Marthinus Basson
Marthinus Basson (1953-) is an actor, enormously influential bilingual director and designer, who has also been a props master, stage manager, actor, dramatist, teacher and a fine theatre photographer.
Contents
Biography
Born Marthinus Cloete Basson in Darling on 7 April 1953, he grew up on his parents' farm Zwartwater, near Darling.
Career
Basson has had an extensive and prolific career in the theatre - as actor, director, designer and producer. He worked for the Space Theatre in the early 1970s. He was also involved with Chris Pretorius’s Glass Theatre. A founder-member of the Fringe Theatre Company and CAPAB Youth Company, where he was an actor for 6 years. He became CAPAB’s first permanent resident director in 1986 and went on to become one of the leading and more influential director/designers of the 1990s and early 21st century. When CAPAB became Artscape and dropped its permanent company, he worked freelance. He also worked for Syrkel, PACOFS, the Baxter Theatre, SWAPAC.
His international work includes The Fall of the House of Usher and Boks for ARCA in Ghent, Belgium; Tall Horse for the Handspring Puppet Company, which toured America and Germany after its opening at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, and Beethoven’s Fidelio for Opera Queensland in Australia.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As actor
Stage
1973: Die Kaukasiese Krytsirkel (Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch), The Fall and Redemption of Man (Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch)
1974: Becket (University of Stellenbosch Amateur Theatre)
Made his professional debut as actor in with the Space Theatre, performing in a French farce as well as Selle Ou Storie (Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1974).
His acting career includes roles in:
1974: Die Trommel, Eskoriaal, Fortune and Men's Eyes, Ooh! La-La, Piekniek te Velde and Snow White and the Special Branch (Pieter-Dirk Uys) (all for The Space Theatre)
1976: Hello and Goodbye (PACOFS)
1977: Die Van Aardes van Grootoor (Pieter-Dirk Uys, Deathwatch (Baxter Theatre)
1978: By Fakkellig (CAPAB), You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (CAPAB)
1979: Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena (CAPAB), The Merchant of Venice (CAPAB)
1980: 'n Skool vir Hansworse (CAPAB)
1981: Die Saai Lewe (Glass Theatre), More Mysteries of Love (Glass Theatre), Die Oresteia-Trilogie (CAPAB)
1982: The Island of Slaves (Minotaurus), Op Hoop van Seën (CAPAB), Daar Leef Mense Daar (CAPAB), Aspoestertjie (CAPAB)
1983: Snoopy!!! (CAPAB), Laat-Februarie 1922 (CAPAB), Why Strelitzias Cannot Fly (CAPAB), Kyk Hoe Hol Hulle (CAPAB), Playing with Fire (Baxter Theatre/Minotaurus)
1984: The Lulu Sex Tragedies (CAPAB), Klipalleen (CAPAB)
1985: Cock-Ups (CAPAB), Bremen Coffee (CAPAB), Antigone (CAPAB)
1986: The Good Soldier Schweik (CAPAB), Die Jakkalsstreke van Scapino (CAPAB), The Wizard of Oz (CAPAB)
1988: Aap in die Mou (CAPAB), Piekniek by Dingaan (CAPAB), Tartuffe (CAPAB), Hond se Gedagte (CAPAB)
1989: Huis vol Uile (CAPAB), My Sister in this House (CAPAB)
1992: Die Rebellie van Lafras Verwey (CAPAB), A Little Life Like This
1994: 'Tis Pity She's a Whore (CAPAB)
1998: Hiert Jou Bliksem! (KKNK)
2007: Saad (Vleis, Rys en Aartappels)
2008: Saad (Vleis, Rys en Aartappels)
Radio
He has performed in radio dramas, including:
1997: Faan se Stasie
Film
He has also appeared in the following films:
1978: Die Spaanse Vlieg
1988: Uitdraai (TV film)
1998: Paljas
As director/designer
Directed his first play in 1983, and won his first directing Fleur du Cap Theatre Award in 1986 for Anatomie Titus Fall of Rome. (He also won the Rosalie van der Gucht Prize for New Directors in this year.)
His productions as director/designer include:
1985: En Dit Was Môre (CAPAB), The Fall of the House of Usher (CAPAB)
1986 Anatomie Titus (CAPAB), Cock and Bull Story (CAPAB), Curse of the Starving Class (CAPAB)
1987: Anatomie Titus (CAPAB at the National Arts Festival), Blomtyd is Bloeityd (CAPAB), Die Vroue van Troje (Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch), The Seagull (CAPAB)
1989: Shakespeare's Macbeth by Heiner Müller (CAPAB), Kinkels innie Kabel (CAPAB), Die Keiser (CAPAB)
1990: Die Park (CAPAB), The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant (CAPAB), Spoke (CAPAB)
1991: Callaway Farce (CAPAB), Nag, Moeder van die Dag (CAPAB), Oudisie! (CAPAB), Die Nag van Legio (Stellenbosch Drama Departement)
1992: Die Tou (CAPAB), Legende van Wit en Swart (Ben Dehaeck), 'n Skewe Sirkel (CAPAB)
1993: Mis (Reza de Wet, CAPAB), Antony and Cleopatra (CAPAB), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
1994: Mirakel (Reza de Wet, CAPAB), Drif (Reza de Wet, CAPAB), Boy Meets Boy (CAPAB)
1995: Othello for CAPAB at the Mannville Open Air Theatre in Port Elizabeth, La Bête (CAPAB), Cabaret (CAPAB), La Tragedie de Carmen (CAPAB Opera)
1996: Macbeth (CAPAB), Loot (CAPAB), La Tragedie de Carmen (CAPAB Opera)
1997: Drie Susters Twee (Reza de Wet, CAPAB)
1998: Yelena (Reza de Wet), Boklied (Breyten Breytenbach, KKNK), Drie Susters Twee (Reza de Wet, State Theatre)
1999: Waarom is dié wat voor toi-toi altyd so vet? (Antjie Krog), Ek, Anna van Wyk (Pieter Fourie), Johnny Cockroach (Breyten Breytenbach)
2000: Boetman is die Bliksem in! (Aardklop)
2001: Die Toneelstuk (Breyten Breytenbach, KKNK), Tango del Fuego (Basson and co), Aars! (Aardklop), Rooikêppetjie (Spier Amphitheatre), Boetman is die Bliksem in!
