Will Jamieson - Revision history

Ivor: /* Sources */

2026-06-11T11:29:25Z

Sources

Ivor: /* Biography */

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Biography

Ivor: /* Biography */

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Biography

Ivor: /* Biography */

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Biography

Darryl: /* As a director and designer */

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As a director and designer

Darryl: /* As a director and designer */

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As a director and designer

Darryl: /* As a director and designer */

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As a director and designer

Darryl at 13:56, 23 November 2024

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Darryl: /* Notes from Fiona Jamieson */

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Notes from Fiona Jamieson

Darryl: /* Theatrical career in South Africa */

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Theatrical career in South Africa

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	[[Saturday Post]], April 19, 1947.		[[Saturday Post]], April 19, 1947.
		+
		+	[[Lantern]] magazine, December 1970, "''Shakespeare In Port Elizabeth''" by [[Alfred Porter]].

	David Jamieson (personal correspondence)		David Jamieson (personal correspondence)

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 Rehearsals were a matter of sweat, toil and tears with the actors often going home in the early hours, utterly exhausted after stormy all-night sessions.
-Seven years later, in May, 1960, [[King Lear]], the next Shakespeare play, was produced in the [[Port Elizabeth Opera House]] with [[Will Jamieson]] as producer and [[Andre Huguenet]] as the lead actor under the auspices of the Red Cross Society.
+Seven years later, in May, 1960, [[King Lear]], the next Shakespeare play, was produced in the [[Port Elizabeth Opera House]] with [[Will Jamieson]] as producer and [[André Huguenet]] as the lead actor under the auspices of the Red Cross Society.
 To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the birth of Shakespeare in 1964 the [[Theatre Guild]] presented [[The Taming of the Shrew]] produced by [[Will Jamieson]].

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	To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the birth of Shakespeare in 1964 the [[Theatre Guild]] presented [[The Taming of the Shrew]] produced by [[Will Jamieson]].		To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the birth of Shakespeare in 1964 the [[Theatre Guild]] presented [[The Taming of the Shrew]] produced by [[Will Jamieson]].
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		+	In November 1966, [[PEMADS]] presented another [[Will Jamieson]] production, [[Macbeth]], at the [[Little Theatre]].

	He died in Cape Town in 1968 from a heart attack. Hilda died in 1998 in the UK.		He died in Cape Town in 1968 from a heart attack. Hilda died in 1998 in the UK.

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 Born in Forfar in Scotland 28 June, 1914 in Forfar, Angus, Scotland.  The family came to Port Elizabeth when he was quite young (possibly 9 years old). His younger brother, Ean was born in Port Elizabeth in 1924.
 At the outbreak of the Second World War, he toured as a professional and associated with many of the famous professionals of the day. He then served in the RAF during the war and was stationed in West Africa. After the war, he returned to South Africa as leading man to [[Nan Munro]] in the [[Munro-Inglis Company]] and was also associated with [[Gwen ffrangcon-Davies]].
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 He was the producer for the first repertory season of the [[Brian Brooke Company]] in Cape Town and then joined the [[National Theatre Organisation]] as one of its leading players.
-He returned to Port Elizabeth and married [[Hilda Chapman]] in St Columba’s Presbyterian Church in Port Elizabeth in 1946. He became a highly respected free-lance actor and producer; one who used to do many of the costume designs for his own productions.
+He returned to Port Elizabeth and married [[Hilda Chapman]] in St Columba’s Presbyterian Church in Port Elizabeth in 1946. He became a highly respected freelance actor and producer; and used to do many of the costume designs for his own productions.
 He died in Cape Town in 1968 from a heart attack. Hilda died in 1998 in the UK.

