Kurt Egelhof
Kurt Egelhof. (1959-) Actor, director, composer and manager.
Contents
Biography
Born in Durban, the son of a working-class father and a union secretary/teacher mother, he studied at the University of Natal, obtaining a B.A. in Speech and Drama, majoring in Drama and Economic History, in 1980.
The performer Talia Egelhof is his daughter.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He started his professional career in the industry as an actor in 1981 and gradually moved into management as well.
As performer
His stage roles include Bobby Heaney's production of Samuel Beckett's Catastrophe at the Wits Theatre in 1985, En Die Son Skyn in Suid-Afrika, Brothers in Blood, Black Dog-Inj'emnyama!, Just Business, Just Like Home, Gathering of the Beasts, Man Friday, Daniel, Smitty in Fortune and Men's Eyes. For The Company at the Market Theatre he appeared in Black Nativity and The Bacchae. In 1985 he played John in the SATO production of The Island.
His film work includes roles in The Native Who Caused All the Trouble and Zulu Love Letter.
As playwright/performer
He wrote and performed in For Generations, directed by Nicholas Fine and presented by Applauz Arts Initiative at the National Arts Festival Fringe, 2008 and Montecasino Theatre in 2009.
As composer
Composed some of the music for the jazz musical Adam Small BeJazzed (Applauz Arts Initiative, 2015),
In management
In 1989 he co-founded of ECE Productions, with Charles Comyn and Elliot Frans, and in the 1990s he founded the Johannesburg-based film company Kurt Egelhof Productions. By 2001 he had become the head of the Creative Department for Endemol SA. Having moved to Muizenberg, Cape Town, he has since worked as a Freelance Consultant/Producer/Director for film, television and stage productions.
2014-15: he was the national chair of the Arterial Network South Africa
In 2016 he founded Applauz Arts Theatre Studio in Cape Town
In 2017(?) he founded the SoloAfrica Festival of Monodrama, as part of the international Monodrama Festival circuit and at the time the first of its kind in Africa.
He is currently the National Coordinator of the Performing Arts Network of Southern Africa (PANSA) and the South African representative for the International Theatre Institute (ITI).
Awards, etc
He was nominated for "Best Newcomer to the Stage Award" in 1981 by the Durban Critics Circle.
Sources
The Island (SATO production) theatre programme, 1983.
Review of Star 26 May 2009
"New theatre company, ECE Productions, founded by Charles Comyn, Elliot Frans and Kurt Egelhof", The Citizen, 2.5.1989.
"Interview with Kurt Egelhof", The Stage, London[1]
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