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Co-founder · Since 1997

Gary Hemmings

  • Producer
  • Entrepreneur
  • Presenter
  • Writer

Co-founder of Centrestage, creator of over 200 live productions for Eastern Cape audiences, corporate entertainment specialist, and the producer behind Centrestage@Baywest.

Work with Gary See the venue
Gary Hemmings, co-founder of Centrestage
Gary Hemmings in top hat and bow tie on stage
29
Years in live entertainment
200+
Shows created and staged
2024
Centrestage@Baywest opened
About Gary

Gary Hemmings has spent nearly three decades producing live entertainment, building entertainment businesses and developing performers in the Eastern Cape.

Since founding Centrestage with Tanya Hemmings in 1997, he has created and staged over 200 productions for Port Elizabeth and East London audiences, built entertainment packages for corporate functions across South Africa, and helped establish one of the Eastern Cape's most recognisable entertainment brands.

He remains passionate about identifying and nurturing local talent and creating ongoing working opportunities for Eastern Cape performers. In 2016 comedian Gino Fabbri joined him as a partner in Centrestage, and together they created the online interview show Gino's Spot. Alongside producing, he writes long-form interviews for The Herald, and in 2024 opened Centrestage@Baywest with LineOut Productions as joint partners.

  • Producer
  • Entrepreneur
  • Presenter
  • Writer
  • Talent developer
Gary Hemmings backstage during a production get-in
Backstage, where every production starts.
The story

29 years in seven chapters

  1. Gary and Tanya Hemmings, co-founders of Centrestage
    I 1997

    Centrestage is founded

    Gary and Tanya Hemmings establish Centrestage in Port Elizabeth as a live entertainment company with a clear purpose: professional, locally produced shows for Eastern Cape audiences, and ongoing work for the performers who make them.

  2. II 2000s

    Building the company

    Touring productions between Port Elizabeth and East London, a growing roster of Eastern Cape musicians and performers, and the first corporate entertainment packages for functions across South Africa.

  3. Gary Hemmings hosting a corporate function
    III 200+

    Productions and counting

    Tribute shows, cabaret, comedy, dinner theatre and festive seasons: over two hundred productions created and staged for Port Elizabeth and East London audiences, alongside bespoke entertainment for corporate clients nationwide.

    See previous shows
  4. IV 2016

    Gino Fabbri becomes a partner

    Comedian, MC and drummer Gino Fabbri, a long-time Centrestage artist and the drummer in the Centrestage All-Star Band, joins Gary as a partner in Centrestage. During Covid the two go on to create Gino's Spot, their long-form online interview show.

  5. A full house at tables watching the stage at Centrestage@Baywest
    V 2024

    Centrestage@Baywest opens

    In September 2024 Centrestage@Baywest opens at Baywest Mall: a permanent, fully equipped venue with 500 seats cinema-style, 320 for dinner theatre, a 9.6 x 4.8 m stage, professional sound and lighting, and a bar.

    See the venue
  6. VI 2024

    LineOut becomes a joint partner

    LineOut Productions, Gqeberha specialists in professional audio, video, lighting and staging, joins Centrestage as joint partner in Centrestage@Baywest and becomes the venue's technical supplier. The relationship began in 2023, when LineOut's Ronnie van Jaarsveld played bass in a Centrestage show.

  7. Gary Hemmings at a Centrestage function
    VII Today

    Producing, writing, programming

    Gary continues to create and stage new productions, writes long-form interviews for The Herald, and programmes the season at Centrestage@Baywest.

What Gary does

Four disciplines, one company

Creates the shows

Concept, casting, set list and running order. Over 200 productions to date, most of them built around Eastern Cape performers.

Corporate entertainment

Year-end functions, awards evenings, launches and conferences across South Africa, with the right acts, MCs and technical partners for the room.

Presents and writes

MC and presenter for corporate events, and long-form interviewer for The Herald with comedians, musicians and performers from across the country.

Develops local talent

Identifying Eastern Cape performers and creating the ongoing work that builds their careers. Several of the artists on our books started on a Centrestage stage.

In print

Long-form for The Herald

Gary writes feature-length interviews for The Herald with the comedians, musicians and performers shaping South African entertainment.

  • The HeraldSchalk BezuidenhoutComedy, anxiety and why audiences matter.
  • The HeraldElandréMusic, songwriting and growing up.
  • The HeraldSami HallSocial media, comedy and finding an audience.
Get in touch

Work with Gary

Corporate functions, awards evenings, new productions or venue hire. Tell us what you have in mind and we will put a proposal together.

Send an enquiry Email the venue
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