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 Also in 1952, he produced the [[Company of Four]]'s presentation of Jean Anouilh's [[Antigone]]
-''[[King Henry VIII]]'', ran from June 1 - 6, 1953, and was under the auspices of the committee set up to organise the celebrations in connection with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. ''[[King Henry VIII]]'' was really a play-cum-pageant. The huge stage of the [[Feather Market Hall]] was converted into a magnificent set reminiscent of Wolsey's Hampton Court. There was music, dancing, choirs and processions, with [[Robert Selley]] in charge of the musical side.  Rehearsals for this were indeed a matter of sweat, toil and tears, the actors often going home in the early hours, utterly exhausted after all-night stormy sessions with the despairing producer.
+Jamieson directed ''[[King Henry VIII]]'', (June 1 - 6, 1953), which was presented under the auspices of the committee set up to organise the celebrations in connection with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. ''[[King Henry VIII]]'' was really a play-cum-pageant. The huge stage of the [[Feather Market Hall]] was converted into a magnificent set reminiscent of Wolsey's Hampton Court. There was music, dancing, choirs and processions, with [[Robert Selley]] in charge of the musical side.  Rehearsals for this were indeed a matter of sweat, toil and tears, the actors often going home in the early hours, utterly exhausted after all-night stormy sessions with the despairing producer.
 Most memorable was [[Johann Nell]]'s portrayal of Wolsey, while the ending was the prophetic culminating speech over the infant Princess Elizabeth, finely declaimed by John Hamber in his part as Archbishop Cranmer. All the leading actors of the city took part including [[Ronald Davis]], [[Brocas Harris]], [[Christine Hamilton-Cox]], [[Maurice Weightman]], [[Peggy English]] and [[Leicester Walton]].
 As director, Jamieson also did ''[[Twelfth Night]]'', with   [[John Hamber]],  in the [[Loubser Hall]] (Later the The [[Little Theatre]]), Port Elizabeth;  and ''[[Our Town]]'' (1961) and ''[[The Merry Widow]]'' at the [[Masque Theatre]] in Muizenberg.
-For the [[Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival]] he directed ''[[King Lear]]'' (starring André Huguenet) in 1960, ''[[The Lark]]'' by Jean Anouilh in 1961, ''[[Hamlet]]'' with [[Jim Shorrock]] in 1963, and ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' in 1964. He also did several productions for [[PEMADS]] at the Little Theatre, and for the [[PE Gilbert and Sullivan Society]], including ''[[Princess Ida]]'' (1958) and ''[[The Merry Widow]]'' (1959).
+For the [[Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival]] he directed ''[[King Lear]]'' (starring [[André Huguenet]]) in 1960, ''[[The Lark]]'' by Jean Anouilh in 1961, ''[[Hamlet]]'' with [[Jim Shorrock]] in 1963, and ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' in 1964. He also did several productions for [[PEMADS]] at the Little Theatre, and for the [[PE Gilbert and Sullivan Society]], including ''[[Princess Ida]]'' (1958) and ''[[The Merry Widow]]'' (1959).
 == Radio career ==

