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Baxter's first lady
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July 22, 2009
The multiple award-winning theatre director, writer and producer, Lara Foot Newton, will become the first female artistic director to lead the Baxter Theatre Centre when she takes over the helm from Mannie Manim, who will retire at the end of this year.
Since the news broke on July 10, Foot Newton has been rather hard to get hold of. "It's been a bit mad," she laughs.
At the moment she is deep in rehearsals with Jazzart for a collaborative project that will open in October.
"My initial feelings upon hearing the news were delight and relief," she says. "It's something I wanted very much. I am honoured to be appointed to this position and am looking forward to fostering creative relationships with the artists of Cape Town, the university and adjacent districts.
"Following in the footsteps of Mannie Manim is a great challenge, so I hope to build on what he has achieved and strengthen the success of the Baxter in the years to come."
Over the course of her career, Foot Newton has worked hard at the development of new indigenous works, young writers and directors, something she is dedicated to continuing.
"One of my dreams is to create a company of young theatre-makers who produce a steady stream of indigenous work. Also, part of my goal is to attract young audiences to the theatre."
Foot Newton is the fourth director in the Baxter's 32-year history and she follows in the footsteps of the founding director, John Slemon (1977-1995), Rodney Phillips (1996-1999) and Manim, who joined in 2000 as CEO and director.
"This is great news for theatre in South Africa," said Manim.
The 42-year-old Foot Newton is no stranger to the Baxter Theatre Centre. In 2005 she relocated to Cape Town from Johannesburg with her family, to take up the position of resident director and dramaturge - a post which she held until 2007.
Foot Newton was born and grew up in Pretoria. She completed her BA (Hons) degree at Wits University in 1989 and in 2007 attained her Master's Degree at UCT.
She has directed more than 40 professional productions, 29 of which have been new South African plays. She was the founder of the Barney Simon Young Directors and Writers festivals. She has been integral in the development of more than 35 new South African plays.
In 1996, Foot Newton was made resident director of The Market Theatre and from 1998 to 2000 she took up the position of associate artistic director. In 2004, she won the Rolex International Theatre award and worked in London with celebrated director Sir Peter Hall for a year.
More recently Foot Newton has become involved in film, writing and co-directing the interdisciplinary short film And There is the Dust, which won five international awards and two Golden Horn awards. She was selected to be part of the Sundance Film Writers' Lab in 2007 and the Sundance Film Directors' Lab in 2008.
Her four plays - Tshepang, Hear And Now, Reach and Karoo Moose - have all toured internationally with great success and they are published by Wits Press and Oberon books.
In 2000 she adapted Zakes Mda's Ways of Dying at The Market Theatre. Last year, Karoo Moose and Reach were nominated for nine Fleur Du Cap awards and Karoo Moose received eight Naledi awards.
Foot Newton has won many awards over the years. These include the Fleur du Cap Award for Outstanding Young Director (1992); the National Vita Award (shared with Athol Fugard) for Best Director (1994); the Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year Award (1995); the Fleur du Cap Award for Best New South African Play for Tshepang (2003); the Rolex Mentor and Protégée Arts Award (2004); mentored by Sir Peter Hall; the Golden Globe Best Short Film Award (2006); the Milan Film Festival Best Short Film award (2006); the Aardvark Award for Most Innovative Production (2007) for Karoo Moose; four Fleur du Cap awards for Karoo Moose, including Best New Play and Best Director (2008); the White Ribbon Award for Women in South Africa who make a difference (2008); and eight Naledi awards for Karoo Moose, including Best New South African Play and Best Director (2009).
Foot Newton will join the Baxter Theatre Centre on November 1, working with Manim until his tenure comes to end at the end of December.
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