The Book Launch - 30 April 2011 (at the National Arts Gallery of Zimbabwe)

Jump Theatre was launched on the 30th of April 2011 at HIFA (the Harare International Festival of the Arts). We had a great turnout of some 80 people: press, HIFA punters, fellow thespians, friends and family.

After an initial meet-and-greet, Kevin and some friends from The Impro Show put on a very condensed version of how to make a play. Which went down well ... and quickly. Which was the idea. They 'staged' an intial production meeting, an audition, some rehearsal, some technical and design meetings and then a performance of the first scene from Macbeth. The show was brazenly entitled Scene 1. The publicity material for this fine show sold the show boldly: "It has to be seen." Stephan, a touring clown from Europe, did admirably as an impromptu Lighting Designer, Sarah from London made a brilliant Sound Designer with her little drum, and the rest of the crew from The Impro Show proved they were worth every stitch of the Jump Theatre t-shirts they wore.

Much wine, beer and orange juice was drunk, snacks were snuck, Bjorn Maes from Africalia said some kinds words about Kevin and the unquestionable need for a book like Jump Theatre in Zimbabwe and beyond. After some book signing, and a good sense of a book launch well done, the team of some twenty helpers helped restore the Northern Gallery to its original glory.

The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - 19-28 May 2011

Since the book launch, Kevin has been working with Repteens on a production of Douglas Adams' classic tale The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Based on the original radio scripts from 1978 this was a mammoth undertaking. Putting a radio show on stage is not easy as whilst radio can bounce around from venue to venue willy nilly, theatre can't. In the end the show had some 15 odd locations and over three hundred technical cues. However, Kevin and the Repteens rose admirably to the challenge. The show ran for 10 performances and was enjoyed by all who saw it. This included some 160 children from two children homes in Harare on the Africa Day matinee show.

The Repteen Company numbered 40 individuals. 30 something of that number were Repteens themselves, coming from various Harare schools, with the remainder being adults who mentored the young enthusiastic thespians. This system of mentoring gives the less experienced members of the company the opportunity to get their hands dirty and get stuck into this marvellous craft of theatre, without leaving them drowing in a sea of cues, technical details and wardrobe notes. Mentors helped in the areas of lights, sound, stage management, set design and a new idea to Kevin and Repteens: Nia. In this production of The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the character of The Book was personified as a team of 8 ninjas, who delivered the inter-galactic knowledge of the Guide with deadly kung-fu accuracy, and mystic tai-chi calmness. All part of their Nia lessons. Look out for a Nia class near you.

The Repteens now go onto preparing their Allied Arts entries for the National Festival of Allied Arts.