Leonard Schach - Revision history

Darryl: /* His South African productions */

2026-06-08T15:55:53Z

His South African productions

Darryl: /* Sources */

2024-03-27T12:07:21Z

Sources

Darryl: /* His South African productions */

2024-03-27T12:06:50Z

His South African productions

Karina2: /* His theatre companies */

2022-01-09T14:16:51Z

His theatre companies

Karina2: /* His theatre companies */

2022-01-09T14:14:58Z

His theatre companies

Miriamt: /* Awards and honours */

2019-09-20T14:26:10Z

Awards and honours

Miriamt: /* His South African productions */

2018-01-23T08:00:26Z

His South African productions

Miriamt: /* The South African period 1948-1964 */

2018-01-23T07:58:24Z

The South African period 1948-1964

Miriamt: /* His South African productions */

2018-01-23T07:45:05Z

His South African productions

Miriamt: /* His South African productions */

2018-01-23T07:33:53Z

His South African productions

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:55, 8 June 2026
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	He subsequently directed a number of other plays for various managements in South Africa. His production of an Afrikaans version of ''[[The Diary of Anne Frank]]'' with [[Elise Hibbert]] was staged by [[PACT]] at the [[Alexander Theatre]] in 1977. He directed ''[[Die Wonderwerk]]'' (1978), ''[[Golda]]'' (1978), ''[['n Maand op die Platteland]]'' (1979), ''[[Da]]'' (1979), ''[[Macbeth]]'' (1980), ''[[The Royal Hunt of the Sun]]'' (1981), ''[[The Dresser]]'' (1980). It was also staged at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1982 before enjoying a successful run in Israel.		He subsequently directed a number of other plays for various managements in South Africa. His production of an Afrikaans version of ''[[The Diary of Anne Frank]]'' with [[Elise Hibbert]] was staged by [[PACT]] at the [[Alexander Theatre]] in 1977. He directed ''[[Die Wonderwerk]]'' (1978), ''[[Golda]]'' (1978), ''[['n Maand op die Platteland]]'' (1979), ''[[Da]]'' (1979), ''[[Macbeth]]'' (1980), ''[[The Royal Hunt of the Sun]]'' (1981), ''[[The Dresser]]'' (1980). It was also staged at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1982 before enjoying a successful run in Israel.
		+
		+	1979: ''[[What the Butler Saw]]'' ([[Company of Four]])

	He directed ''[[84 Charing Cross Road]]'' at the [[Market Theatre]] in April 1982, ''[[Beecham]]'' (1984), ''[[A Walk in the Woods]]'' (1989), ''[[A Walk in the Woods]]'' (1990).		He directed ''[[84 Charing Cross Road]]'' at the [[Market Theatre]] in April 1982, ''[[Beecham]]'' (1984), ''[[A Walk in the Woods]]'' (1989), ''[[A Walk in the Woods]]'' (1990).

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:07, 27 March 2024
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	Virtual Library [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0018_0_17603.html]		Virtual Library [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0018_0_17603.html]
		+
		+	[[Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow]][http://classicsa.co.za/site/listings/view/classicsa_sabina_mossolow_soprano/?s=musicians&f=ind&m=2&ms=1]. 2003. ''The career of South African soprano [[Nellie du Toit]], born 1929''. Unpublished Masters thesis. [[University of Stellenbosch]].[http://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/16394]

	== Return to ==		== Return to ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:06, 27 March 2024
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	[[PACT]] presented two of his productions in 1971: the Paul Zindel play ''[[The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-moon Marigolds]]'', starring [[Marjorie Gordon]] and [[Janice Honeyman]]; and ''[[In the Case of J. Robert Oppenheimer]]'' starring [[John Hayter]].		[[PACT]] presented two of his productions in 1971: the Paul Zindel play ''[[The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-moon Marigolds]]'', starring [[Marjorie Gordon]] and [[Janice Honeyman]]; and ''[[In the Case of J. Robert Oppenheimer]]'' starring [[John Hayter]].
		+
		+	In 1965, he directed the opera ''[[Prodaná nevěsta]]'' for [[CAPAB]], and in 1972, ''[[Don Giovanni]]'' for [[PACT]].

