Ransomed is Tabernacle Productions’ first project involving the visual and fine arts. The exhibition is scheduled to open on Sunday, 1 April 2012 – Palm Sunday – and will close on Saturday, 14 April 2012. Tabernacle Productions has traditionally produced plays for Easter, but wanted something fresh and different for 2012.

“We’re very excited about the exhibition,” says Melanie Blignaut, a writer and director with Tabernacle Productions. “We’ve wanted to widen our scope from just theatre to include all fields of art. Ransomed is an opportunity for artists to worship God using the talents He has given them, and it gives everyone else the chance to praise Him in a way they may never have thought of before.”

The exhibition is open to artists in all mediums. Artists are invited to submit original works for consideration. The closing date for submissions is Wednesday, 21 March. For more information and to receive a copy of the submission guidelines, please email tabernacleproductions@gmail.com .

We hope you had a blessed Christmas time and that you’re feeling refreshed and ready for whatever 2012 holds. Our hope is that this will be a year of walking closer with God and experiencing him in new and interesting ways.

We’ve just had our planning meeting for the year and we are so excited about 2012! Our first major project is Balloon Adventure, the story of three children who accidentally take a balloon trip through the Old Testament. We’re having three performances at Bosmont Congregational Church at the end of March so that means we’ll be starting rehearsals within the next couple of weeks. This play has been in the works for almost three years so we’re thrilled that it’s finally happening!

We’re also planning something special – and very different – for Easter. But we can’t say more until the details are finalised, so watch this space ….

Nico, Lily and Owen are three troubled teenagers whose ill-timed decision to take their teacher’s car for a joyride results in community service at a children’s home. As they get to know the children at the home, they are forced to confront truths about their own lives that they would rather not think about.

“I think the play is very real in terms of what Nico, Lily and Owen have to deal with,” says Donné de Vries (Bailey). “I also think it’s an awesome way to show younger kids the impact they can make on older kids’ lives.”

“The play is fun and makes for good viewing,” says Rachel Badibanga (Lily), “but most importantly, we’re telling a story that’s bigger than ourselves.”

Director Bronwyn Koch adds, “All I Want for Christmas is a reminder that no matter how lost you are, God can find you – and you can find Him in the most unusual places.”

All I Want for Christmas is the latest offering from playwriting duo Bronwyn Koch and Melanie Blignaut. Debuting original songs by Donné de Vries and Bronwyn Koch, this play is a heart-warming tale for the whole family. All I Want for Christmas also stars Martin Koch as Nico and Lunga Kupiso as Owen.

All I Want for Christmas will be performed at Edenvale Baptist Church (92 Voortrekker Avenue, corner 7^th Street) on 2 and 3 December 2011 at 7pm, and 4 December 2011 at 12pm. Tickets are R20 (adults) and R10 (students/pensioners/block bookings of 10 or more). For more information or to book email tabernacleproductions@gmail.com

Winners will be announced at 12pm daily, so watch this space to find out if it’s YOU!

All I Want for Christmas runs at Edenvale Baptist Church on 2 December at 7pm, 3 December at 7pm and 4 December at 12pm.

The Grace Card

Michael Joiner gives a convincing performance of a tormented father. The only ‘big name’ in the film is Louis Gossett, Jr. who plays the mentor to Michael Higginbottom’s Sam. The supporting cast also does a great job of bringing the characters and story to life.

While on some level the events are fairly predictable, The Grace Card is a film that keeps you watching until the very end. Its powerful message of faith and forgiveness is one the world needs to hear. I would advise keeping a box of tissues nearby – even macho men may need one or two before the credits start rolling.

The Grace Card is rated PG13 for scenes of violence but there is nothing too gratuitous or disturbing. The evening news often has worse scenes. The Grace Card is a film the whole family can watch together.

MB: Who is your character in All I Want for Christmas?

RB: My character’s name is Lily and she’s a 17-year-old high school student. She’s best friends with Nico and Owen – Owen’s her boyfriend – and even though they’re a troublesome trio, I think that at heart they’re good kids who are just a little lost.

MB: What is it like to play Lily? What do you find difficult or challenging about the role?

RB: It’s interesting playing Lily because her and I are so different. Lily will huff and puff and storm out over the slightest issue. She likes to keep things to herself until she reaches breaking point, whereas that kind of behaviour is so foreign to me and how I’m wired. I’m a talker and a processor – I talk through and process what I’m thinking and feeling. I seldom just keep stuff bottled up. I’m also quite a bit older than Lily so revisiting that age and time of my life as someone else has been quite fun.

MB: What are your thoughts about All I Want for Christmas?

