Francesca Bantock
Francesca Bantock (19**-) Actress
Contents
Biography
Francesca Bantock is a granddaughter of British composer Sir Granville Bantock and studied at the University of Cape Town under Prof. Robert Mohr; Rosalie van der Gucht, Mavis Taylor and David Matheson. She worked under the direction of Prof. Fred Engelen, Billy Egan, John Boulter, Johan Bernard, Cobus Rossouw, Sandra Kotze and many others.
Francesca Bantock works at ease in both English and Afrikaans, and she has had considerable success with hand puppets. During the 1960s, a number of amateur and semi-professional puppetry groups emerged, including Francesca Bantock in Kroonstad .
Training
Career
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
1966: Acted in Die Pantoffelmoordenaars.
1966: Die Dansende Donkie
1974: Die Goeie Mens van Setzuan.
1976:Ring Round the Moon. Francesca Bantock starred in the PACOFS production directed by Rosalie van der Gucht. Also starred Helen Bourne. Mavis Lilenstein was the stage manager.
1981: Plaston: DNS-Kind.
1982: Die Hekse van Salem (1982),
1982: Acted in SUKOVS's production of Met Permissie Gesê.
1984: Die Vryerige Spook.
1984: Acted in CAPAB's production of Cinderella.
January 1986: She came from the Performing Arts Council of the Orange Free State (PACOFS) specially to play the key role of Miss Hannigan, the disreputable orphanage superintendent in the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society and CAPAB's combined stage production of Thomas Meehan's book, Annie. The play was staged for the re-opening of the Port Elizabeth Opera House.
She played the roles of Eliza in Pygmalion, Gwendoline and Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, Portia in The Merchant of Venice, Baroness Schroeder in The Sound of Music, Queen Eleanor in The Lion in Winter and Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit.
Sources
NELM catalogue.
Original programme, Annie, as performed in the Port Elizabeth Opera House, January 1986.
World Encyclopedia of Puppetry Arts at https://wepa.unima.org/en/south-africa/
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