Saira Essa
Saira Essa. (1957-) Actress, director, dramatist, radio and TV presenter and model.
Contents
Biography
She was married to the actor Charles Pillai. She later married Mark Corlett.
Youth
Training
She has a BA Honours degree in Drama and is a Licentiate of the Trinity College of Music, London.
Career
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
She founded the Upstairs Theatre in Education Company in 1979.
As playwright
Among her plays are:
- The James Commission (co-written with Charles Pillai, 1989)
- A Woman Alone (198*)
- Mahatma Ghandi (198*)
As actress
Saira has played leading roles in Macbeth, The Primary English Class, The Revenge (at the Market Theatre, 1980), The Good Woman of Setzuan, Inherit the Wind, Uncle Vanya, In Camera, Call me Woman (at the Market Theatre), Dutchman, and her successful one woman play A Woman Alone.
As director
She has directed:
1981: The Snitcher Snatcher and the Naughty Child
1983: Pinocchio
1984: Bad Day at Black Frog Creek
1985: Steve Biko: The Inquest (adapted with Charles Pillai from The Biko Inquest by Jon Blair and Norman Fenton).
and a musical based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi.
Awards, etc
In 1982 she was awarded the Durban Critics Circle Award for her contribution to theatre in Durban.
Voted The Star Woman of the Year circa 1987.
Sources
SACD 1980/81.
Steve Biko: The Inquest programme notes, circa 1986.
Tucker, 1997.
Various entries in the NELM catalogue.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities E
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
