Richard Loring's onboard as artistic director & producer

Richard Loring, one of the most acclaimed and successful theatre producers in South Africa, has come onboard as the overall artistic director and producer of the inaugural Cape Town Carnival 2010.

Loring will oversee the creative execution of the event that is set to take the Mother City by storm from 18-20 March 2010. The producer is most well known for the locally and internationally mega successful production African Footprint.

The Carnival, which will become an annual highlight on the local calendar, is designed to be an all-inclusive, cultural expression of Cape Town, bringing together the diverse communities of the city through universally expressive forms such as music, dance and visual arts.

“I am delighted to be associated with such an ambitious project that focuses so strongly on the expression of all forms of local culture,” says Loring. “I can’t wait to get started. It will be the inaugural Cape Town Carnival, so all eyes are going to be on us, especially with 2010 being such a momentous year for all South Africans. We need to get it right from the outset and give people something authentic and memorable so that anticipation will mount for the following year’s event almost immediately after the first one ends. We see this as a long-term investment.”

Loring was born in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. Starting out with the famous George Mitchell singers in the Ken Dodd show in Manchester, Loring went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and while working and paying his way through college, joined the Windsor Repertory. In 1970, he accepted an invitation which was to change the direction of his life drastically. He travelled to South Africa to play Tony in The Boyfriend; Tony in West Side Story and numerous other productions. But it was Loring strutting onto the stage in high heels and odd socks as the Narrator in Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat that firmly established him as a top favourite in the musical field.

The journey of Loring’s most iconic work, African Footprint began as his dream to empower South African youth, especially talented young black dancers, through theatre. His vision evolved into a determination to create a unique song and dance experience as a platform to showcase emerging talents. Since its inception the production has been televised around the world and seen by more than 250 million viewers.
Carnivals are not unfamiliar territory to theatre veteran, Richard Loring. In 1986 and 1988 he was contracted to produce and co-ordinate the Carnival International for the City of Johannesburg. This event hosted 26 communities featuring a 5 kilometre Float Parade, a Cultural Village showcasing food and culture and 2 000 artists performing on a nightly basis.
Isabel Meyer, the CEO of the Cape Town Carnival says “We are ecstatic to have someone of Loring’s calibre on board as producer and artistic director, and believe we will be growing the Carnival into a carnival that will be able to compete with some of the best in the world. Having Debbie Batsofin, his associate producer onboard as well really strengthens our confidence that with the team and our amazing communities, we are creating something spectacular. And of course, the fact that Richard has been looking at how he can spend more time at his Cape Town home that he has had for more than 20 years is a bonus.”

She adds: “We are delighted that the main objective of the Carnival to build social cohesion and community esteem is already being partly achieved as we have seen new friendships made and partnerships forged in the short time that we’ve been working with the groups. We are also focusing on how the new platform to showcase Cape Town’s rich plethora of talent, can create positive spin-offs for the local economy, communities, related creative industries and tourism. It is indeed very exciting times for the team and all our most valued partners and stakeholders.”