Tim Plewman at last . Saturday 13th December

Posted on Sat August 9, 2025.

After a long wait we finally get to host Tim Plewman in the Belanti. He'll be performing his new show, Epilogue co written with John Smeddle. A piece of work that reviewers have described as 'sweaving an often hilarious web, intertwined with life, death and everything in between'.

'You'll laugh, you'll cry. But best of all you'll think. And possibly rethink. About everything' .

Who writes this stuff ? What do they know about what we know about owning and running an Art Hotel ?

Herewith Tim Plewman and John Smeddle's resumes. Here's the value of a performance in an intimate venue like the Belanti. When there is greatness in the room you can almost touch it.

TIM PLEWMAN BIO

It was at art college, where 19- year-old Tim was studying to be a graphic artist in the advertising industry, that a friend suggested they go to dance classes, “Just think,” said friend, “we’ll be the only
two straight men in a room full of gorgeous women with amazing bodies, wearing very little.”

And so began Tim’s career in show biz that has now spanned some 50 years.

In that time Tim has danced and sung his way through dozens of musicals (most notably, staring as Don Lockwood in SINGING IN THE RAIN - and most importantly, meeting his wife Cathy in the 1977 production of CHICAGO! - which has now been running for a record 40+ years... (the marriage, not the show).

He has starred in, directed and produced some of the greatest comedies, farces and plays the world has to offer (see list below of some of his favourites) and some the world wished it could forget (no list available), but all in all, his on-going love affair with treading the boards is proof that going to dance classes was the right decision... even if it horrified his father who was Prof. of Mining Engineering at Wits who said, “It’s not a proper job, damn it... you might as well go and live in a cave! It’s a profession filled with layabouts and drunks.”
Let it be said that a more enticing statement Was never uttered by an outraged parent.

And DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN went on to Run for over 20 years!

As far as writing goes - half a dozen plays, two musicals, a couple of TV series and two books, all of which have been produced and or published are proof that Tim has had far more time on his hands than anyone with a proper job would ever have (See writing list below list of favourite shows).

Finding a writing partner is never easy, it requires simpatico, understanding, give and take...

John Smeddle has found none of the above in Tim, but nevertheless has ventured where few men dare to tread, and together they have penned this new play “EPILOGUE”.

FAVOURITE SHOWS

Chicago
Singing in the Rain
Tom Foolery
Doubles (Best Comedy Award)
Two Into One (Best Actor Award)
Pale Natives
Heel Against the Head (Best Director Award) Defending the Caveman (Best Comedian Award)

SHOWS, BOOKS TIM WROTE

Fitness for Old Farts
Grin and Bare It
Breakfast with Dad (Rex Garner Biog) Carruthers Brothers TV Series with B Flynn Fangs, the Musical – rewrites
The Insatiables with Jonathan Rands
Gym & Tonic
Designer Genes XXL
Defending the Caveman, The Book Epilogue with John Smeddle

JOHN SMEDDLE BIO

John had to forego his career in helicopter maintenance before more people died. So he decided that music would be his next target.

He became an advertising copywriter which would, he was assured, get him close to people in the music biz. Quite how, he never found out. But in the meantime, he’s kept himself busy with penning a hit song, writing a book that outsold “Long Walk to Freedom” and winning some advertising awards (from an industry which adores patting itself on the back, admittedly).

Tim Plewman believes that he must have been a rotten person in his last life to now be saddled with John as his co- writer.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Receiving a letter of thanks from Nelson Mandela for a Telkom TV commercial celebrating ten years of democracy.

Creating the first airline advertisement in the world acknowledging 9/11.

And winning over 50 international awards for a project which measurably changed online behavior by 44% of those who

Collaborating as the lyricist on a number one hit song. (Life is Beautiful) Co-writing a trade bestseller about the rise of the first black ad agency.

(Black Jerusalem)
Receiving a UN citation for a rape counselling radio commercial (Lifeline)

Writing EPILOGUE with an ex-dancer called Tim something.

AWARDS

du Postwisely: 1 Cannes Lion Award, 3 Dubai Lynx Grand Prix Awards (Innovation, Integration, Film), 1 Gold (Script), 6 Silver (Various Craft), Cannes Lion, 22 Cristal Mena Awards

du Digital Fasting: 17 Cristal Mena Awards Smokenders: Gold Clio, Gold Loerie*, 4 Silver Loeries, SA Ad of the Year
Talk Radio 702: 2 New York Festival Gold Medals, Silver Loerie

MNET (SA cable TV): 2 Silver Loeries
HTH (Pool Chlorine): Silver Loerie, 2 London International Gold Statues
Eskom (SA electricity utility): Golden Eagle, Sunday Times People’s Award (for best-liked commercial)
Clios, 1 New York Festival Gold Medal, 2 Gold Loeries, 4 London International Gold Statues Isuzu: London International Gold Statue
South African Airways: Singapore People’s Award, 2 Gold Loeries
Opel Corsa: Epica, Silver Loerie
Nurofen: Silver Loerie, London International Award
Lifeline Telephone Counselling: United Nations Humanitarian Award, 2 Gold
St. John Ambulance: 3 Gold Loeries MasterCard: Millward Brown Award for Best Global ‘Priceless’ Commercial

 

Further Reading

Welcome home Cathy Milner 28th-31st August.

"Drawing is not what one sees, but what one can make others see." ~ Degas

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It's a perfect Sunday thing to do. Take a Sunday lunch cruise through to Barrydale in blossom and catch up with a legendary blues-rock guitarist.

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Art of the Memoir weekend workshop followed by a week long retreat returns to the hotel from 4-6 July for the weekend workshop and 6-11 July. Get hold of them on https://allaboutwritingcourses.com/ for any last minute cancelations

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