Joseph set to wow Wellington
2010-08-26
Lise Beyers
WELLINGTON will soon be rocked by a musical of mammoth proportions. In October the hills will literally be alive with music, when a local production of the spectacular Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, takes to the stage at Bergkroon (Hawekwa) in the foothills of Bain’s Kloof. The production will consist of a team of almost 500 people, which include, musicians, actors, technical and production personnel, as well as a choir of 300 voices. And this is thanks to a young music enthusiast, Johann Enslin, who literally dreamed a dream. Although Enslin’s day job as administrator of the Stellenbosch Rugby Academy is far removed from the stage, he is actively involved in the musical circles of Wellington. For the past eight years he has been the organist of the NGK Wellington North, he has been the choir leader of Huguenot High for three years and has revived the dwindling choir of CPUT (Wellington campus). But what made Enslin decide to take on such a massive project? “I fell in love with Wellington and its heritage and wanted to really do something special for this town. Years ago there was a strong cultural movement here. “I eventually decided on something big, such as a musical, and then Joseph came into my mind - everybody loves this musical.” And so Enslin went to work and he roped in whoever was prepared to listen. “Everybody whom I spoke to about the idea in Wellington was very excited and they wanted to come to the party.” Enslin contacted Petrus du Preez, lecturer in drama at the University of Stellenbosch, about his plans, and he too was soon involved as director of the production. Well-known singer Danie Niehaus came to hear of the exciting happenings in Wellington and was soon cast as the quirky, Elvis-like Pharoah. Other experienced members of the production are Estelle Olivier as choreographer and Ronmarie van Tonder designer. But what is most important to Enslin is that the local community participates in the musical. He thus roped in former Gymnasium student and up and coming muso and actor, André Terreblanche, as Joseph. The massive choir consists of students of Boys’ High, Huguenot High and Primary, Hugo Rust Primary and CPUT and members of the Wellington NGK. And for Enslin this is only the beginning. “Joseph will just be the beginning. I would like to think that we can annually pull off such a production and wow the public from here to the Artscape and beyond. “I am convinced that we can start something really big and put Wellington on the map as a cultural centre.” Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat will be performed from 13 to 16 October at the auditorium at Bergkroon. Tickets vary from R100 to R160 and are available from Musiklood in Paarl or the Good Day Market (Brent Oil Garage) in Wellington, or contact Charlotte at 084-402-2916.
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