Nigel Vermaas
Nigel Vermaas (19**-). Actor (fluent in both English and Afrikaans), director, radio personality.
Contents
Biography
Nigel Vermaas studied at Rhodes University (BA U.ED.), and after teaching for four years, entered the theatrical profession -- acting, directing and writing. In 1987, Vermaas joined Radio South Africa as senior radio drama producer, became organiser of drama, and then as Manager of Programmes headed the transition of Radio South Africa to SAfm. Since retiring from SABC, he has continued to write and direct radio drama and documentaries.
He has been involved with theatre since about 1970. He has directed for PACT, PACOFS, The Company as well as other managements. Worked with the Arena Theatre.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He acted in Kinkels innie Kabel (1970), Antigone (by Sophocles) (1970), Die Nag van Legio (1970), Die Hand Vol Vere as “Hoepoe”, 1971), Oedipus by Ted Hughes (1971), The Nuns (PACT 1972), Black Comedy (1972), Toiings (as “Oompie Sampie”, 1973), Enemy! (1973 “Decker”), Investigation into the Death of a Greek (1973), Die Weerstaanbare Opkoms van Arturo Ui (1973), The Voyage of the Santiago (1974), Fando en Lis (1974), Tug o' War, (1974), Troilus and Cressida (1974), Shadow of Heroes (1975), Fortune and Men's Eyes (1975), Falstaff (1976), Die Verminktes (1977), Die Dagboek van Anne Frank (as “Mnr Frank”, PACT 1977), Mother Courage (1977), Hamlet (1978), Die Drie Van Der Walts (1980), The Crucible (Reverend Parris 1981), Filumena Marturano (1981), The Royal Hunt of the Sun (as “Miguel”, 1981), Twigs (as “Frank”, CAPAB 1982), Echoes of Anger (1983), The Front Page (1984).
Nigel has also performed in Damon Runyon Show, Twaalfde Nag (as “Egan”) and Ross (1979; this could not be verified).
Directed Alice's Adventures Underground (PACT), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (for PACT), produced and directed The Bedsitting Room (at the Market Theatre) and directed El Grande de Coca Cola (for PACOFS). He directed Muzeeka and Home Fires (1973) and the PACT productions of The State Theatre Overflow Show and Ghosts in the Mirror (1981) as well as Carmilla (PACT 1984).
He adapted The Metamorphosis to a South African setting, entitled Sis!.
He wrote Do You Know Billie Holiday?: a play with music which was performed at the Grahamstown Festival in 2009.
He wrote the radio drama Ballad of Hamilton Dane.
Television roles: As “Dr Chris de Villiers” in the television series The Villagers in the early 1970s; Vyfster (1982).
Awards
Artes (1990) for Best radio drama director (Hamlet)
SABC Prize for English Radio Drama, 1989 for The Day of the Trolleys.
Sources
SACD 1973; 1978/79; 1979/80.
Tucker, 1997.
Material held by NELM in various locations.
IMDb [1].
Infecting the City 2021 [2].
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