Theatre Buffs: Durban finale of 'Jeeves and Wooster'

13 February 2015 - 03:02 By Shelley Seid
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This is the first time Durban audiences have been pushed to the back of the queue for a KickstArt production.

The smash West End show Jeeves and Wooster opened in Cape Town last year, then played Johannesburg and, finally, Durban.

The show is one of many collaborations between KickstArt's Steven Stead and Greg King and Theatre impresario Pieter Toerien. This time, said Stead, it was Toerien who got the rights to the play and decided to open in Cape Town.

The relationship began when Toerien saw the KickstArt production of Cabaret. An unqualified success in Durban, it went on to wow audiences in Johannesburg and Cape Town. This was closely followed by the drama Red and the comedies Don't Dress for Dinner and Twitch.

"In 2013 we did four productions back to back," said Stead. "At one point we had three South Africa premieres in three different cities at the same time. It was terribly stressful."

Executive director Stead referred to the KickstArt sets as the "visual ethos" of their productions. It's no exaggeration. The sets of artistic director King are works of arts - flights of fantasy that immediately set the tone. The sets are built in Durban ("mostly in the driveway and my garage") and transported around the country.

There have been other challenges. One production manager called the team the "amateurs from Durban", but the company has earned its stripes.

"The dedication of our small team always strikes Johannesburg and Cape Town practitioners," said Stead. "How our lighting and costume designers always go the extra mile - way beyond the call of duty. It's not a job, it's a passion."

KickstArt is now being recognised as a Durban company that is making it nationally.

"Although people came to Cabaret critically, the response was overwhelmingly warm," said Stead, whose background includes 10 years in the UK as senior staff director at the English National Opera, directing works across Europe.

"I watched West End work being created by some of the best directors in the world. I've seen what is possible and I've witnessed mistakes. That's how I learned how to put on a big show in three weeks."

Stead spent January writing the script for the end-of-year pantomime. It will be his only free time this year. Jeeves and Wooster is followed by Little Shop of Horrors in Cape Town in April and then rehearsals for Shrek, on in Durban in June. In August there is Snoopy the Musical, then Johannesburg and Cape Town runs of Sweeny Todd in October.

  • 'Jeeves and Wooster' is on at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre till Sunday.www.computicket.com
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