Michael de Beer

Michael de Beer (1951-) is a freelance communications manager, costumier, stage manager and performer.

THIS ENTRY IS CURRENTLY BEING EDITED

Biography

Born in Johannesburg on 2 March 1951, he received his primary schooling at Twist Street Primary and Roseneath Primary, finishing his high schooling at King Edward VII High.

His day job has long been in the fields of Communication, Public Relations and Marketing, building a major career in fields such as Community & Rural Development, Hospitality, Tourism and the Clothing Industry, while maintaining his interest and involvement in the arts.

He has had no formal theatre and media training but learnt about the trade by working in the theatre and media world with accomplished performers and theatre makers. Besides involvement in specific productions over the years, his theatre and arts engagements in this respect have included stints in

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

Besides his day job as communications facilitator, his varied contributions to stage, media and film productions since 1962 have included:

As a stage performer

He played numerous supporting roles in a range of productions over the years, among them appearing in

1962: Oliver! (as "Ragamuffin");

1963: Sound of Music (as "Kurt");

1968: Carousel (as "Enoch Snow Jnr."); Nabucco (super, also on local tour);

1979: The Merry Widow; Fiddler On The Roof'; Show Boat [[]];

1980: Kiss Me Kate; Barber of Seville; The Fantastiks (The Mute);

1982: Barber of Seville; The Fantastiks (The Mute);

1983: The King & I; The Gypsey Baron;

1984: Othello (opera);

1987: Turandot;

1990: Cavelleria Rusticana

Film and TV

Lied in My Hart (Movie Extra, 1968); Carmen (Chorus, TV, 1981); Shaka Zulu (1984); Heroes (1984); Prins van Pretoria (1991);

Radio

In 1964 he was a contestant on the Wicks Bubblegum Show (1964) and did a voice commercial for the SABC.

Costumes

Another facet of his contribution to the performing arts has been his costumier - often doubling as stage manager, choreographer, performer (super, dancer, singer), etc. He even served as a Fashion Model on occasion (e.g. for a charity for the Fulton Deaf School and the Miss Umhlanga Pageant in 1977) and an Event Judge/Organiser (e.g of the Garment Spring Queen for 1982; The Durban Designer Collection in 1986).

Among the shows worked on as costumier have been:

1968: Nabucco; The Trini Lopez Tour; The Firebird; The Buddy Greco Tour; Sleeping Beauty;

1969: Giselle;

1970: La Traviata; Tosca;

1971: La Fille Mal Gardee;

1972: Raka / Witchboy; Carmen; Rigoletto;

1976: The Travel Bags Club (also director and compere);

1978: Towerfluit; My Fair Lady (ASM);

1979: Eugene Onegin; Tosca; The Merry Widow; Fiddler On The Roof; Die Heilige Johanna (in Zurich).

1983: The King & I

Stage Manager and Front of House

1980: Chinamen;

1982: Bedazzled; Beatlemania; Kenny Rogers Tour; Ann-Margret Tour;

1985: Don Giovanni;

Marketing

He was a freelance communications and marketing manager till 2003. In that year he became responsible for Marketing, Audience Development & Education at Artscape (till 2013) and since 2014 has worked as Publicist for Pieter Toerien Productions.

His freelance work in this regard has included itmes like the launch of the theatre sponsorship initiatve Arts Power Marketing (1987) Opera Super “Turandot” 1987

Opera Super “Cavelleria Rusticana” 1990

Movie Extra / Locations “Prins Van Pretoria” 1991

Event Co-Host / Compere` “Flight Of Fantasy” 1995

Launch Marketing Organiser “Contacts 2000-Limelight” 2000

Musical Personal Assistant “Gala 2002” 2002

Musical Stage Manager “Morning Melodies” 2002

Opera Marketing “Aqua Opera” 2003

Opera Co-Ordinator “Sing-A-Thon” 2003

Opera Marketing “Nabucco” 2003

Opera Marketing “Bravo Angelo” 2003

Musical Stage Manager “Berlin, Broadway & Beyond” 2003

Theatre Marketing “Cry, The Beloved Country 2003

Sources

https://za.linkedin.com/in/michael-de-beer-77902881

E-mail correspondence with Michael de Beer July-August, 2026.

Theatre Scenario Index – Year-To-Year, courtesy of Michael de Beer (2026)

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

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