Paul du Toit

There are two South African theatre personalities by this name.

Neither of them to be confused with the South African artist and sculptor Paul du Toit (1965 – 2014).[1]

Paul du Toit (19**-) Actor

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Played "Lennox" in the 1950 Afrikaans Macbeth (NTO).

Sources

Leonard Schach 1996. The Flag is Flying: A Very Personal History of Theatre in the Old South Africa. Cape Town: Human and Rousseau: p.62

Paul du Toit (1974-) Actor, singer, director and playwright

BEING EDITED

Biography

Born and raised in Somerset West to a theatrical family (his mother wrote and produced musicals), he started as a child actor in local productions. He completed his Drama Honours degree at Stellenbosch University Drama Department in 1996. While at university he received voice training in opera from Matthys Strumpher at the University's Conservatorium[2] and appeared in a number of Drama Department productions.

After graduating he moved into the professional field, working as actor, playwright and director for a range of companies, including Unlikely Productions. He also became a strong presence in film and television, inter alia also through his own company, Fanagalo Films.

Paul moved to Canada in 2020 with his Canadian wife, Clair, and their two sons, where they settled in Vancouver.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Stage career

Paul has played "Biff" in Death of a Salesman, "Lord John" in The Elephant Man (also understudying Kevin Smith as "John Merrick"), "Cleomenes" in The Winter's Tale (CAPAB, 1997), "Jack" in Into the Woods (CAPAB, 1997), "Frank N Furter" (and later also "Brad") in productions of The Rocky Horror Show, "George" in Same Time Next Year (2013-4) and "Roelof" in Hemelruim (2015).

Other productions include Boy Meets Boy (CAPAB, Doowah Boys 2 (Pieter Toerien), The Parrot Woman (Charles J. Fourie, 199*), Honk!, 2000, Auditioning Angels (Pieter-Dirk Uys, 2003), In Glas, Strangers on a Train and Skin Tight.

His one man show, Are You Kidding?, played to sold out houses and rave reviews at the 2014 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown and at the Hilton Arts Festival.

Also, collaborating with Anton Luitingh, performed in a range of revues, including Rock Me Amadeus, Two to Tango, Hemelruim (2015), Uit die Bloute (2018), as well as the popular Offbeat Broadways series (2011-).

Career in film and television

He became known nationally for his starring role in 9 seasons of the popular daily drama, Binnelanders and has co-hosted and co-produced the food, travel and lifestyle documentary series Rough or Smooth through his production company Fanagalo Films.

Other South African TV credits as actor include "Albert Hugo" in Die Waterfront, "Gert Grobler", the butcher of Merweville, in Die Boekklub, and roles in Black Sails, Fynskrif, Die Byl, Boland Moorde and Kom ons Kamp.

His local film credits include Beyond the River, Noem my Skollie, Bloodline, Semi-Soet, Liefling: Die Movie, Skilpoppe, Trouvoete, French Toast, Mossie and Stiekyt.

He has also worked extensively in many other film and television productions intended for the North American, British and South African markets. (See his full profile on IMDb[3]).

As writer/creator

He co-wrote, co-directed and performed in the Offbeat Broadway quintet of satires (2011) and wrote and directed the award-winning play The Unlikely Secret Agent in 2022 and in the same year translated and directed Gail Louw's internationally acclaimed play The Good Dad as Die Goeie Pa.

Awards, etc

His many awards and nominations include:

In 1995 he won the Best Actor Award from the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department for his role as Johnnie in Hello and Goodbye Other awards include:

1996: Nominated for a Fleur du Cap in the category Most Promising Student.

1998: Vita Award Nominee (Best Actor) for the Pieter Toerien Production, Old Wicked Songs

2001 Winner of the FNB Vita Award for Best Supporting Actor as "Cassio" in Othello.

2013: An Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown for Same Time Next Year

2017 Fleur Du Cap Award as Best Actor in a Musical for Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

2018 kykNET Fiësta Award for Best Actor for Melk en Vleis.

2022 The Fleur du Cap Theatre Award as Best Director for The Unlikely Secret Agent.

Sources

Paul du Toit: Biography July 2022 and Paul du Toit: Resume 2024 (both courtesy of Paul du Toit, held in ESAT archives).

The Elephant Man programme notes.

Sunday Independent, 15 June 2014.

Die Burger, 25 March 2022.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1957436/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_du_Toit

https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/rough-or-smooth/1000117759/

https://www.brucedennill.co.za/2022/06/07/theatre-interview-paul-du-toit-the-unlikely-secret-agent-or-holding-the-brush/

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