Anton Verheyen

(1873-19**) Dutch actor, director and manager. Born Anton Matheus Verheyen in Amsterdam on 21 December 1873, trained with Eduard Verkade, in whose company he worked from 1907 till about 1909, when he moved to the company run by H.N.T Royaards for the seasons 1909-1911. Later he founded an own company, De Spelers van Stadt en Lande, which failed after a few years. In the1922-23 season he founded another company to go to Dutch East India, one which included Paul de Groot. However, they found the place overcrowded with such companies. He then eventually returned via Cape Town in 1927, bringing the Flemish performers Mignon Sorel and Louis de Vriendt with him, who presented popular "transformation pieces" in which they portrayed a dozen or more characters. (See De Vriendt). Soon however Verheyen broke away, to continue touring on his own, doing Lanseloet en Sanderyn and Adam in Ballingschap by Vondel, the latter play being particularly successful. [TH, JH]

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