	He directed ''[[Kennedy's Children]]'' for [[The Company]] (1975), the [[Pieter Toerien]] production of [[Peter Shaffer]]’s ''[[Equus]]'' (1975), ''[[Comedians]]'' at The [[Market Theatre]] in December 1976. His production of ''[[Comedians]]'' was one of the opening productions in the [[Market Theatre]]. It attracted a lot of attention from the censorship board.		He directed ''[[Kennedy's Children]]'' for [[The Company]] (1975), the [[Pieter Toerien]] production of [[Peter Shaffer]]’s ''[[Equus]]'' (1975), ''[[Comedians]]'' at The [[Market Theatre]] in December 1976. His production of ''[[Comedians]]'' was one of the opening productions in the [[Market Theatre]]. It attracted a lot of attention from the censorship board.

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 '''[[National Theatre Organization]]'''
-In 1947–48 he undertook a world survey of national subsidized theatre on behalf of the South African Department of Adult Education, contributing to the establishment of the [[National Theatre Organization]] ([[NTO]]) in 1948.  He directed ''[[Summer of the Seventeenth Doll]]'', ''[[Volpone]]'', ''[[Twelve Night]]'' the last was later done for PACT in Afrikaans with [[Uys Krige]] as translator, .
+In 1947–48 he undertook a world survey of national subsidized theatre on behalf of the South African Department of Adult Education, contributing to the establishment of the [[National Theatre Organization]] ([[NTO]]) in 1948.  He directed ''[[Summer of the Seventeenth Doll]]'', ''[[Volpone]]'', ''[[Twelve Night]]'' the last was later done for PACT in Afrikaans with [[Uys Krige]] as translator, [[Anouilh's]] ''[[Antigone]]'' and Chekhov's  [[Anniversary]].
 Schach soon moved into production, creating a company called the [[Cockpit Players]] in 1950-. Later this was renamed [[Leonard Schach Productions]] (1951-). After his move to Israel, he set up the [[Company of Four]] with South African colleagues [[René Ahrenson]], [[Cecilia Sonnenberg]] and [[Donald Inskip]] (1977-1986) to produce work in the country. Much of his directing work was done for these companies, though he also worked extensively with [[NTO]] and later the [[Performing Arts Councils]] as well.

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 '''[[National Theatre Organization]]'''
-In 1947–48 he undertook a world survey of national subsidized theatre on behalf of the South African Department of Adult Education, contributing to the establishment of the [[National Theatre Organization]] ([[NTO]]) in 1948.
+In 1947–48 he undertook a world survey of national subsidized theatre on behalf of the South African Department of Adult Education, contributing to the establishment of the [[National Theatre Organization]] ([[NTO]]) in 1948.  He directed ''[[Summer of the Seventeenth Doll]]'', ''[[Volpone]]'', ''[[Twelve Night]]'' the last was later done for PACT in Afrikaans with [[Uys Krige]] as translator, .
 Schach soon moved into production, creating a company called the [[Cockpit Players]] in 1950-. Later this was renamed [[Leonard Schach Productions]] (1951-). After his move to Israel, he set up the [[Company of Four]] with South African colleagues [[René Ahrenson]], [[Cecilia Sonnenberg]] and [[Donald Inskip]] (1977-1986) to produce work in the country. Much of his directing work was done for these companies, though he also worked extensively with [[NTO]] and later the [[Performing Arts Councils]] as well.

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 Schach was the recipient of many awards, including the 1960 Cape Tercentenarian Award of Merit (1960), the Queen of England's Coronation Medal for services to the English theatre (1953), the Drama Critics of Brussels award (for ''[[After the Fall]]'', 1966), Israel's David's Harp award for best director of the year (''[[Birthday Party]]'', 1968), and the [[Breytenbach Award]] of South Africa for best director of the year for his production of ''[[Equus]]'' (1976). He has also been granted the Freedom of the City of Cape Town for his theatrical activity.
-In 1989 he received the [[Fleur du Cap]] Lifetime Award for his contribution to the industry.
+In 1989 he received the [[Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards|Fleur due Cap Lifetime Achievement Award]] for his contribution to the industry.
 He founded the [[The Leonard Schach Fund for Theatre Productions]] - South Africa and Israel.

