Eckard Rabe

Eckard Rabe (1948-) [1]. Actor.

Biography

He grew up among KwaZulu-Natal's sugar plantations.

Training

Trained at the Drama Department, University of Natal (Durban),

Career

He began his career as an actor working for PACT performing in many plays in both English and Afrikaans. He has been freelancing since 1976. Since then has been a regular, popular and accomplished actor on stage (often for Pieter Toerien Productions) and on film and TV.

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

Performed in The Fantasticks, Babbelkous en Bruidegom, The White Liars, Charley's Aunt, Story Theatre, Plaston: DNS-Kind, Elizabeth I, Troilus and Cressida, Richard III (at the Arena Theatre), Investigation into the Death of a Greek (at the Arena Theatre), Enemy! (at the Arena Theatre), The Other Side of the Swamp (for Toerien-Firth, 1976-7), Grease (for Brickhill-Burke), The Norman Conquests

He starred in Peter Shaffer’s double bill Black Comedy and The White Liars with Ruth Oppenheim. It was directed by John Hussey for PACT/TRUK at the Alexander Theatre in 1972. He starred in Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida, directed by John Hussey, together with Annelisa Weiland, James White and Siegfried Mynhardt for PACT in 1974. He starred in Aubrey Berg’s Story Theatre together with Frantz Dobrowsky, Janice Honeyman, Paul Slabolepszy and Richard Haines for PACT in 1974. He starred in Grease together with Leonie Hofmeyr, Danny Keogh, Bruce Millar and Sue Kiel at His Majesty's Theatre in 1977. It ran until June the following year. He starred in the Brickhill-Burke production of Alan Aykbourn’s trilogy, The Norman Conquests, separately titled Table Manners, Living Together and Round and Round the Garden, at His Majesty’s in 1979 together with Jana Cilliers, Sandra Duncan, Dorothy-Ann Gould, Bill Flynn and John Lesley under direction of Brian Rawlinson. He starred in Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians, directed by Charles Hickman and also starring Stuart Brown and Yvonne Banning at the André Huguenet Theatre and the Alexander in 1980. He starred in Pieter Toerien’s production of Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest together with Yvonne Banning at the Alhambra in January 1982. He starred in Lanford Wilson’s Fifth of July with Dorothy-Ann Gould and Jonathan Rands at the Andre Huguenet in 1982. He played in Mass Appeal, 1982-3. He starred in Pieter Toerien’s production of Michael Frayn’s Noises Off together with Joy Stewart Spence, Rex Garner, Clare Marshall, Ralph Lawson and Kenneth Baker at the Andre Huguenet in 1983. It returned later that same year for another run. He starred in Terrence Shank’s production of David Wiltse’s Doubles at the Andre Huguenet in December 1986

As a young actor, he made a noticeable debut for PACT with the lead role in the premiére production of P.G. du Plessis’s futuristic Afrikaans drama Plaston: DNS-Kind in 198*. He also appeared in Die Hamer van die Hekse.

He performed in the one-man play The Rabbi From Tarsus as Paul, the Apostle in May 1987 presented by The Lion’s Players.

The Woman in Black, 2009.

He had a role in the film Catch a Fire.

Awards

Won a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Norman Conquests (1979).

Sources

SACD 1973; 1974; 1977/78; 1978/79; 1981/82.

Tucker, 1997.

IMDb [2].

TVSA [3].

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