MEET THE VISITING HOUR CAST

SHIVISKE SHIVISI

Born December 1990, everything about this Phoenix Diva from her name to her career as a powerful actress stands out. The Former which she explains was formed by her parent from his own name Shivisi.

Shiviske a Film student in UON started acting in high school at Bishop Gatimu Ngandu high where she was cast as the main character – A rich, mean, sophisticated woman that harasses her servants.

Professionally her career dawned in 2009 at the August 7^th Memorial Park in the musical ‘the whistle blower’ and her first assignment at the phoenix players was in ‘the house of Bernada Alba ’ directed by Millicent Ogutu.

She passionately explains that what makes her a great and unique actor is in the fact that she personifies her characters and acts them out from her heart as original as possible.

Her best moment on stage was in the show “Why not stay for breakfast” where she accidentally carried her mobile phone on stage and it rang. “The best part is that I made up a line out of the phone ring and the audience did not only laugh but it also made sense in relation with the script.” She said. 

Her hardest moment on stage was to learn to walk like a pregnant woman and maintain it.

 While taking up the role in Visiting Hour she feared being branded as the ‘pregnant woman of phoenix’ as this was her second time playing the part.

In visiting hour her hardest challenge was to talk “slowly and use Kenyan broken English” which often got her in trouble with the director for talking faster than she could think.   

Her best moment is when she plays Sandra who is a bit blonde and annoying, and when Janet enters on stage playing the irritating old woman. She says it is quite a task for her to avoid laughing.

She withholds her future ambitions and prefers to live in the moment, doing her very best at everything she does.

Catch the hilarious stunts Shiviske pulls in Visiting Hour before the curtains fall this week.

#############END########### Em Kinyanjui

One More Reason Why You Shouldn't Miss This Final Week of Visiting Hour.. Meet Kenga Sankei

The Stage That Is a Work of Art

 

 In the shadow of any artistic piece of work there lies the sweat and energy of an artist.

 

The Phoenix Theater stage can be described as the canvas of an artist as the work that goes in it to create a masterpiece for every show is exemplary.

The small and intimate theatre has hosted over 460 shows since its inception and every show is a telling example of how much effort has been put into creating the work of art.

  The process begins by conceptualisation where a draft is drawn of what the stage should look like depending on the requirements of the show to be staged.

Materials are acquired for construction and the gruesome process that takes a week is undertaken complete with paint, furniture and all the auxiliaries that would make the show a success are carefully put in place.

As you enjoy the show we hope that you fall in love with the time and energy that we put into our sets.

All in an Effort to give you the best Theater Experience imaginable.

*Set Furnished by ODDS and Ends Kenya*

 ########END##############     Em Kinyanjui








                                              

 

Lui Nzomo's Smoke

Now Showing Visiting Hour (Final Week)

Up Next... The Three Fold Chord

Meet the Cast: Sankei Ole Kenga

Born December 13^th in Narok the soft spoken Kenga who would easily pass off as a Maasai warrior but in essence is a versatile and highly talented actor based in Nairobi.

Kenga who heads commercial business at Logics Africa started acting at a tender age playing the role of a father in a church play in Narok.

His Eleven years of acting experience has been spent perfecting his craft at various theatre establishments in Kenya like Mbalamwezi, Friends ensemble, better pill, planets and Phoenix theatre.

 He says that “Other than my girlfriend, Acting is the only thing that truly makes my day”.

When asked why he thinks he is a good actor he corrects the statement and asserts that what makes him a Great actor is not the fact that his skills are innate but that for him “it’s not just the craft, but the passion and drive”

Kenga elucidates that what most people don’t know about him is that he is actually an introvert and among other things can sing, MC and “sell tea to a tea farmer”

His favourite actors of all time are Johnny Depp and Denzel Washington but ironically he says that the hardest thing he encounters on set is to kiss on stage.

Kenga a player at the Phoenix theatre explains that it is the best repertory theatre in Africa  for its high standard for quality, creative consistency and an excellent creative director. 

