Themi Venturas (19**- September 2017). Actor, Singer, Producer, Playwright, Events Organiser, Composer.

Biography

Born in Zimbabwe as Themistocles Venturas, he is of Greek origin and is the fourth generation to be born in Southern Africa. He moved down to Port Elizabeth and became involved in amateur theatre from an early age, winning his first talent contest at the age of four, singing Elvis Presley’s "Teddy Bear". He died in Durban in September 2017 at the age of 59, survived by his wife Trish and their sons Matthew and Alexander.

Studies and training

In his own words, delivering the 1998 André Huguenet Memorial Lecture for the Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival, his theatrical career was conceived and nurtured in the Mannville nursery of Bruce and Helen Mann.

After high school, Venturas headed off to Durban where he studied Speech and Drama at the former University of Natal, now the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He qualified with a Bachelor of Arts (cum laude)

Contributions to South African theatre

As actor

Plays performed include: The Tempest (1974), A Tale of Two Cities (1984), An Evening with Jaques Brel (1985)

As director

Directed more than 500 productions over 30 years, ranging from music revues, musical theatre, comedy, to Shakespeare and classical Opera, and managed numerous ceremonies and corporate events. Plays directed (and often designed) include:

1974: The Lark (Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival Young 'uns)

1975: The Queen and the Rebels (Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival Young 'uns)

1976: Antigone (Anouilh) (Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival Young 'uns)

1977: Frank Ass (University of Port Elizabeth Catholic Society Theatrum)

1977: Our Town (Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival Young 'uns)

1978: Point of Departure (Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival Young 'uns)

1983: Exit the King (University of Natal)

1984: A Tale of Two Cities (University of Natal)

1984: Mickey Kannis Caught my Eye (University of Natal)

1987: Hamlet (Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival)

1992: Taxi Jam (NAPAC, Kwasa)

1995: Die Zauberflöte (Opera Africa)

1998: Faust (Opera Africa)

1999: Macbeth (Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival)

2000: The Tempest (Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival)

2001: Hometalk (Venturas Productions in association with Arnie Field)

2001: Curtain Up (Young Performers Project)

2002: Princess Magogo kaDinuzulu (Opera Africa)

2004: La Traviata (Opera Africa)

2004: Oliver! (Young Performers Project)

2005: Fiddler on the Roof (Young Performers Project)

2008: School of Rock (Young Performers Project)

2009: Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Young Performers Project)

2010: Hairspray (Young Performers Project)

2010: La Bohème (Opera Africa)

2012: Legally Blonde The Musical (Young Performers Project)

2013: The African Passion

2014: Footloose (PANSA Young Performers Project)

2015: Soldiers in the City (Young Performers Project)

As manager

In 1974, Themi Venturas was elected president of the Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival's Young 'uns, an "under-the-age-of-twenty" group of players for the Festival.

He was among the five performers who started the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre Company. Also comprising Celeste Litkie, Brenda Radloff, Melanie Bowles and Mark Faith, the company was created at the same time as NAPAC's Loft Theatre Company.

Began work as the head of productions at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on the campus of the university. Afterwards, he joined the former Natal Performing Arts Council (NAPAC), working on the Kwasa community project. This was a project, which incorporated festivals, internship programmes and training. It helped to launch many young people into a career in the performing arts. When problems arose within NAPAC, he volunteered his retrenchment and started Themi Venturas Productions, of which he was managing director. He also managed two theatres, namely the Catalina Theatre and the KwaSuka Theatre.

He served as President of the Performing Arts Network of South Africa (PANSA) for KwaZulu-Natal and as national exco member of PANSA, as a trustee on the Arts and Culture Trust of South Africa (ACT) and as a Board Member of Theatre Biz.