Pringle Bay’s beloved pharmacist Rista Watts steps into the spotlight on Saturday 17 October, performing an afternoon of storytelling, poetry and song at the Pringle Bay Community Centre.
Audiences who know Rista best as the friendly face behind the counter at the local pharmacy will discover a different side to her at Brian Berkman’s Pringle Proms presentation, An Afternoon with Rista Watts.
The programme features her performances “Life”, “Lag” and “Lewe”, drawing on a lifetime of performance, poetry, storytelling and her love of language, moving between humour, reflection and deeply personal storytelling.
Born and raised in Springs, Gauteng, Rista’s passion for the stage began early, inspired by her mother, a schoolteacher with a belief in drama and creative theatre. She grew up participating in eisteddfods and school productions, and continued while studying pharmacology at Potchef-
stroom University, where she also completed a diploma in drama in her spare time.
More recently, she appeared in the short film Padlangs, playing the ouma in a family on a road trip. Filmed near Paternoster, the production has also been screened on VIA TV.
Her creativity extends beyond performance – she is an enthusiastic visual artist, particularly interested in portraiture and still-life painting in oils.
There is also an intriguing artistic connection in her family history: Rista is the great-great-granddaughter of celebrated Victorian painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts (1817-1904), whose best-known allegorical works include Hope, Love and Life. South Africans may recognise his monumental sculpture Physical Energy, a casting of which stands at Rhodes Memorial in Cape Town.
Rista moved permanently to Pringle Bay in November 2011 and has since become a cherished figure in the community.
Pringle Proms founder Brian Berkman says previous events at his home were limited to a handful of people at high cost, but the community centre’s capacity of 100 allows advance tickets at just R50 each.
“Rista is exactly the kind of extraordinary person this community is full of – someone whose talents extend far beyond what most people see,” says Berkman. “We are thrilled to give her a proper stage and to let audiences discover the performer, poet and storyteller behind the person so many of us already know.”
The performance begins at 13:00. Advance tickets are R50 via Quicket, and R100 cash or R120 by card at the door. Coffee and food will be available to purchase at the venue, with Berkman preparing a selection of eats and beverages.
- Tickets are available at quicket.co.za.