In Visiting Hour his toughest moment is to maintain the character of Arthur in Magic who is uncouth and hilarious albeit saying very few lines. His best moment in the play is in the end when he gets to say the uproarious story of ‘just’ the head sitting on a hospital bed.  *Watch Video Link on Our FB page*

When questioned on the progress of the acting industry in Kenya, he expounds that Kenya has great talent but little appreciation for the same.

Watch out for this rising star as he looks forward to make his Hollywood debut next year and watch him live at the phoenix theatre in Visiting Hour.

########END############# By Em Kinyanjui.

The Phoenix Players: MEET THE CASTTakunda Kramer was born in August 2nd...

The Phoenix Players: MEET THE CASTTakunda Kramer was born in August 2nd...: MEET THE CAST Takunda Kramer was born in August 2 nd 1990 in Harare Zimbabwe. He started acting at the age of nine years playing th...

MEET THE CAST

Takunda Kramer was born in August 2^nd 1990 in Harare Zimbabwe.

He started acting at the age of nine years playing the lead Rat in a play about a family of rats in primary school.

He has studied acting at the London royal academy of dramatic art and is a professional actor.

He says that he is passionate about acting because he likes to entertain people; to laugh or cry and  asserts that his uniqueness as a good actor is personified in the fact that he is a good listener and he has stage presence.

T.k as he is commonly known has acted in Dar-esalaam, Harare, New York, London and now in  Kenya’s Phoenix players.

He says that the hardest thing he has ever had to do is to reach deep down to his emotions and cry or laugh without faking it.

His best and craziest moment is when he was cast to act as an English general in a play about World War I where he had to adopt the English accent and wear a moustache.

Takunda among other things can sing, play drums, has skills in stage combat and can dance to the waltz and Tango and enjoys teaching football to small children.

His favourite actor of all time is Denzel Washington and he says that he cried to Will smith’s pursuit of happiness movie.

In the near future he has plans to go back to school to become a producer and hopes one day to open a proper Arts school in Africa that teaches everything from acting, production, stage management. Etc. He believes that we can make proper and well paying carriers from arts and that we shouldn’t have to go abroad to study the same.

At phoenix players he is currently acting in visiting hour playing Erick (in Plaster) and Ron (in Magic).

He says that his hardest moment on set was having to create the Ron laughter. *watch link on FB*

His best scene is when he is playing Erick lying on the bed.  He says “The best part is that when i tell my jokes its only the men who laugh because they understand the mischief in marriages and have told an excuse or two that I give on stage”

By Em Kinyanjui. #####END######

THEATRE AND FASHION.

THEATRE AND FASHION.

                It is said that theatre is everyday life and no aspect in life is not supported by theater. Theatre is a combination of lighting, thespians, costumes and of course the glamor. Is there a direct relationship between the two??  Just as we mark fashion in accordance in years, i.e. fashion in the 60’s, the same goes  for theatre. With its origin from the Greece, theatre has revolutionized to what we see today.  Models and thespians do not have a dissimilarity because all they are doing is giving a performance that will leave the audience glued to their seats.  But how about combining the two? Is it possible?

                The Walliris Annenberg center, from Italy, is an example of a fashion house that has a premier of “11 Teatro Alla Moda”. In simple terms, “Theatre in Fashion”.  This year, over 80 costumes from great fashion personalities like Giorgio Armani, Robert Capucci, Gianni Versace name them all, will be exhibited for four weeks to showcase and support the performing arts. The event will see many lovers of art come together to celebrate their first love. The Annenberg will open in the fall 2013. Talk about creativity.

As I envision this, I cannot help but feel the air around such an event. Having theatre and fashion in the same house…. what a brilliant idea. According to Curator Capella, “The relationship between theatre and fashion has allowed the designers to leave their own exceptional mark on theatrical events.”  In the fashion and theatre book of record, this is an event that will definitely be jotted down.

I pose this as a challenge to all artists. Why not think out of the box and have an event that is out of this world. Have an event that will make a new theatre book record.

                                     by Wangeci kariuki.