Bill Tanner
Bill Tanner (1942-2014). Director, designer and playwright.
Also known as William Tanner or William G. Tanner.
Contents
Biography
Born in Krugersdorp, schooled at St John’s College, Johannesburg. Threatened by the South African state security service with spying on activist student friends, he escaped to London where he lived until his death in June 2014 at the age of 72.
Youth
Training
He studied at Rhodes University and Cape Town University.
Career
He worked at The Space in the 1970s.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Bill produced a UCT Dramatic Society production of The Fire Raisers, staged at The Little Theatre in 1964.
He directed The Dumb Waiter, People are Living There, The Ruffian on the Stair, Sweet Eros, Three Women, The Bear, The Four Seasons, The Glass Menagerie, Lesson in Blood and Roses, Long Day's Journey into Night and Outcry.
He devised and directed Spike – readings from Milligan (1974).
He designed for Sweet Eros, The Four Seasons, The Glass Menagerie, Lesson in Blood and Roses, Long Day's Journey into Night and Outcry.
He did the lighting for The Glass Menagerie, Lesson in Blood and Roses and Long Day's Journey into Night.
He acted in Caligula (1969), When Thou Art King, Tom Thumb, or The Tragedy of Tragedies and in Excursion Oops under his full name, William Tanner,
He wrote the plays Patty Hearst and Tsafendas, both staged at The Space. Also Who is Eddie Linden?.
Awards, etc
Sources
Obituary published in Ham & High, 4 June 2014 [1].
Theatre programme for The Fire Raisers held by NELM [Collection: KORT, Maurice]: 2012. 379. 33. 8.
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