Backstagers
Director - Helen Flax
Helen's romance with Theatre and Mannville, in particular, began in 1975 when, as a junior school pupil, she saw Helen Mann playing Lady Macbeth.
When she played the part in 2014, it was at The Little Theatre and she sadly believed that the glory days of Mannville Open Air Theatre were past.
Rocky Mann’s hard work and stubborn determination were to prove her wrong however.
In 2015, she was part of the re-opening of Mannville, in a celebrated and highly successful production of Twelfth Night. This was Directed by Lesley Barnard, who takes the lead in this year’s production of The Tempest, and who she openly acknowledges, is the other half of her theatrical brain.
Both on the boards and behind the scenes, she has been involved with theatre since 1980.
Helen was lucky enough to be directed by Helen Mann in the early 80’s and was blessed to appear on stage with her in Our Town in 1985.
Initially selling programmes front of house, she graduated to the stage and eventually played, amongst others, roles such as Desdemona, Juliet, Beatrice, Lady Macbeth and Cleopatra.
Shakespeare is her first love, so it should be no surprise that she directed The Merchant of Venice (2001), The Taming of the Shrew (2002), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2005) and As You Like It (2007).
However, Shakespeare is not her only love. For PEMADS (Port Elizabeth Musical and Dramatic Society) she directed An Ideal Husband (2004), The Importance of Being Earnest (2005), Charley’s Aunt (2006), Aladdin (2006) and Blythe Spirit(2010).
At PEMADS, she got to play in farce like Don’t Dress for Dinner and thrillers like Deathtrap and A Few Good Men.
Helen performed with Noel Morgan and played for director-writer Barbara Woodhead.
She was influenced by many different directors, with many different styles: from Helen Wilkins to Themi Venturas, from Linda-Louise Swain to Robin Williams, Colin Ward and Lizinda Schrapler. From Shakespeare to Pantomime and Farce, she loves it all.
Helen was named Best supporting actress, play, 2015, for her role as Maria in Twelfth Night.
Technical Consultant - Rocky Mann
Being the son of Helen and Bruce Mann, after whom Mannville is named, it was only natural for Rocky Mann to follow in his parent's footsteps after he completed his matric at the Grey High School in 1979.
"I was born into a fabulous lifestyle home and worked on numerous theatre productions with my family and various local societies - mostly technical - set building, lighting & sound," said Rocky.
He has had a varied career, working as a orthoptist & prosthetist and a painting company supervisor.
He joined the Cape Administration Performing Arts Board (CAPAB) and worked at the Opera House starting at the bottom as a technician and progressing up to Stage Manager.
Over the years he has worked on a variety of professional shows during which he was responsible for stage management, lighting and sound.
Rocky has been involved in all types of productions - drama, comedy, ballet, opera and Shakespearean plays - over the years as a profesional theatre person. He estimates these number a couple of hundred different shows.
When the new Guild Theatre opened he moved to East London and ran the technical side of productions for a few years.
His next appointment was at the 1820 Settler's Monument Theatre in Grahamstown where he ran the entire complex's technical facilities, productions, conferences and events.
While there he took up the position of technical touring manager of the South African Schools Festival.
He was then appointed technical coordinator for the National Arts Festival and was responsible for hiring and setting up the technical equipment in all the venues, hiring all the staff for venues and then overseeing the running of the festival.
Rocky attempted to break into theatre overseas and worked on the Intertnational Festival in Scotland. However South Africans were not popular during that period and he found it difficult to obtain a steady job so he returned to South Africa.
On his return to Port Elizabeth he was appointed manager of the SPCA, married and started a family. During this period he was constantly involved in amateur theatre in the Eastern Cape.
Some years later he started a retail company "Party Adventures" and during this period worked occasionally with Shakespeare SA, touring provinces in the country with a professional team of actors and crew and presenting two different shows at each venue.
"I have obviously, over the years, done all the Shakespearean plays. However, every year is different in terms of directors, cast and crew – which makes it a different type of show," he said.
The Mannville Open Air Theatre started to encounter a series of problems with security, especially theft of equipment and cables, but after many meetings and negotiations with the Parks Department, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the City Council – the Shakespearean Festival eventually came to an agreement which will hopefully benefit the City of Port Elizabeth for many years.
This included a complete revamp of Mannville, including a new techical tower housing with a lighting and sound control booth and a coffee station. Other improvements include the refurbishment of the dressing rooms, both inside and out, and the public toilet facilities. At this stage the ladies facilities were doubled.
The cherry on the top was the beautiful eco friendly perimeter security fencing around the theatre itself so Port Elizabeth now has a top class amphitheatre comparable with any other around the country.
"My legacy is that I wish many people would make use of it as it has endless possibilities," said Rocky.
The Clover Bowl for Special Achievement in Theatre was awarded to Rocky in 2016 for leading the effort to revitalise Mannville and return the open air theatre to its previous popular status.
Choreographer - Bennie Gerber.
Bennie Gerber (30) grew up on a farm outside Cradock before moving to Port Elizabeth a few years ago. After studying at Stageworld, Tinity College London and NMMU he now holds degrees in the performing arts, musical theatre and public relations, marketing and linguistics.
He now works as a freelance choreographer, pr and marketing manager for a premium restro-bar. He has studied under Marlene Pieterse and works as a part-time tutor at NMMU.
Bennie danced and choreographed at Sun International for five years and his most notable performances have been "Emcee" in Cabaret and "Rooster" in Annie.
