TV Programmes like Sesame Street in America and Takalani Sesame here in South Africa teach values and life-skills to young children through the use of puppetry and songs.
AVENUE Q applies the same principle by teaching real-life lessons and broaching hard-to discuss adult topics such as racism, pornography and a whole lot more in an entertaining and colourful manner!
The South African premiere of puppet show Avenue Q will be Directed and Choreographed by Timothy le Roux, with Musical Direction by Dawid Boverhoff. Kosie Smit is tasked with Puppet Creation as well as Scenic Design. Lighting Design is by Oliver Hauser.
Le Roux said: “The all South African cast were put through their paces at auditions late last year. In musical theatre jargon the term ‘triple threat’ is often used to describe a person who is good at acting, singing and dancing. What makes this piece of theatre unique is that it includes all that - plus puppetry skills, which requires intensive training for our actors.”
The cast features stellar performers: Ashleigh Harvey as Kate Monster/Lucy, Clive Gilson as Princeton/Rod, Daniel Geddes as Nicky/Trekkie Monster, Grant Towers as Brian, Yamikani Mahaka-Phiri as Gary Coleman, Rebecca Hartle as Christmas Eve, Nieke Lombard as Bad Idea Bear, Graeme Wicks as Bad Idea Bear and Songezo Khumalo will fulfill various Understudy Roles. Actors operate the puppets in full view of the audience, using both their hands while singing, acting and dancing.
