Press Release: Scrooge at Baxter (4 Dec '13 - 25 Jan '14)

This festive season Marc Lottering will play the much-anticipated title role of Scrooge in Lara Foot’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classic A Christmas Carol, at the Baxter Theatre, from 4 December 2013 to 25 January 2014, at 7.30pm nightly with matinees at 3pm. Foot has assembled a formidable cast and creative team to bring to life this timeless Dickens favourite with Lottering as the miserly-turned-giving character Ebenezer Scrooge.

He is joined on stage by popular theatre and television personalities Shaleen Surtie-Richards (Egoli, Villa Rosa, Shirley Valentyn), Andrew Buckland (Laugh the Buffalo, The Ugly Noo Noo, Between the Teeth) and Christo Davids (Sewende Laan, My Name is Ellen Pakkies, Forgiveness).Nur Abrahams (Radio Classics, Vocal is Lekka) and Poseletso Sejosingoe (Baxter’s Zabalaza Theatre Festival Best actress winner and former Idols runner-up) lead the 50-strong cross-cultural children’s choir under the musical directorship of Camillo Lombard.

The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future are performed by Surtie-Richards, Buckland and Davids, who also play multiple characters, as do Abrahams and Sejosingoe, which adds to the comedy and the drama.In recent years each of the cast members has individually wowed audiences with their own productions on the Baxter stages, and now, for the first time in local theatre history, they share the stage to bring to life this classic, Cape Town-style. A Christmas Carol is one of the most daring and beloved books Charles Dickens ever wrote. It has become a popular Christmas tale for generations of children. Now Lara Foot brings this much-loved tale to Cape Town, set in the present day and journeying to the early 1900s, and performed in English with some Afrikaans.

Set to be a highlight on Cape Town’s summer events calendar, Scrooge offers up the romance, fantasy and generosity of a beautifully told story which hopes to bring together all the people of Cape Town in a production perfectly suited for the whole family. Set design is by Patrick Curtis, lighting by Mannie Manim, costumes by Marcel Meyer and magic is created by Chad Findlay. The choir is made up of learners from Kenmere Primary School Choir, Kensington Chorale Girls' Choir, Herzlia Constantia and Injongo Public Primary School Choir.This is the first time in three decades that the Baxter Theatre Centre will be presenting its very own festive season production.

In the past it has been outsourced to great artists like David Kramer and Taliep Petersen, Marc Lottering, Alistair Izobell and Nik Rabinowitz to keep audiences entertained while offering a slice of the Mother City’s rich cultural heritage. “This is a very exciting challenge for us,” explains Foot, who is also CEO and Artistic Director of the Baxter. “I am lucky to be working with this dream team. We have such fun during rehearsals and we laugh a lot as we are creating the play.”

Foot has received acclaim for her hard-hitting and award-winning work with productions such as Solomon and Marion, Tshepang, Karoo Moose, Woyzeck and Betrayal. “For the Baxter, this could be the start of presenting a festive season classic tailor-made for local and visiting audiences and showcasing some of our best-loved artists.” With music, comedy, drama, magic and a powerful message of the spirit of giving, Scrooge is poised to delight and entertain the whole family this holiday season.

The production previews at the Baxter Theatre from 4 to 9 December, opens on 10 December and runs until 25 January at 7.30pm. There are matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays at 3pm.

Special corporate packages have been put together, which are ideally suited for end-of-year functions, team-building events and client or stakeholder relationship programmes, for just R200 (Mondays to Thursdays) and R250 (Fridays and Saturdays) per person. This includes the show and finger snacks with a vegetarian or a meat option.Ticket prices range from R110 to R170 and booking is now open through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.co.za or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet.The Baxter’s New Year’s Eve party has become a popular option for theatre-lovers and revellers and Scrooge will be no exception.

Ticket prices range from R180 to R200 and this includes the show followed by a balloon drop and a complimentary glass of sparkling wine or orange juice. The audiences from the various shows gather in the main foyer to cheer in the New Year with some of the stars and a live band that will keep the party going.For discounted corporate or block bookings, fundraisers and charities, contact Sharon on 021 680 3962 or e-mail sharon.ward@uct.ac.za or Carmen on 021 680 3993 or e-mail carmen.kearnes@uct.ac.za during office hours.

Production Information Production: Scrooge Produced by: Baxter Theatre Centre Adapted and directed by Lara Foot (From Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol) Starring: Marc Lottering, Shaleen Surtie-Richards, Andrew Buckland, Christo Davids, Nur Abrahams, Poseletso Sejosingoe Set Design: Patrick Curtis Lighting design: Mannie Manim Musical Director: Camillo Lombard Costumes Design: Marcel Meyer Magic: Chad Findlay Choir: Learners from Kenmere Primary School Choir, Kensington Chorale Girls' Choir, Herzlia Constantia and Injongo Public Primary School Choir. Venue: Baxter Theatre Dates and times: Previews 4 to 9 December, opens on Tuesday 10 December 7.30pm nightly and 3pm for matinees Ticket prices: R110 – R120 Previews and matinees R110 – R140 Evening performances: Mondays to Thursdays R120 – R170 Evening performances: Fridays and Saturdays R180 – R200 for New Year’s Eve For more information www.baxter.co.za, facebook.com/BaxterTheatre twitter.com/BaxterTheatre For further media enquiries or pic requests contact Ally Patterson on alethea.patterson-cordiglia@uct.ac.za or 021 680 3974 or Fahiem Stellenboom on 021 680 3971, cell 072 265 6023 or e-mail fahiem.stellenboom@uct.ac.za

Press release provided by Fahiem Stellenboom obo the Baxter Theatre Centre.