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Saturday, June 27, 2015

SUE ROBERTS LEAVES FOR AUSTRALIA



(Sue Roberts)

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre Production Manager Sue Roberts leaves the theatre after 15 years to join family members in Melbourne, Australia. She is currently stage managing Kickstart's production of Shrek, with her final show taking place tomorrow (June 28).

Roberts graduated with a Drama degree from the former University of Natal some 30 years ago, and has been working in the theatre industry ever since. After starting as an Assistant Stage Manager at Pretoria's State Theatre, she spent several years working for Pieter Toerien Productions, touring the country as a Stage Manager with a variety of shows and gaining valuable experience.

She relocated to the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town and toured both nationally and internationally with the phenomenally successful David Kramer & Taliep Petersen musical, District Six. This was followed by three years of working at the Durban Playhouse before a stint at Sun International; first as part of the opening team at the Carousel, and then as Stage Manager for the Sun City Superbowl; a highlight being the first Miss World pageant.

The next few years were spent freelancing as a touring stage manager for several big musicals, namely Oklahoma, Buddy, and The Elvis Las Vegas Extravaganza, interspersed with two short spells at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre and the world-renowned Market Theatre respectively.

In May 2000, Sue returned to Durban to use her skills in the very same theatre where she once performed as a drama student in the opening festival of the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in 1981!. She has since also completed a Diploma in Business Management and in recent years returned to her old hobby - writing - when she was invaded by fictional characters with their own stories to tell. To date she has written three novels which are available for download.

“Sue has been an invaluable member of the small team at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, and her meticulous attention to detail and passion for the industry has contributed enormously to the smooth-running of all productions at the venue. She will be hugely missed, not only in a work capacity but as a close friend to her colleagues. We wish Sue continued happiness, fulfilment and many publishing deals in this exciting new chapter of her life,” says Jackie Cunniffee, Director of the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.

For more information on Sue Roberts visit http://susanrobertswriter.weebly.com