• By Adolf Kaure
Namibian theatre artist, Lize Ehlers says that her industry mentor and theatre guru, Sandy Rudd is an outstanding wonder of the world of theatre. Ehlers said this during an interview, during which she also invited theatre lovers to a two-night celebration of Rudd’s timeless work in the theatre industry.

“She is a force and one of the kindest people I have ever worked with,” said Ehlers. The event, which will take place at the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) in Windhoek on 16 and 17 May, is titled “Forty Years of Fabulous: A Sandy Rudd Retrospective”.

Ehlers, who will be the event’s musical director, had high praise for Rudd and explained the reason why the event had to be organised. “ S a n d y Rudd is the mother of Namibian theatre and a lifetime achiever. And some-
one who had the guts to do a giant production called 40 years of fabulous.”

“The show is there to make it possible for us to look back and see what it is going to be in the future,” Ehlers added. The opening show on Friday, 16 May will also be Rudd’s 70th birthday adding to the celebratory mood.

“It will be a heartfelt retrospective celebrating the legendary work of director Sandy Rudd. Whether you were on stage, behind the scenes, or in the audience, this is a celebration for everyone touched by theatre.” “Let’s celebrate the past, present, and the endless possibilities of the future—together,” she said. A red-carpet gala on Friday, 16 May, will kick off the celebration
at 19:00, with all in attendances expected to wear either formal or traditional wear.

Saturday, 17 May will include two regular shows at 16:00 and 19:00. With Sandy Rudd directing and producing the show, choreography will be done by Haymich Olivier and Odile Gertze, while Ernst Steynberg is the technical director. Sandy Rudd is the artistic director, lecturer and manager of the Bank Windhoek Theatre School, College for the Arts, in Windhoek Namibia (under the aegis of the Namibian Government of Namibia).

She was born in Zimbabwe but is a Namibian citizen. She has been passionate about theatre and live performances ever since she can remember. Rudd holds a BA Drama Hon. (Cum Laude) at the University of Namibia. She specializes in Development Theatre, Community-based Theatre, as well as formal and informal productions. Her productions have toured both nationally and internationally.

Some of her popular productions include: I am John’, ‘Meet Me at Dawn’, ‘The Lesson’, ‘Meme Mia’, ‘Shakespeare in the Car Park’,
‘Little Shop of Horrors’, ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’, ‘Happy Beat’, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, ‘Os-
hi-Deutsch: The GDR Children of Namibia’ and ‘Lion’s Roar.

Tickets for the show can be purchased web tickets online or at Pick n Pay outlets.