Difference between revisions of "Herbert Kretzmer"

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[[Herbert Kretzmer]] (19**-) Actor, lyricist and theatre critic.  
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[[Herbert Kretzmer]] (1925-2020) Actor, lyricist and theatre critic.  
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
  
Born in Kroonstad,
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He was born in Kroonstad in the Orange Free State, South Africa, on 5 October 1925, the son of William and Tilly Kretzmer, who ran a furniture store. He matriculated at Kroonstad High School and then went to [[Rhodes University]].
  
He worked as the Drama critic for the ''[[Sunday Express]]'' in Johannesburg in the late 1940s and 1950s (under the name of [[Herbert Kentish]]) and  writing occasional lyrics for musicals.  
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He began his professional career writing documentary films and the commentary for a weekly cinema newsreel, but then moved on to print journalism, initially as a reporter and feature writer for the Johannesburg ''[[Sunday Express]]''. Inter alia he was the Drama critic (writing under the name of [[Herbert Kentish]]). He also wrote occasional lyrics for musicals.  
  
Later settled in London and worked for the ''Daily Express'', going on to to reach fame as a lyricist, notably writing the words for the musical ''[[Les Misérables]]'' - coming to South Africa with the international company in 1996.
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In 1954 he moved to London to pursue his twin careers as journalist and lyric writer, working for various publications. There he also went on to reach significant fame as a lyricist, most notably as author of the English libretto for the musical ''[[Les Misérables]]'' for [[Cameron Mackintosh]] in 1985.
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He passed away on 14 October 2020.
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Twice married, he had one son.
  
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
  
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While living in Johannesburg, he was a member of the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Johannesburg REPS]], appearing in plays such as ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' ([[Pretoria Opera House]] and the [[Wits Great Hall]], 1949).  He also composed five songs for the revue ''[[Xmas Box]]'', staged by [[Leon Gluckman]] in 1949.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
  
[[Percy Tucker|Tucker]], 1997.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Kretzmer
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https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/oct/14/herbert-kretzmer-obituary
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[[Percy Tucker]]. 1997. ''Just The Ticket! My 50 Years in South African Show Business''. Johannesburg: [[Witwatersrand University Press]].  
  
 
Programme of ''[[Les Misérables]]'', as performed in Cape Town in 1996.
 
Programme of ''[[Les Misérables]]'', as performed in Cape Town in 1996.
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
 
 
== Sources ==
 
 
 
 
Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]
 
 
== Return to ==
 
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities  K]]
 
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
 
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
 
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities K]]
 
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
 
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 08:04, 15 November 2023

Herbert Kretzmer (1925-2020) Actor, lyricist and theatre critic.

Biography

He was born in Kroonstad in the Orange Free State, South Africa, on 5 October 1925, the son of William and Tilly Kretzmer, who ran a furniture store. He matriculated at Kroonstad High School and then went to Rhodes University.

He began his professional career writing documentary films and the commentary for a weekly cinema newsreel, but then moved on to print journalism, initially as a reporter and feature writer for the Johannesburg Sunday Express. Inter alia he was the Drama critic (writing under the name of Herbert Kentish). He also wrote occasional lyrics for musicals.

In 1954 he moved to London to pursue his twin careers as journalist and lyric writer, working for various publications. There he also went on to reach significant fame as a lyricist, most notably as author of the English libretto for the musical Les Misérables for Cameron Mackintosh in 1985.

He passed away on 14 October 2020.

Twice married, he had one son.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

While living in Johannesburg, he was a member of the Johannesburg REPS, appearing in plays such as Romeo and Juliet (Pretoria Opera House and the Wits Great Hall, 1949). He also composed five songs for the revue Xmas Box, staged by Leon Gluckman in 1949.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Kretzmer

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/oct/14/herbert-kretzmer-obituary

Percy Tucker. 1997. Just The Ticket! My 50 Years in South African Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

Programme of Les Misérables, as performed in Cape Town in 1996.

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities K

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page