RB: I quite enjoy the play. I love that this play is basically about kids ministering to kids. I also like the fact that there’s a huge variety of age groups in the play and yet we all get to interact with one another. I feel as though that mix adds a nice dimension to the play.

MB: Why do you think people should watch the play?

RB: The play is fun and it makes for good viewing, but most importantly, we’re telling a story that’s bigger than ourselves. It’s the story of Christ and His birth – that alone should be enough to draw people. His birth forever changed the course of history; the least one can do in reply is give Him an hour or so of your time to watch a play.

MB: Who is your favourite character in All I Want for Christmas?

RB: Happy. That kid’s awesome!

MB: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

RB: I love the arts – singing, dancing, drawing, painting, music, as well as playing guitar and piano and writing songs. I love my sports a lot and enjoy doing outdoors stuff like hiking and going on game drives. I’m also a huge animal lover. I have plenty of favourite movies so I’ll spare you a long list. My favourite actors are Meryl Streep and Denzel Washingon. They’re simply brilliant.

LORI FOURIE

and

SANDRA SWANEPOEL

You’ve each won a pair of tickets and can collect them at the door on Saturday night.

Thank you to everyone who entered!  If you haven’t already bought tickets, there will be tickets available at the door from 6:45pm on Saturday night.  Looking forward to seeing you there!

Donné De Vries, a 24-year-old Life Sciences teacher at Dawnview High, plays the role of Bailey in All I Want for Christmas. Donné also co-wrote the lyrics and composed the music for the songs in All I Want for Christmas.

MB: Tell me about your character.

DDV: I am acting as a 17-year-old young lady named Bailey. I’m a pastor’s kid who helps out at the orphanage “His Kids” often. I really don’t like the fact that Nico, Lily and Owen come to help out at the orphanage until God works in them, as well as myself.

MB: What is it like to play Bailey? What is challenging or difficult about the role?

DDV: I find it easy to play Bailey in the way she interacts with the kids at the orphanage. I must admit, it’s rather “liberating” being able to express my utter disgust when Nico, Lily and Owen come to help out, haha. I also like the fact that my role shows that as Christians, God needs to continually remove that which doesn’t please Him.

MB: What are your thoughts about the play?

DDV: I think that the play is very real in terms of what Nico, Lily and Owen face and have to deal with. I also think it’s an awesome way to show younger children the impact they can make on older kids’ lives. The play is also very humorous, with many classic lines J

MB: Why do you think people should watch the play?

DDV: People should watch the play, no matter what age they may be, because it shows glimpses into the lives of children (Becky, Happy and Peter Rabbit), teenagers (Lily, Nico, Owen and Bailey), as well as adults (Miss Matthews and Deanne). The play also brings across the amazing way God works, and even more so as we allow Him to!

MB: Tell me a bit about yourself.

DDV: I enjoy reading (Karen Kingsbury and Francine Rivers), playing music with a few friends and baking cupcakes with a bit more creativity J.

MB: What is your favourite movie? Who is your favourite actor?

DDV: I have many favourite movie, but my most recent is Despicable Me. I don’t really have a favourite actor, but Sandra Bullock used to intrigue me as she’s able to play many diverse roles well.

MB: Who is your favourite character in the play? Why?

DDV: My favourite character in the play is Happy, a 10 year old orphan, because at the age of 10, he is focused on what is important: his relationship with God. He’s also not ashamed to tell Nico about his Father (God) and he has a close sisterly relationship with Bailey (so I’m a little biased, hehe).

The winner will be announced on Wednesday, 9 November at 12pm.

MB: Tell me a bit about the character you play in All I Want for Christmas.

JR: Deanne’s in her thirties; she’s the owner of an orphanage for AIDS children. She’s a very good person – her heart’s in what she does.

MB: Do you find it difficult to play a character who is so much older than you?

JR: It is kind of hard because you’re a certain age, and there is that age gap, but it’s not that bad. You get used to it.

MB: What is most challenging about it?

JR: Probably being as strict with the children. For me, when I do children’s church I’m much more easier going. She’s more set in the instructions.

MB: What is so special about the play for you?

JR: It’s a very heartwarming story. It gets you to learn more about things you didn’t know. There’s a Christian message. It’s not just a play. There’s an amazing cast. While you do it you learn so many things yourself.

MB: Give me one reason people should come watch the play.

JR: I think it’ll really speak to them. There are so many aspects in the play and I think people can identify with one of those aspects and they can see themselves in one of the characters.

MB: Who is your favourite character in the play?

JR: Lily. She’s got an amazing background, and just the way her character evolves through the play.