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 circa 1943-1946: [[Will Jamieson]] staged ''[[Hay Fever]]'' in Grahamstown. [[Honor Edmonds]] was the lead player.
-February 13, 1952. [[Will Jamieson]] directed [[Andre Huguenet]]'s presentation of ''[[King Oedipus]]'' by [[Sophocles]] in Port Elizabeth.
+February 13, 1952. [[Will Jamieson]] directed [[Andre Huguenet]]'s presentation of ''[[King Oedipus]]'' by [[Sophocles]] in Port Elizabeth. The cast included [[Andre Huguenet]] (Oedipus). [[William Turner]] (A Priest). [[Edward Mansfield]] (Creon). [[John Hamber]] (Tiresias). [[Rupert Bellairs]] (The Boy). [[Sally Carroll]] (Jocasta). [[Joan Parker]] and [[Hilda Jamieson]] (Attendants to Jacaste). [[Geoffrey Harrison]] (First Messenger). [[H Alyn Lane]] (Herdsman). [[Drasna Salters]] (Antigone). [[Rene Steenkamp]] (Ismene). [[Maurice Weightman]] (Chorus Leader). [[Robin Parker]] (Second Voice). Chorus of Theban Elders: [[Peter Millard]], [[Hilton Pegg]], [[Stephen Rein]], [[Peter Brand]], [[John Allen]], [[Neil Zeeman]], [[Jock Fisher]], [[Peter Dixon]], [[Wintan Ferreira]], [[Keith Pegg]], [[Cecil Steyn]], [[Danie Vermaak]], [[Melville Oosthuizen]] and [[Rex Finlay]]. Guards: [[Graham Elburg]], [[Lawrence Shepstone]], [[Walter Stotter]] and [[Nico Smith]]. Temple Maidens: [[Hazel Muller]], [[Patricia Stow]], [[Patience White]], [[Peggy Tait]], [[Dawn Robertson]], [[Dorine Charles]]. The Guards: Benny Ossher’a Physical Culture Institute. Set designer: [[Roy Cook]] and built by [[African Consolidated Theatres Ltd]]. Costumes: [[Geoffrey Long]]. Lighting: [[H Alyn Lane]]. Stage Manager: [[Wolf Grunhuber]]. House manager: [[Harold Davidson]]. (by courtesy of [[PE Dramatic and Operatic Society]]). Coiffures: [[Pierre of Salon Charles]]. Programme Cover: [[Maurice Weightman]]. Personal Assistant to Mr Huguenet: [[Phyllis Davidson]].
 Also in 1952 he produced the [[Company of Four]]'s presentation of Jean Anouilh's [[Antigone]]
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-As director Jamieson did ''[[Twelfth Night]]'', with   [[John Hamber]],  in the [[Loubser Hall]] (Later the The [[Little Theatre]]), Port Elizabeth; ''[[King Henry VIII]]''  (dir) [[Ronnie Davis]], [[Johann Nell]] & [[Margaret Inglis]].  ''[[Our Town]]'' (Dir), ''[[Hamlet]]'' (dir) with [[Jim Shorrock]], ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' (dir) 1964.**
+As director, Jamieson did ''[[Twelfth Night]]'', with   [[John Hamber]],  in the [[Loubser Hall]] (Later the The [[Little Theatre]]), Port Elizabeth; ''[[King Henry VIII]]''  (dir) [[Ronnie Davis]], [[Johann Nell]] & [[Margaret Inglis]].  ''[[Our Town]]'' (Dir), ''[[Hamlet]]'' (dir) with [[Jim Shorrock]],
-For the [[Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival]] he directed ''[[King Lear]]'' in 1960, ''[[The Lark]]'' by Jean Anouilh in 1961, ''[[Hamlet]]'' in 1963 and ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' in 1964.
+Dad also did several productions for PEMADS at the Little Theatre, and for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society in PE.  I particularly recall Princess Ida, which was while we were living at 6 Cleeve Road.  And of course, there was the Merry Widow, which I think was in the PE City Hall.  He also did Merry Widow with Bertie Stern in Cape Town.  Bertie owned the Masque Theatre in Muizenberg, where Dad did several productions – I recall Our Town in 1961.
 == Radio career ==
 While he also had a short career in the [[SABC]], Jamieson found himself ideologically incompatible with the censorship laws, one which he held strong views. According to his daughter ([[Fiona Jamieson]], 2013) he is reported to have said ”and that’s a load of bull****” at the end of a live newscast - whilst still on air - which meant that he was sent packing!
 ==Sources==

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	Dad also did several productions for PEMADS at the Little Theatre, and for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society in PE. I particularly recall Princess Ida, which was while we were living at 6 Cleeve Road. And of course, there was the Merry Widow, which I think was in the PE City Hall. He also did Merry Widow with Bertie Stern in Cape Town. Bertie owned the Masque Theatre in Muizenberg, where Dad did several productions – I recall Our Town in 1961.		Dad also did several productions for PEMADS at the Little Theatre, and for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society in PE. I particularly recall Princess Ida, which was while we were living at 6 Cleeve Road. And of course, there was the Merry Widow, which I think was in the PE City Hall. He also did Merry Widow with Bertie Stern in Cape Town. Bertie owned the Masque Theatre in Muizenberg, where Dad did several productions – I recall Our Town in 1961.
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−	He is also one of the founding sponsors (or something significant) of the Mannville Open Air Theatre in King Georges Park in Port Elizabeth. I recall that Mom and I went to the opening with Taubie Kushlick – were you also there? Can’t remember, isn’t that awful?”
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	==Sources==		==Sources==

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 == Theatrical career in South Africa ==
-In 1950 he produced [[Twelfth Night]] for [[Pemads]], the first post-war Shakespearean production in Port Elizabeth. The play was staged in the [[City Hall]] from October 18 - 21. Although it received only lukewarm reviews it was looked back upon bt those who participated as a wonderful milestone.
+In 1950 he produced [[Twelfth Night]] for [[Pemads]], the first post-war Shakespearean production in Port Elizabeth. The play was staged in the [[City Hall]] from October 18 - 21. Although it received only lukewarm reviews it was looked back upon by those who participated as a wonderful milestone.
 He was for many years very closely involved with [[PEMADS]] and the [[Little Theatre]] in Port Elizabeth, and the [[Port Elizabeth Shakespearian Festival]];  and later became one of the founding members of the [[Mannville Open Air Theatre]] in St George's Park in Port Elizabeth.