Other shows include Footloose, Thoroughly Modern Millie and various other shows for Gilbert and Sullivan. Bennie plays the part of Malvolio, a prim and proper head servant in Lady Olivia's household.
Bennie won the 2015 Clover Showtime Best Comedy Performance for portraying Malvolio in Twelfth Night.
Props - Mark Shelton
Being the son of the late, well-known, Parks Department Director John Shelton, it's only natural for Mark to have kept up his ties with the Port Elizabeth Shakespearian Festival and other theatrical productions.
He has been involved in things theatrical since High School days, acting in Our Town-Ons Dorp, King Lear with Trevor Hicks & John Hussey during his matric year in 1985, assisting back stage with the Gilbert & Sullivan production of Disco Inferno & Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. It is indeed a very special occasion for Mark and his daughter Chloe to share the stage during this years The Tempest production, some 30 odd years after acting in King Lear.
Production Secretary - Megan Wilkins
Megan, 21 is still a student, having just finished her BA in English and Law at Rhodes University. Currently she is studying towards her LLB at NMMU.
She has been in the Theatre for as long as she can remember, sitting along-side her Grandmother, Helen Wilkins, through many a Shakespearean play.
As soon as she was old enough, she made her Shakespearean debut in Helen Flax’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” – when she played the part of a fairy, something, as an 11 year-old, she found very exciting.
The following year she partook in “Much Ado about Nothing”, where she was the principle dancer.
She attended Theodore Herzl High School so she could work with Robin Williams.
Under her tutelage she worked on many shows, including “Funny Girl”, “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” and “Caucasian Chalk Circle”.
In her Matric Year, she directed her own House Play, for which she won best technical show and best actress in a supporting role.
In 2012 she earned a Distinction for her ATCL in Individual Acting from Trinity Guild College (London).
Although she does not plan to pursue acting professionally, she says it will always retain a special spot in her heart.
All she has learned has helped her immensely in the court room, something for which she will be always be grateful. Now that she am back in Port Elizabeth, she intends taking part in local productions.
"Above all," she says "I owe my Grandma-bear the biggest thank you. She used to read a book to me when I was young called “Ferdinand the Bull”, using her acting skills to bring it to life.
"This is the reason I chose to pursue acting, which has brought me so much joy," she said.
Prompt/Front of House - Helen Wilkins
Helen Wilkins has been involved in every PESF production at the Mannville Open Air Theatre since its establishment in 1972.
She has participated as a member of the cast, as Director twice, assisted with costumes, schools liaison for block bookings, front-of-house, prompt and is honorary treasurer of the Society.
Over the years she has been privileged to work under Directors such as Leslie French, Helen Mann and Helen Flax and acted with a host of talented fellow thespians.
For her it has been a very happy and fulfilling experience.
Technical Manager - Manny Fokos
Although Manny Fokos was born in Johannesburg he has been in Port Elizabeth since 1966.
He has been an amateur sound engineer since joining the Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival in 1975.
In the days when he started doing sound there were no courses, as with many other professions, to teach newcomers their chosen careers and so he had to learn by doing things "hands-on"!
Manny estimates he has been responsible for the sound in at least 40 productions and did freelance technical work for CAPAB at the PE Opera House during the late ‘70s and the ‘80s. He was responsible for operating the lights for The Herald On The Go show during the early ‘80s.
Acted in three Shakespearean plays – Hamlet, Othello and Twelfth Night directed by Helen Mann and a straight play Our Town directed by Themi Venturas.
Some of his awards inclue Apple Award in the category George Loopuyt Decor Award in 1987, the Apple Award in the category George Loopuyt Decor Award in 1989, the PESF “Non Sansz Droict” medal for theatre technical workin 1990 (presented by Leslie French) and he was inducted into the The Herald Showtime Hall of Fame in acknowledgement of a lifetime of meritorious service to the performing arts in Port Elizabeth in 2006.
Sound Technician - Ben Laws
Ben, 17, is currently in grade 11 at Theodore Herzl High School and is studying drama.
Every term he has to do a project and not being an actor he has opted to do technical work this term.
This is the third production he has worked on, the other two, both in 2015, being A Midsummer's Night Dream and Other Desert Cities under Robin Williams.
Special Effects - Taryn Jordan
Taryn, 16, is currently in grade 11 at Theodore Herzl High School and is studying drama as a subject.
She is very interested in doing special effects and did make-up and set building for the 2015 production of A Midsummer's Night Dream.
The Tempest is the second stage production she has worked on.
Costume Mistress/Tuckshop - Brigitte Mann
Brigitte dabbled in various activities growing up in the small town of Grahamstown; namely knitting , sewing cooking and baking. She also did the odd show.
After marrying into the Mann family at the age of 21, she was thrust into theatre and now she has become a fixture at Mannville, catering for shows, selling coffees, serving on the committee and finally taking on the huge task of running the wardrobe department.
She has not only costumed the actors and actresses ; but has on numerous occassions actually made the costumes. In one show she made 17 costumes and in Midsummer Night's Dream
she made adult and childrens fairy costumes.
Midsummer Nights Dream costumes are her favourites.
Being back in the park after four years of theatres is the jewel in the crown for her; as she loves the outdoors.
Brigitte received the costume award for Hamlet in Showtime 2014.
In 2015 the Shakespearean Festival put on Twelfth Night which was directed by Lesley Barnard. Brigitte made costumes for Sir Toby Belch and the rest of the cast.
"It was a great production and fun was had by all," she said.
In 2016 Brigitte was inducted into the Clover Showtime Hall of Fame