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 His production of ''[[The Aspern Papers]]'' ran at the [[Playhouse]] (Cape Town) after their season at the [[Hofmeyr Theatre]] in 1960. [[Michael Redgrave]]’s adaptation of this [[Henry James]] story saw the British actress [[Flora Robson]] in the lead opposite Canadian actor [[Robert Beatty]].
-In December 1960 Schach announced he had signed a two-year lease with the [[Playhouse]] in Cape Town. His [[Cockpit Players]] maintained a high standard at the [[Playhouse]] in 1961 with [[Harold Pinter]]’s ''[[The Caretaker]]'' with [[Siegfried Mynhardt]], [[Michael McGovern]] and [[Nigel Hawthorne]], and [[Paddy Chayefsky]]’s prizewinning ''[[The Tenth Man]]'', starring the same actors.
+In December 1960 Schach announced he had signed a two-year lease with the [[Playhouse]] in Cape Town. His [[Cockpit Players]] maintained a high standard at the [[Playhouse]] in 1961 with [[Harold Pinter]]’s ''[[The Caretaker]]'' with [[Siegfried Mynhardt]], [[Michael McGovern]] and [[Nigel Hawthorne]], and Paddy Chayefsky’s prizewinning ''[[The Tenth Man]]'', starring the same actors.
 His [[Cockpit Players]] did William Gibson’s ''[[The Miracle Worker]]'' at the [[Playhouse]] in 1961, starring [[Reinet Maasdorp]] and [[Fiona Fraser]].

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 He was involved in the Broadway debut of the production of ''[[After the Fall]]'' and had befriended Miller. He obtained the rights to the play and produced it, with [[Leon Gluckman]], just months after its Broadway premiere, in [[Wits Great Hall|Wits University Great Hall]] Johannesburg as part of the Johannesburg Festival and [[Luxurama|Luxurama Theatre]], Cape Town ([[Cockpit Players]]) in 1964 for multi-racial audiences. This was the last play directed by [[Leonard Schach]] prior to settling in Israel. Schach directed four more productions of ''After the Fall'': In Israel, Brussels, London and again in South Africa in 1981 when it was [[PACT]]’s opening production in the Pretoria [[State Theatre]].
 === His theatre companies ===
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 [[PACT]] presented two of his productions in 1971: the Paul Zindel play ''[[The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-moon Marigolds]]'', starring [[Marjorie Gordon]] and [[Janice Honeyman]]; and ''[[In the Case of J. Robert Oppenheimer]]'' starring [[John Hayter]].
-He directed ''[[Kennedy's Children]]'' for [[The Company]] (1975), the [[Pieter Toerien]] production of  [[Peter Shaffer]]’s ''[[Equus]]'' (1975), ''[[Comedians]]'' at The [[Market Theatre]] in December 1976.
+He directed ''[[Kennedy's Children]]'' for [[The Company]] (1975), the [[Pieter Toerien]] production of  [[Peter Shaffer]]’s ''[[Equus]]'' (1975), ''[[Comedians]]'' at The [[Market Theatre]] in December 1976. His production of ''[[Comedians]]'' was one of the opening productions in the [[Market Theatre]]. It attracted a lot of attention from the censorship board.
 He subsequently directed a number of other plays for various managements in South Africa.  His production of an Afrikaans version of ''[[The Diary of Anne Frank]]'' with [[Elise Hibbert]] was staged by [[PACT]] at the [[Alexander Theatre]] in 1977. He directed ''[[Die Wonderwerk]]'' (1978), ''[[Golda]]'' (1978), ''[['n Maand op die Platteland]]'' (1979), ''[[Da]]'' (1979), ''[[Macbeth]]'' (1980), ''[[The Royal Hunt of the Sun]]'' (1981), ''[[The Dresser]]'' (1980). It was also staged at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1982 before enjoying a successful run in Israel.

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 He directed Samuel Beckett’s ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'' in 1955 in Cape Town and then collaborated with [[Leon Gluckman]] and [[Taubie Kushlick]] as co-producers to stage it once again, this time at the [[Technical College Hall]] in 1956, starring [[Alec Bell]], [[Gerrit Wessels]] and [[Gavin Haughton]]. [[Joss Ackland]] played leads for Leonard Schach’s [[Cockpit Players]] before returning to England.
-He directed [[Arthur Miller]]’s ''[[A View from the Bridge]]'' for the [[Johannesburg Reps|Reps]] starring the Irish actor [[Niall MacGinnis]] and Durban actor, [[Louis Burke]], making his first stage appearance in Johannesburg in 1957, ''[[The Diary of Anne Frank]]'' in Cape Town in 1957, ''[[Yours Anne]]'', a music drama based on the diaries of Anne Frank which was produced to coincide with an Anne Frank Exhibition that toured South Africa in 1994.
+He directed [[Arthur Miller]]’s ''[[A View from the Bridge]]'' for the [[Johannesburg Reps|Reps]] starring the Irish actor [[Niall MacGinnis]] and Durban actor, [[Louis Burke]], making his first stage appearance in Johannesburg in 1957, ''[[The Diary of Anne Frank]]'' in Cape Town in 1957.
 The [[National Theatre]] presented his production of ''[[Summer of the Seventeenth Doll]]'' at the [[Johannesburg Reps]] at the end of 1957. It was written by the Australian Ray Lawler, and starred [[Marjorie Gordon]].
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 His [[Baxter Theatre]] production of ''[[Beecham]]'' was staged at the [[Civic Theatre|Civic’s Youth Theatre]] in Johannesburg in 1993.
 == The Israeli period 1965-1996 ==

