Lefra Productions to Bring LIEWE HEKSIE to Aardklop from 24 September

Lefra Productions is bringing a brand new stage production of LIEWE HEKSIE to Aardklop. The creator of LIEWE HEKSIE, Verna Vels, turned 80 years young this year and is celebrating the golden anniversary of the creation of Liewe Heksie. But although Lefra Productions has toured for the past three years with many successful LIEWE HEKSIE productions, Heksie never gets old.

To celebrate this double anniversary, director Frans Swart convinced Vels to write a brand new LIEWE HEKSIE story. And so a new LIEWE HEKSIE theatre production was born: LIEWE HEKSIE EN DIE TUINDWERGIE. "I had to but pressure on poor Verna," says Swart, "but eventually she agreed. It's great that no one knows this story and it's going to be a big surprise for everyone."

"I had always wanted Heksie to meet a garden gnome," says Vels, "and wanted to see what Heksie would do with a garden gnome. And believe me, I'm sure she will get into trouble again! Our friends will have to come and see what Heksie gets up to with Casper, the garden gnome." Vels also reminisces how Liewe Heksie was not originally the main character in the stories. "Blommie Kabouter was actually the main character in 1961 when the stories were first broadcast on SIEMBAMBA. Then I created this good little witch and before we could blink , Liewe Heksie became the most popular character. in 1963, LIEWE HEKSIE was officially born. Her birthday is on 42 April, of course!" laughs Verna. "My previous secretaries still send Liewe Heksie - who always gets her words a little confused - birthday cards every year on 24 April."

Frans Swart, the director of LIEWE HEKSIE says he is very excited that Verna has written a new story especially for him and entrusted it to him. "LIEWE HEKSIE has had been such a big influence on my life over the years, because I was a cameraman on the LIEWE HEKSIE television series. Although I had already grown up LIEWE HEKSIE, Heksie really crept into my heart with the television series . It is a great honour for me to produce LIEWE HEKSIE EN DIE TUINDWERGIE and it's so special because it's a fresh and brand new story," said Swart, who has also adapted Vels's story for the stage. He says it has been an amazing journey: "It was so much fun to work with LIEWE HEKSIE. Verna 's characters are just so believable that it was easy for me to give them life on stage." He continues: "It's great that we can tour with the production and also introduce the wonderful world of theatre to all children. It is so important for us to do this type of children's theatre because it's the only way we get children into the theatre and how we grow a new generation of theatregoers - especially with a festival, where parents are always looking for productions to which they can take their children."

Ana van Achterbergh plays Liewe Heksie. Other actors include Botha Enslin (Kwaaitjie Kabouter, Mattewis, Geelheks, Borrie, Griet and Karel Kat), Debré Rossouw (Blommie Kabouter, Koning Rosekrans and Kerrie) and Phillru van Achterbergh (Casper en Borrie).

LIEWE HEKSIE EN DIE TUINDWERGIE premieres at this year's Aardklop National Arts Festival in Potchefstroom and will play the NG Kerk Noordsaal from 24-28 September, at the following times: 24 September at 13:30, 25 September at 13:30, 26 September at 11:00, 27 September at 13:30 and 28 September at 09:00. Reservations can be made at Computicket. For more information, visit the LIEWE HEKSIE website.

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