Alice in Wonderland

From Great North Road

Contributed by Barry Woodrow.

In earlier postings we've seen references to the tradition of NKAS Pantomimes - John Dunbar's enormous musical contribution in the 1960s and early 1970s has had deserved mention; the programme and some photographs from "Romulus and Remus" (December 1971) have also been posted to this Board.

Beer Mat

During my time in Kitwe (1971-1979) "The Wizard of Oz" was presented twice - in 1972 by Howard and Jill Shakespeare, and I produced the same show in 1977. I know it was also presented at least once previously at NKAS. Regrettably, the only souvenir I have is an advertising beer mat from the 1977 production.

The last pantomime in which I participated in Kitwe was "Alice in Wonderland" produced by Keith Pickersgill and with my then wife, Effie, in the eponymous role. Around this time there had been a major movement of longer-term residents from Kitwe, and this is clearly shown in the programme, where many new names appear. It was from this new theatrical core that the casts for some of Kitwe's greatest musicals - Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar - were ultimately drawn.

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

No doubt "old-timers" will disagree with me, contending that 1960s shows such as "West Side Story" and "The Boyfriend" surpassed even these. It is of course impossible to make comparisons - very few, if any, films of Kitwe productions exist, and only a very limited number of audio recordings. Photographs are scarce. These meagre resources do not permit us to make meaningful comparisons. Perhaps, probably, we do not want to - our memories of our own times at Nkana Kitwe Arts Society are surely enough.

Olde Tyme Music Hall

NKAS usually presented one Olde Tyme Music Hall each year, normally in November. These were always very popular, and were the only shows in which drinks were served in the auditorium, by the Singing Waiters and Waitresses.

The Music Hall in November 1978 was my last production for NKAS. Concluding my submissions of printed material from NKAS (I do have some photo-slides stored away but this will take me some time to find, sort and scan), here is early photograph of me (foreground) and Peter Harrison in the lighting box at Kitwe Little Theatre - or the "sweat box" as many of us called it! This was during rehearsals for "How's The World Treating You?" in September 1972.

Barry Woodrow - Lighting Box

The lighting box was situated at the rear of the auditorium and served also as a sound box, and as a film projection room (two Bell and Howell 16mm projectors were used for the film night every Sunday). Not long before I arrived in Kitwe the old rehostat lighting board (it worked a bit like an electric fire, hence the nickname for the lighting box) had been moved from an elevated platform stage left to the "new" lighting box. This may have been at the same time that the revolving stage was installed (early 1971) or it may have been earlier - no doubt someone reading this will tell us!

In mid-1971 another member, Alan Ricketts, and I overhauled the rheostat board, replacing many worn parts, and made a proposal to Council (the management committee) that a new electronic (thyristor) board be purchased. This was acquired from Consolidated Lighting in RSA, being installed in time for the Theatre Association of Zambia Festival finals in July 1972.

The lighting team was often as many as six or seven persons for a musical - two of us in the box, and up to five persons on "follow-spots", four of which were normally up in the lighting gallery above the auditorium (a second gallery was installed in 1974), and occasionally one more special effects light installed in some obscure location.

Of my many and varied activities at Nkana Kitwe Arts Society (including acting, direction & production, stage management, administration), lighting was always my favourite activity - I spent many an evening in the "sweat box".

Barry Woodrow