.

 

Ben Voss states; “I am closely involved with the Lebombo Leopard Human Conflict Survey in Mkuze, Northern Zululand. A big part of this project is to raise money to set cameras to monitor leopard movement in the area after two children were taken by these cats on the reserve boundary. My interest is not so much conserving pristine bush, as conserving the line between humans and nature. These boundaries are critical. As a roving species, Leopard are under constant threat from humans, and communities are under threat from Leopard. So this conflict seemed like a “natural” fit for my show. I care about nature, I care about humans and if the leopard is to survive we are going to have to create more green spaces, and keep communities healthy and happy.

 

Voss continues; “The theme of the show is even based around saving the leopard and there are donation boxes for the project at every show. Every single cent in those boxes goes towards the initiative. At the moment we are raising on average R1000 a show and I have nearly 100 shows this year. So R100 000 is my target!”

 

Book your seats soon for this wonderful look at life on the wild side, because, like the rhinos of Africa, you never know if you will get the chance to see it again.

Benny Bushwhacker : Human Nature is on stage at The Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria for ONE NIGHT ONLY on Wednesday 13 November at 20h00.

Ticket prices are R140 – R160

Bookings are via iTickets by calling 086 1000 291 or online at https://itickets.co.za/events/427342

The duration of the show is 65 minutes with no interval.

There’s no Age Restriction (although there’s “No Under 3’s” for the comfort of other patrons)

 

Check out www.benvoss.co.za for general information or to click through on booking links to the various venues around the country.

National Tour Dates of Benny Bushwhacker still coming up:

Hexagon Theatre, Pietermaritzburg, 4 – 9 November

Atterbury Theatre, Pretoria, 13 November

Somerset West Playhouse, 15 – 16 November

Baxter Theatre, Cape Town, 10 December – 18 January 2020

Pretoria, are you ready for Benny Bushwhacker?

Spirited Mama

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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr. comes alive at the Peoples Theatre

For the first time at Peoples Theatre, the magic of one of society’s all-time favourite films CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Jr. comes alive on stage in spectacular fashion from Monday, 28th October – Sunday 22nd December.

Take a fantastic musical adventure with an out-of-this-world car that flies through the air and sails the seas. Based on the beloved film version of Ian Fleming’s children’s book, and featuring an unforgettable score by the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr. is a family-friendly blockbuster that audiences will find “Truly Scrumptious.”

An eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts sets about restoring an old race car from a scrap heap with the help of his children, Jeremy and Jemima. They soon discover the car has magical properties, including the ability to float and take flight. Trouble occurs when the evil Baron Bomburst desires the magic car for himself. The family joins forces with Truly Scrumptious and batty Grandpa Potts to outwit the dastardly Baron and Baroness and their villainous henchman, the Child Catcher.

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Filled with amazing stage spectacle and unforgettable songs including the Academy Award-nominated title song, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a high-flying, fun-filled adventure for the entire family.

 

Says Director Jill Girard; “Peoples Theatre presents for the first time ever this fantastic musical adventure which features the most unforgettable score by the Sherman brothers. This is a feel good, heart-warming family musical which is an absolute delight to direct, as it takes the audience back to their childhood while enchanting the next generation.”

 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang  JR is directed by Jill Girard and Keith Smith, with Musical Direction by Coenraad Rall, Musical Staging by Sandy (Dyer) Richardson, Set and Lighting Design by Grant Knottenbelt and costumes by Merry Whillier and Sean McGrath.

 

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Newcomer Mondé Sibisi recently qualified in the UK, plays the role of Caractacus Potts who is Jeremy and Jemima’s father. He is an eccentric inventor who cares deeply about his children.

Peoples Theatre is delighted to have Caroline Borole grace our stage, playing the role of Truly Scrumptious who is a smart, confident, adventurous daughter of Lord Scrumptious who quickly earns the Potts family’s trust.
(Caroline recently wowed audiences on stage as Tina in Tina – Simply The Best.)

One of Peoples Theatres favourite performers, Luciano Zuppa will be back again. He will be playing the role of Grandpa who loves Jeremy, Jemima, and Potts with all his heart; the most important thing to Grandpa is his family.

Roberto Queiroz, who was seen in Shrek Jr at the People Theatre as Lord Farquard, will be playing the role of Lord Scrumptious, the all-powerful owner of the candy factory.

Peoples Theatre is excited to have newcomer Matthew Otto play the role of the larger than life, evil Baron and by his side the mischievous and manipulative Baroness played by Joelle Rochecouste who charmed us as Gloria in Madagascar Jr.

Peoples Theatre is happy to have Raymond Skinner back playing the role of Boris, the worst spy ever.

 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr. opens at the Peoples Theatre at the Joburg Theatre Complex with preview performances from Monday, 28th October. The official show opening is on Sunday, 10th November. The season runs until Sunday, 22nd  December.

Performance times are Mondays to Friday at 9am and 11am, Saturdays at 10:30am and 2.30pm as well as all Sundays and Public Holidays.

Ticket prices are R140 for general public or R100 for members of the Peoples Theatre kids Club (You can become a member for R120 membership fee – contact Peoples Theatre on 011 403 1563/ 2340 for more information).

To book tickets call Sean or Beth on 011 403 1563 / 2340 or email the theatre at info@peoplestheatre.co.za.

For more information visit www.peoplestheatre.co.za

Special school performances are available at R80 per learner plus for every 20 learners there is one complimentary ticket per educator – extra educators R80 each and all other accompanying adults are R100 each.

For more information and to make these bookings, contact the Peoples Theatre directly on 011 403 1563 / 2340.

Spirited Mama

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