(Above: Alison Hillstead portrays Dame Julie
Andrews)
Julie Andrews – Uncut: An acclaimed one-woman production from East London which celebrates the phenomenal life, career and music of much-adored timeless icon of stage and screen, Dame Julie Andrews, comes to the Rhumbelow Theatre in Durban for one weekend only – from December 9 until 11, 2022.
Julie Andrews is an English actress, singer, and author, who has been honoured with a host of accolades and awards throughout her career spanning over seven decades, acknowledging her enormous body of work. She is also dubbed Britain’s “youngest prima donna”, as a 13-year-old Andrews became the youngest solo performer ever to be seen in a Royal Variety Performance on November 1, 1948 – the annual fundraising gala event attended by senior members of the Royal Family.
She is known and loved for her enduring feature films – Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Victor / Victoria and, more recently, The Princess Diaries. As a voice artist, her distinctive voice appeared in Shrek, Despicable Me and Bridgerton.
She is widely known as a composed, elegant, well-spoken and a typical English lady. A lady and a Dame (In 2000, Andrews was made a Dame by the late Queen Elizabeth for her services to the performing arts). But not born of noble blood. Julie Andrews is a self-made woman. She spent her childhood performing on the Vaudeville circuit, singing and dancing, two shows a day, six days a week, alongside Pops and Barbara Andrews. Little Julie would stand on a crate to sing a duet with Pops while mom Barbara accompanied them on piano. All was not well in the Andrews family. Pops’ drinking was out of control. He was a violent drunk, completely unemployable. So Julie became the sole provider for the bickering Andrews clan.
Vaudeville was her training ground, Broadway made her and Hollywood immortalised her. Julie Andrews - Uncut tells of the trials and tribulations that shaped Julie Andrews into a shining star.
Julie Andrews Uncut features Alison Hillstead, and is written and directed by Amanda Bothma with musical director and pianist Nathan Johannisen. The production is the latest offering from Wela Kapela – an East London-based production company, established in 2019 to create opportunities for performers from East London, creating fresh new work to encourage new audiences. To this end, at least one of their productions annually is targeted at a younger audience. “Wela Kapela” is a colloquial phrase often used by young people in Cape Town, to tease or to boast.
Julie Andrews Uncut runs at Rhumbelow Theatre from December 9 to 11 with performances on Friday December 9 at 20h30*; Saturday December 10 at 14h00 and 19h30 and on Sunday December 11 at 14h00 and 17h00. Running time: 60 minutes. (Venue opens 90 minutes before show for snacks/drinks)
(*Time for Dec 9 moved to 20h30 because of loadshedding.)
Tickets R180. Bring food picnic baskets or buy at the venue. A full bar is available (no alcohol may be brought on to the premises).
Limited secure parking available.
Booking is essential on email: roland@stansell.co.za or through Computicket.
For more information contact Roland Stansell on 082 499 8636 or visit http://events.durbantheatre.com/
Rhumbelow Theatre is situated at 42 Cunningham Road off Bartle Road in Umbilo, Durban.
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