Curtain Up

There have been quite a few South African publications and/or productions and venues using the basic title Curtain Up in some form or another.

• Curtain Up! The Story of Cape Theatre (Cape Town: Juta and Company, 1951).

• Curtain Up! by James Ambrose Brown (1986)

• Curtain Up by Charon Williams-Ros (2001 & 2019)

• The Curtain Up Club, Muizenberg (2024-)

Please note: None of these are to be confused with any one of a number of other British and North American books and plays by this name, often using the basic idea of the revamping of a derelict theatre building.

Curtain Up! The Story of Cape Theatre by Olga Racster (1951)

This is not a play, but a fine history of Cape Theatre by the Journalist Olga Racster (Published in Cape Town by Juta and Company in 1951).

For more information, see the entry on Olga Racster.

Curtain Up! by James Ambrose Brown (1986)

A collection of two plays for children by the author.

See the entry on the collection under its full title: Curtain Up! Two Plays For Children

Curtain Up by Charon Williams-Ros

Curtain Up is a musical play written by Charon Williams-Ros (fl. 1992-2023)

The original text

The play tells of a diverse group of talented young performers who take shelter from the rain in a derelict, old theatre where, to their delight, they discover the evocative remnants of past productions. Inspired by the idea of bringing the old theatre back to life, the performers appeal to the new owner, Siyanda, who inherited the theatre from his grandfather. He informs them that the sale of the property is imminent, and that the theatre will be knocked down to make way for a casino. The passion with which the young performers fight to save the theatre throws a spotlight on Siyanda's own values leading him to the realization of what it is he truly wants.

Translations and adaptations

Re-written and updated in 2019 by the author, from her original script, written for the first production in 2001.

Performance history in South Africa

2001: Produced by The Young Performers Project (YPP) as their very first Young Performers Production, directed by Themi Venturas.

2019: Produced in a revamped version by The Young Performers Project at the Sneddon Theatre, Durban, 16 May - 02 June. Directed by Jaco van Rensburg with professional artists Mthokizisi Zulu and Sbongisene Shezi and a cast of talented high school performers.

Sources

https://www.pubmat.co.za/the-new-revitalised-curtain-up-opens-this-week/

Go to ESAT Bibliography

The Curtain Up Club, Muizenberg (2024-)

One of two interrelated initiatives (The Youth Theatre Club and Curtain Up Club) launched by The Masque Theatre in Muizenberg in 2024 to offer children of all ages the chance to experience the magic of theatre.

For more on these initiatives, see the Masque Theatre

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