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 [[Leon Gluckman]] returned to the Johannesburg stage in January 1958 in Schach’s production of the American play, ''[[Career]]'', at the [[Johannesburg Reps|Reps]].
-Schach’s [[Cockpit Players]] embarked on a lengthy Johannesburg run of four of their recent Cape Town successes in 1959. The first production was ''[[Long Day's Journey into Night]]'' starring [[Leon Gluckman]]. Next, [[Basil Warner]]’s ''[[Try for White]]'' opened at the [[Pretoria Opera House]] before moving to the [[Intimate Theatre]] for the remainder of their highly successful run. [[Leon Gluckman]] and [[John McElvey]] went straight into Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s prizewinning play ''[[Inherit the Wind]]'', for which Leonard hired the [[Brooke Theatre]]. The fourth [[Cockpit Players]] production was [[Thornton Wilder]]’s lively period-New York comedy, ''[[The Matchmaker]]''. This enduring show became the musical ''[[Hello, Dolly!]]''.
+Schach’s [[Cockpit Players]] embarked on a lengthy Johannesburg run of four of their recent Cape Town successes in 1959. The first production was ''[[Long Day's Journey into Night]]'' starring [[Leon Gluckman]]. Next, [[Basil Warner]]’s ''[[Try for White]]'' opened at the [[Pretoria Opera House]] before moving to the [[Intimate Theatre]] for the remainder of their highly successful run. [[Leon Gluckman]] and [[John McKelvey]] went straight into Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s prizewinning play ''[[Inherit the Wind]]'', for which Leonard hired the [[Brooke Theatre]]. The fourth [[Cockpit Players]] production was [[Thornton Wilder]]’s lively period-New York comedy, ''[[The Matchmaker]]''. This enduring show became the musical ''[[Hello, Dolly!]]''.
 [[David Beattie]] made his final appearance for Leonard’s satirical  revue, ''[[Beyond the Fringe]]''.
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 His production of ''[[A Majority of One]]'' starring [[Sarah Sylvia]] and [[Frank Wise]] opened in January 1960. He directed Brendan Behan’s play ''[[The Hostage]]'' which was staged at the [[Intimate Theatre]] in 1960. Yet the [[YMCA]] committee for the [[Intimate]] refused permission to stage his ''[[Lock Up Your Daughters]]''.
-His production of ''[[The Aspern Papers]]'' ran at the [[Playhouse]] after their season at the [[Hofmeyr Theatre]] in 1960. [[Michael Redgrave]]’s adaptation of this [[Henry James]] story saw the British actress [[Flora Robson]] in the lead opposite Canadian actor [[Robert Beatty]].
+His production of ''[[The Aspern Papers]]'' ran at the [[Playhouse]] (Cape Town) after their season at the [[Hofmeyr Theatre]] in 1960. [[Michael Redgrave]]’s adaptation of this [[Henry James]] story saw the British actress [[Flora Robson]] in the lead opposite Canadian actor [[Robert Beatty]].
-In December 1960 Schach announced he had signed a two-year lease with the [[Playhouse]]. His [[Cockpit Players]] maintained a high standard at the [[Playhouse]] in 1961 with [[Harold Pinter]]’s ''[[The Caretaker]]'' with [[Siegfried Mynhardt]], [[Michael McGovern]] and [[Nigel Hawthorne]], and [[Paddy Chayefsky]]’s prizewinning ''[[The Tenth Man]]'', starring the same actors.
+In December 1960 Schach announced he had signed a two-year lease with the [[Playhouse]] in Cape Town. His [[Cockpit Players]] maintained a high standard at the [[Playhouse]] in 1961 with [[Harold Pinter]]’s ''[[The Caretaker]]'' with [[Siegfried Mynhardt]], [[Michael McGovern]] and [[Nigel Hawthorne]], and [[Paddy Chayefsky]]’s prizewinning ''[[The Tenth Man]]'', starring the same actors.
 His [[Cockpit Players]] did William Gibson’s ''[[The Miracle Worker]]'' at the [[Playhouse]] in 1961, starring [[Reinet Maasdorp]] and [[Fiona Fraser]].