2002: Gert Garries – 'n baaisiekel babelas (by Pieter Fourie, for Rooderandt Produksies), Die Goue Seun (Vleis, Rys en Aartappels, KKNK), Mama Medea (Tom Lanoye, Aardklop), Aars! (KKNK), Rooikêppetjie (KKNK), Die Nag van Legio (Stellenbosch Drama Departement)
2003: Koggelmanderman (Pieter Fourie, KKNK), Mama Medea (Tom Lanoye, Woordfees), Maria de Buenos Aires (Oude Libertas Amphitheatre), Raaiselkind (Woordfees, KKNK), The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Maynardville), Lusistrata (University of Stellenbosch Drama Department)
2004: Breathing In (Reza de Wet), Maria de Buenos Aires (KKNK), 1975, Tall Horse (Handspring Puppet Company), Brolloks en Bittergal (Stellenbosch University Drama Department)
2005: Romeo and Julia (Vleis, Rys en Aartappels, KKNK), Verleiding (Reza de Wet, Woordfees, KKNK, Aardklop)
2006: Slaghuis (Willem Anker, University of Stellenbosch), Broers (Reza de Wet, Aardklop), Kruispad (of die legende van die goue vis) (KKNK)
2007: Die Storm (William Shakespeare), Die Joseph en Mary Affair (Vleis, Rys en Aartappels)
2008: Lang Dagreis na die Nag (Vleis, Rys en Aartappels, KKNK), Boks (Vleis, Rys en Aartappels), Loot (Stellenbosch Drama Department), Blou Uur (Reza de Wet, Aardklop)
2009: Art, Ontlont (Stellenbosch Drama Department, KKNK), Blou Uur (Reza de Wet, Woordfees, KKNK)
2010: Art, Die kortstondige raklewe van Anastasia W. (Aardklop), Man to Man/As die Broek Pas Woordfees, KKNK, National Arts Festival)
2011: Die kortstondige raklewe van Anastasia W. (KKNK)
2012: Op Dees Aarde (Reza de Wet, Aardklop)
2013: Die Vrou Vantevore (also translated by Basson, KKNK), Op Dees Aarde (Reza de Wet, KKNK)
2014: Art (Aardklop), macbeth.slapeloos (KKNK)
2015: macbeth.slapeloos (Baxter Theatre)
2016: Cock and Bull Story, Die Gangsters (Woordfees)
2017: Melk en Vleis (Aardklop), Rigoletto (Cape Town Opera), Asem (Reza de Wet, KKNK)
2018: Bloed en Bodem (Aardklop), Kleedkamer Blues (Innibos Festival , Aardklop), Asem (Reza de Wet, Woordfees)
2019: Die Gangsters (Suidoosterfees)
2024: Die Fel Omstrede Kroon van Edward II en Gaveston
As designer/stage manager
He was the stage manager for 'Tis Pity She's a Whore (Space Theatre, 1974).
Basson has designed many of the productions he has directed. He has also designed for other directors. Productions include:
1974: Die Wintersprokie (Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch)
1988: Romeo and Juliet (Maynardville)
1992: Die Rebellie van Lafras Verwey (CAPAB)
1999: Generaal Mannetjies Mentz (Aardklop)
As teacher
Has taught acting, directing and design at the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University, appointed full-time at the latter institution in 2006.
Theatre production
In 2001 he, Saartjie Botha and Jaco Bouwer founded the company Vleis, Rys en Aartappels ("Rice, Meat and Potatoes"). In 2009, he established Stellenbosch-based theatre company, TEATERteater, in collaboration with producer and director Hugo Theart.
For more information, see Vleis, Rys en Aartappels and TEATERteater.
Awards
Has won numerous awards for directing and design over the years, including the Young ArtistAward (1989), and many Vita Awards and Fleur du Cap Awards. In 2002 he received the Erepenning vir Toneelkuns [medal of honour for theatre arts] from the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns for his contribution to South African theatre.
He has also received the Nederburg Opera Award for Cavelleria Rusticana and the Fleur du Cap Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.
Sources
CAPAB Brochure, Aug-Nov 1989
Die Burger, 26 April 1993.
Kobus Burger, Met sy voete op heilige grond. Die Burger, 28 September, 2007: p5.
Cape Argus, 27 April 1993.
Original CAPAB programme for Othello, Mannville Open Air Theatre, 1995.
Marthinus Cloete Basson (TV documentary film by Etienne de Villiers, 1996).
Pretoria News, 11 April 2001.
Pretoria News, 18 April 2001.
Beeld, 23 January 2008.
'Opera: a dark and stormy take on Verdi'. Weekend Special. 31 January 2017.
Various entries in the NELM catalogue.
Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography
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