Youth theatre puts on a spectacular show

Take a fantastic musical adventure with an out-of-this-world car that flies through the air and sails the seas.

Add the committed production team of a youth theatre, an enthusiastic cast and a sound and lighting team who can improvise as the team goes along.

And you will blow the audience away!

This is happening in March at the Pretoria Youth Theatre next to the library on Pioneer Road in Irene.

Based on the beloved 1968 film version of Ian Fleming’s children’s book, and featuring an unforgettable score by the Sherman Brothers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, is a family-friendly show that audiences will find amusing and feel the need to tap their feet along.

An eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts, very ably played by Pretoria actor, singer and dancer Dylan du Plessis, sets about restoring an old race car from a scrap heap.

His children Jeremy and Jemima help him. They soon discover the car has magical properties, including the ability to float and take flight.

Trouble occurs however 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 Baron and Baroness.

For producer Clive Martin the show is a highlight of his youth theatre career.

“There are just so many talented actors, dancers and singers in this production, we can go places with it,” said Martin.

He left teaching English and drama before 2000 at several schools in Pretoria to help unlock potential talent.

“There is much more freedom in a theatre company like this to develop talent and see children grow into professionals that can achieve their dreams to be on the stage,” said Martin.

Du Plessis has been trained by the theatre company since 2016 and has carved a career for himself in the entertainment world.

When in Pretoria he loves to be involved with the Pretoria Youth Theatre and he took a stand-in role as Caractus Potts before departing to do choreography, dancing and singing for a company working with the production of plays and musicals on cruise ships.

“Every time I get onto the stage, it feels like the first time. You must still prepare yourself well enough every time to give your best to the audience,” said Du Plessis.

To him, the theatre company has grown a lot.

“We used to mostly do pantomimes, but we also now do musicals. This has meant great growth to my skills and creativity,” he said.

For director Kerry Beldon it has been a long haul with the theatre company.

She started with the company in 2008 with only a small interruption when she taught English as a subject overseas.

To her, it is a highlight that there has been so much growth on the technical side with the lighting and sound teams.

“It is such a joy to see the change in the performers and technical cast as well as to experience the impact of taking part in theatre productions has on children’s lives,” said Beldon.

She believes taking part in drama and theatre teaches children to improvise and think on their feet.

“With this production, we have many scene changes with sometimes only 20 minutes to change the scene. It is a lot of fun, but also hard work. You need to know what you are doing,” explained Beldon.

For her as a director, there has been a lot of personal growth as well.

“We are doing different categories of drama now, moving from doing pantomimes to putting on musicals, as well as a play at the end of the year, A Christmas Carol. The opportunities for producing stage magic are always there, even though it remains a challenge to put every production on the stage,” she said.

– Meet one of the actors:

https://www.facebook.com/pytheatre/videos/951996246298966

– Shows until the end of March are at 09:00 and 14:00 on certain weekdays and 18:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. More information on 084 804 0490.

– More information on Pretoria Youth Theatre: tshwaneyouththeatre@gmail.com

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