News from the Rec Centre

COVID-19 is like something out of a science fiction movie. It’s disrupted our lives in so many ways and we all want our lives back at some point soon, please! It is sad news that our local Roosevelt Park Rec Centre remains closed for our group, with no news on a possible opening date for the new year.
 
While several programmes exist in the country to provide assistance to businesses large and small, the Franklin Players have been unable to receive any such assistance. Being a small, all-volunteer and non-profit community theatre group does not qualify us to receive national level arts grants, nor are we able to apply to national assistance programmes. So until such time as we are able to grace our boards and open our doors again, we are trying to keep our ongoing expenses to a minimum and therefore ask that you please consider making a donation to the Franklin Players or update your membership for 2021.

We hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy.
Enjoy this month’s newsletter.

Our thanks!
 
Els De Bundel
Chairperson

Franklin Players AGM

Yes, it’s that time of year for our Annual General Meeting to be held online, via Zoom, on Sunday, 13 December 2020 (11:00 am). Please note only paid up members will be able to join and cast a vote at the Franklin AGM. Membership fee for the remainder of 2020 stands at R100.
 
Franklin Players Banking Details:
FNB
Branch Code – 250655
Account Number – 50400030074
Current Account
Reference – Name, Surname (year membership is for)

Membership 2021

For those of you renewing for next year (2021), the membership fee is R200 for the full year. Please note that paying membership for next year (2021) does not make you eligible to vote at this year’s (2020) AGM.

Lessons for life and business in theatre

Whether you have devoted your entire life to the performing arts, or you are just considering taking an acting or technical class or two, theatre experiences hold value that can serve you well in business and life.

1. Confidence is key
Few things in life will teach confidence faster than standing on a stage, and letting yourself shine in front of an audience of your peers, friends, and family.
 
2. Rejection sucks, but you can survive it
Sometimes you audition your heart out, hoping for a lead role, but when the cast list is posted, you find yourself in the chorus, or worse, not on the list at all. It’s theatre though, and as always, the show must go on. You learn to shake off rejection, give your best performance in that ensemble.
 
3. It’s not about you
Life can be more fun when you work as part of a team. Theatre is not a solitary art. It takes a small army to put on a show. Everyone has a job to do, and the entire team must work together to create an audience worthy production.
 
4. The world is a big place, full of different cultures and values
While working as part of that big team, you interact with fellow humans from different backgrounds while presenting shows that tell culturally diverse stories from all over the world. Keeping an open mind is basically an actor’s full time job.
 
5. Make your voice heard
Being heard in a meeting or a presentation? No sweat. To be heard and believed on stage, actors must learn to project and annunciate, always improving their diction, intonation and delivery.
 
6. Emotions were meant to be expressed
Psychologists say, “don’t hide your emotions, deal with them.” Who is better equipped to deal with emotions than actors, who spend hours on stage expressing every emotion a human is capable of feeling?
 
7. Discipline is a key to success
Theatre isn’t easy. It takes hard work, focus and discipline to put on a show. Any actor who has spent hours and hours learning lines, building sets, making costumes and rehearsing after work or school and on weekends, all the while keeping up with family life, school work or work responsibilities in general, knows the meaning of discipline.
 
8. Sometimes you need to take a risk to obtain rewards
Employers are constantly seeking leaders who don’t always play it 100% safe, and who are not afraid to take calculated risks. Actors learn very early on, if they want to get noticed on stage, they have to learn to trust themselves enough to take a risk, try something different and never ever ‘play it safe’.
 
9. Constructive criticism and feedback are there to help you grow
After most rehearsals, the director gives theatre students notes on their performance. Actors quickly learn that the intention of a note is not to tear them down, but help them create the best possible performance. The response to a note from the director should never be argued or excused. It should simply be ‘thank you’. Imagine if people in the workplace accepted feedback in that way.
 
10. Do what you love!
This is the best advice anyone can ever give you. More so than do what you love, love what you do always.

Franklinite Corner

FRANKLIN PLAYERS AT HANG:10 FESTIVAL
Soné Pieterse, Daniel Solomons, Traci Scerri and Hendrik Greyvenstein strutted their stuff on stage along with sister societies EADS and Protea this past weekend, at the annual Protea Stage Productions’ Hang:10 Festival. Congratulations to all who participated, the shows were fantastic and the audience support was great. A big thank you to the organisers for another fun festival and we look forward to next year’s event.

Happy birthday to our November bunnies.