André Rousseau

ROUSSEAU, André (1918-**). Actor, director.

Biography

Born in Paarl in 1918 and went to the Hoër Jongenskool.

Training

Studied elocution and drama under Sister Hyacinth Skene at the Music Conservatory at the University of Stellenbosch and passed the final examinations with distinction. Completed a teachers course at the Paarl College of Education.

Career

After qualifying as a teacher, taught at schools in the Cape for some years. Took part in amateur dramatics. Travelled around Britain and the USA from 1942 to 1944 and saw as many stage productions as possible. Worked part-time as a broadcaster at the BBC in London. In 1946 he toured South Africa with André Huguenet's company in By die ou Meulstroom. In 1947 he fulfilled his life-long ambition and started his own professional touring theatre company, the André Rousseau Theatre Company.

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

Staged, as a student in 1937, The Tempest by Shakespeare, and appeared in 1938, with Lydia Lindeque in Magdalena Retief. Appeared in other productions including Mademoiselle and Esther by John Masefield. Worked in radio for the SABC from Cape Town and, in 1943, for the BBC from London. Joined [André Huguenet]]'s professional theatre company in 1946. Started the André Rousseau Theatre Company in Paarl in 1947 and staged their first production Liefde in Satyn, which subsequently toured the country, followed by another touring production, Eerloos (van Nouhuys).

Sources

André Rousseau Theatre Company programme.

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