WELCOME
WELCOME
WRITERS WRITE AND ACTORS ACT, BUT
WHAT DO PRODUCERS DO?
I think only people in the theater know what a producer is. The public does not know. It knows a writer writes, and an actor acts, and a director tells them what to do. A producer raises money. Well, he does, and in some cases that's all he does. But the workers in the theater know that this is not the real thing. A producer is a rare, paradoxical genius - hard-headed, soft-hearted, cautious, reckless, a hopeful innocent in fair weather, a stern pilot in stormy weather, a mathematician who prefers to ignore the laws of mathematics and trust intuition, an idealist, a realist, a practical dreamer, a sophisticated gambler, a stage-struck child. That's a producer.
- Oscar Hammerstein II
creative producing and general management
Creativity is our core business. People are our passion. Our projects are our pride and joy.
CREATIVITY IS OUR CORE BUSINESS
VR Theatrical has established itself as a renowned theatrical producer in South Africa. We have a long standing commitment to our artists and patrons; supporting the theater community and generating greater public interest in the arts.
VRT is a full service production house that offers operational and strategic support to our creative endeavours. We also extend our specialised theatrical services and expertise to our production partners and offer with regards to casting, production accounting and budgeting, touring infrastructure around South Africa and production and general management of productions.
BRIEF HISTORY
VR Theatrical was established in 2016 and has since produced a string of acclaimed productions, from original plays, such as THE DEAD TINDER SOCIETY and presenting the multi award-winning Paul Slabolepszy's play SUDDENLY THE STORM, to South African premieres of Broadway blockbusters AVENUE Q, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH and ROCK OF AGES.
In its first year of operation, VRT was selected by the Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship as one of the top new South African businesses to be mentored by the establishment. VR Theatrical believes that audience development is a critical contribution to the local industry and specifically creates work that focuses on youth. Notable productions include PETER AND THE WOLF, a musicalised version of French aristocrat, writer, and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's THE LITTLE PRINCE and the Naledi Award-winning Best Youth production TINY THE TOKOLOSHE AND OTHER AFRICAN TALES.
OBJECTIVES
VR Theatrical recognises the need for increased dialogues and understanding of the diverse cultures within South Africa and promoting unique indigenous stories of the diaspora. To this end, we work closely with independent theatres and strategic partners to:
a) create professional employment opportunities within the sector for artists, as well as technical personnel and the associated value chain.
b) identify, nurture and develop young and emerging artists in the Performing Arts Sector.
c) promote collaboration, with a strong emphasis on female empowerment.
AWARDS
The quality of our work has been validated by numerous Naledi Theatre Awards and Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards nominations, winning across several categories on an annual basis.
COLLABORATION
VRT is dedicated to creating a bespoke theatre experience that entertains, inspires and uplifts. We strive to create a work environment with an agreeable atmosphere that is a testament to our respect for our colleagues, clients, audiences, artists and the greater community.
VRT has an extensive network of production partners. We have excellent relationships with most production houses and producers in South Africa. We believe that collaboration in theatre is essential and have thus partnered and worked with most of South Africa’s major production houses, including Pieter Toerien Productions, Durban-based KickstArt Theatre, Tsogo Sun Casinos and Daniel Galloway Consulting.
VRT also acted as General Manager and co-producer for Aspoestertjie – an Afrikaans mega-Pantomime that was presented at the South African State Theatre in collaboration with Add-Life Productions in 2019.
We pride ourselves on the quality of our work and on truly being collaborators who regularly work with other industry professionals, locally and internationally.
DEVELOPMENT
We are invested in development and outreach work and recently collaborated with the Young Performer’s Project, a KZN-based non-profit organization that focuses on identifying and developing young talent in the Performing Arts.
VALUES
Our values are guided by our beliefs and Commitment to Inclusiveness, Participation, Openness and making a difference through the Performing Arts.
EXPERIENCE
Collectively, Jaco and Wessel share professional theatre experience spanning 40 years working locally and internationally on numerous large-scale Broadway Musicals in various capacities.
THE TEAM
Jaco and Wessel have been friends for 20 years.
Jaco van Rensburg | Executive Producer
Jaco van Rensburg completed his B.Tech Musical Theatre Degree at the Tshwane University of Technology before embarking on an exciting performing career that would take him around the globe.
His true triple-threat abilities secured him various roles in iconic musicals. Performing highlights include Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys (International Touring Cast), Simon Zealotes in Jesus Christ Superstar (International Touring Cast) and Magical Mr. Mistoffelees in Cats.
Jaco also worked regularly as Dance Captain, Associate Choreographer, Choreographer, Assistant and Resident Director and Company Manager on various productions before establishing VR Theatrical in 2016.
Jaco is very fortunate to have worked with and learned from Broadway and West End creative giants, including Des McAnuff, Sergio Trujillo, Nikolai Foster, Karen Bruce, Anthony Rapp and Jo-Anne Robinson to name but a few.
Jaco is also passionate about the art of business
and loves collaborating on new and exciting ventures.
Wessel Odendaal | Creative Producer
Wessel Odendaal completed one year of Musical Theatre studies before switching courses and graduating from the University of Pretoria with a B.Mus Degree (Cum Laude) in 2006.
As a pianist, composer, arranger and music director Wessel worked extensively across all music genres alongside the best maestros in South Africa and abroad.
He served as Musical Director for Avenue Q (international UK touring company to South Korea), Rock Of Ages, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and the South African premieres
of Hedwig And The Angry Inch, The Cradle Will Rock and Ragtime - the musical.
He acted as assistant musical director on Jesus Christ Superstar (Greece and South Korea), Saturday Night Fever, The Full Monty, Disney’s High School Musical (China and
Indonesia), Aspects Of Love, CATS, The Boys In The Photograph and Mamma Mia! Wessel also toured as part of the orchestra with the international company of The Phantom Of The
Opera.
A career highlight thus far was working on the opening of the new Culture Square Theatre in Shanghai, China in 2011 where he accompanied international theatre stars including Lea
Salonga, Eden Espinosa and Ria Jones.
Wessel turned down a full scholarship from Penn State University to complete his Masters Degree and opted to become co-owner and Executive Producer for VR Theatrical.