Sandy Rudd marks 40 years in theatre with grand showcase, exhibition

Namibian theatremaker Sandy Rudd is set to commemorate her remarkable four-decade career in the performing arts with a spectacular multimedia production and an exhibition of theatre posters. The showcase will take place at the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) on 16 and 17 May, promising a two-hour theatrical feast that celebrates her work from 1983 to 2024.According to a statement issued by Rudd, the show will highlight excerpts from her vast repertoire of productions. These range from musicals, children’s theatre, comedy and tribute shows to work in special needs theatre, community productions, and Independence Day celebrations. It will also include elements from the College of the Arts (COTA) Theatre School projects, such as Theatre Sports, Song Night, Spoken Word and Free Your Mind.Rudd has assembled an ensemble of nearly 100 performers for this event, including some of Namibia’s most celebrated actors, musicians and dancers. Among the featured names are Lize Ehlers, Haymich Olivier, Odile Gertze, Norman Job, Big Ben, Esther Fellner, Ndinomholo Ndilula, Roya Diehl and Sharon van Rooi. Also joining the line-up are Vocal Front, Emil Stuwig, Ndayola Ulenga, Othello Joseph and Verina Davidow, along with a small company of dancers, The Hot Pocket and the Let’s Sing Ensemble Choir. There will also be appearances by members of the deaf community and familiar faces from Rudd’s 2015 Independence Day show.“Major productions are never forgotten – people still talk about ‘Meme Miah’, ‘Hot Mikado’, ‘The Jungle Book and ‘The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Aladdin,” Rudd reflected, adding that this show is one of the most lavish productions the NTN has seen in a long time.Reigniting a love of theatre Rudd noted that the production is not only a celebration of her legacy but also a much-needed spark for the local theatre scene. “The Covid-19 pandemic silently devastated the performing arts in Namibia. This showcase will reignite the love for theatre among artists and audiences alike.”In addition to the showcase, an accompanying exhibition titled ‘A Life in Posters’ will open at the National Art Gallery of Namibia (NAGN) on Thursday, 15 May at 18:00. Curated in partnership with NAGN, the exhibition features over 50 posters from Rudd’s productions over the last 40 years. The collection is slated to be permanently installed in the backstage area of the National Theatre.Andrew Weir, the designer behind most of Rudd’s posters since 1990, will curate the exhibit and host a masterclass on designing for theatre. The posters will be printed by The Sign Shop and professionally framed by UNFRAMED.Both the showcase and exhibition stand as a powerful tribute to Rudd’s enduring influence on Namibian theatre, offering audiences a journey through the sights, sounds and stories that have defined generations of local performance art. Tickets to the show are available via webtickets.

Sandy Rudd marks 40 years in theatre with grand showcase, exhibition

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-20

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Sandy Rudd marks 40 years in theatre with grand showcase, exhibition

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-20

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