John Maytham

MAYTHAM, John (1955- ) is a South African actor, director, broadcaster and writer for stage, film and television.

Biography

Born in the Eastern Cape. He spent some time pursuing a medical career.

Training

Graduated from Rhodes University in 1977.

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

He was the first actor on the stage at the beginning of the first play, King Lear of the first Grahamstown Festival in 1974.***** Helped shape and acted in Maishe Maponya’s Dirty Work, and played “Major Whitebeard” in Maponya’s Gangsters (both 1984). He directed Nicholas Ellenbogen in his play Precious Remnants in July 1983. Around this time, he successfully directed The Bicycle Riders at the Market Theatre and gave a highly acclaimed performance in Steven Berkoff's West at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town. He starred in Graham Wright’s Baxter Theatre production of Steven Berkoff’s Decadence together with Bo Petersen (replacing Fiona Ramsay and Henry Goodman who had played the roles in Cape Town) with direction by Ron Smerczak at the Durban Alhambra and Wits Theatre in 1984. He starred in Keith Grenville’s Not About Heroes, for Volute Productions at the Baxter Theatre and Upstairs at the Market in 1986. He starred in Via Dolorosa in 2000 and A Night in November in 2003.

In later years became a popular radio broadcaster with his own shows, including host of the Afternoon Drive on 567 CapeTalk and the Sunday Breakfast Show on CapeTalk and Radio 702.

Sources

Tucker, 1997

National Arts Festival programme, 2000.

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