Difference between revisions of "Paul Slabolepszy"

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[[Paul Slabolepszy]] (1948-) is a South African actor, director and playwright.  
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[[Paul Slabolepszy]] (1948-). Actor, Playwright, Screenwriter, Director.
  
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== TO BE EDITED ==
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== Biography ==
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=Biography=
 
  
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Born in Bolton, England to an English  mother and a Polish refugee father. The family then emigrated to South Africa, where he grew up in Polokwane and Witbank, going to school at the College Of The Little Flower in Polokwane (then Pietersburg).  
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Born in Bolton, England in 1948, his family emigrated to South Africa when Paul was aged 3. He then grew up in a number of small towns around South Africa, including Modderfontein, Witbank and Musina.  
  
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He lives in Johannesburg with his wife, Carol. They have two daughters, Frances and Alice.
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Slabolepszy lives in Johannesburg with his wife, Carol. They have three children.
  
 +
== Training ==
  
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=Training=
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He completed a B.A. (Drama) degree at the [[University of Cape Town]], studying under [[Rosalie van der Gucht]], [[Tessa Marwick]] and [[Mavis Taylor]]. University productions included ''[[Royal Hunt of the Sun]]'' and ''[[Oh What a Lovely War!]]''.
  
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He originally wanted to become a radio sports commentator and sports remain a strong element in his writing, and pursue a career in radio. He thus majored in English and Drama at the [[University of Cape Town]], where he decided to focus on stage acting. He graduated in 1971.
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== Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance ==
  
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=Career=
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Founder member of SA’s first non-racial theatre company, the [[The Space]] in Cape Town (with [[Athol Fugard]], [[John Kani]] and [[Yvonne Bryceland]]) in 1972.
  
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Like many Capetonians of his generation, he started at the [[Space Theatre]] as an actor and later as playwright. Over the years he worked closely with [[Bill Flynn]] for a large portion of his life, writing a number of plays and films for the two of them.  
+
In Johannesburg (with [[Mannie Manim]] and [[Barney Simon]]) he was a founder member of the world famous [[Market Theatre Company]] in 1976.
  
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== Stage work ==
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===As actor===
−
 
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A founder member of the [[Space Theatre]] in Cape Town, where he performed in ''[[Enemy – An Anti-War Collage]]'', ''[[Othello Slegs Blankes]]'' (?), ''[[People are Living There]]'', ''[[School Play]]'', ''[[Skyvers/Jollers]]'', ''[[Three Cheers for President Charlie]]'', ''[[Tinkle Tinkle]]'' and ''[[Workplay]]''.
 
  
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=== As actor ===
+
As an actor, Slabolepszy has appeared in well over 100 stage and TV plays, as well as 15 feature films. Highlights include - Frederick Courtney Selous in ''Rhodes'' (for the BBC) and Jan Christiaan Smuts, in ''The Apprenticeship of a Mahatma'' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Making_of_the_Mahatma]. He appeared in [[Barney Simon]]'s monologue, ''[[Men Should Cry More Often]]'', as Biff in ''[[Death of a Salesman]]'', Chance Wayne in ''[[Sweet Bird of Youth]]'', Kaspar in Pieter Handke’s ''[[Kaspar]]'', Smitty in ''[[Fortune and Men's Eyes]]'', Mercutio in ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'', Chandebise/Poche in ''[[A Flea in Her Ear]]''.
  
 +
He has also performed in many of his own plays, with roles such as Vince in ''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]'', Pa in ''[[Smallholding]]'', Eddie in ''[[The Return of Elvis du Pisanie]]'', Crispin in ''[[Heel Against the Head]]'', and Dwayne in ''[[Suddenly the Storm]]''.
  
 +
==As a writer==
  
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=== As director ===
+
Slabolepszy has written prolifically for the stage and for the screen (film and television). His works and contributions are listed below.
  
 +
===Plays:=== 
  
 +
With over thirty plays to his credit, Slabolepszy is arguably (after [[Athol Fugard]]) South Africa’s foremost English playwright, his work having been performed in the UK, the USA, Germany, France, Australia, Sweden, Denmark and the Middle East.
  
 +
1979 – ''[[Renovations]]''
  
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=== As playwright ===
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1980 – ''[[The Defloration of Miles Koekemoer]]''
  
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''[[Art of Charf]]'' (2006), ''[[For Your Ears Only]]'' (2008), ''[[Freak Country]]'' (2008),
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1982 – ''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]''
  
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== Film and Television work ==
+
1983 – ''[[Karoo Grand]]''
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 +
1984 - ''[[Under the Oaks]]''
  
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== Radio work ==
+
1985 – ''[[Over the Hill]]''
  
−
He is the Head Writer on ''[[Radio Vuka]]'', a [[SAfm]] radio play that is broadcast on weekdays at 15h45.
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1986 – ''[[Boo to the Moon]]''
  
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= Awards =
+
1986 - ''[[Making Like America]]''
  
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Won the Stuart Leith Best Actor Award 1976. 
+
1988 – ''[[Travelling Shots]]''
  
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Received the Five Roses Young Artists Award for Drama.??
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1989 – ''[[Smallholding]]''
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In 1983, Paul received the Standard Bank Young Artist Award.??[TH, JH]
 
  
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Won ***
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1990 – ''[[One for the High Jump]]''
  
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= Sources =
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1990 - ''[[The Eyes of their Whites]]'' (with [[David Kramer]])
  
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[[SACD]] 1973, 1974, 1978/79, 1979/80.
+
1991 – ''[[Braait Laaities]]''
  
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''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]'' programme notes, 1982(?).
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1992 – ''[[Mooi Street Moves]]''
  
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[[Percy Tucker|Tucker]], 1997;
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1992 - ''[[The Return of Elvis du Pisanie]]''
  
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Gosher, 1988
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1993 – ''[[Pale Natives]]''
  
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[[Loren Kruger|Kruger]], 1999
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1994 – ''[[Victoria Almost Falls]]'' (reworked and retitled ''[[My Low-Fat, Almost Italian Wedding]]'' in 2013)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Slabolepszy
 
  
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"Hilarious Paul Slabolepszy comedy for Playhouse" [[The Playhouse Company]], 11/24/2015[http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=39203]
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1994 - ''[[Tickle to Fine Leg]]''
  
 +
1995 – ''[[Heel Against the Head]]''
  
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Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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1996 – ''[[Once a Pirate]]''
  
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== Return to ==
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1997 – ''[[Going for the Jocular]]''
 +
 
 +
1997 - ''[[Fordsburg's Finest]]''
 +
 
 +
1998 – ''[[Planet Perth]]''
 +
 
 +
1998 - ''[[Life's a Pitch]]''
 +
 
 +
2000 – ''[[Crashing the Night]]''
 +
 
 +
2001 – ''[[Running Riot]]''
 +
 
 +
2002 – ''[[It's Just Not Cricket!]]''
 +
 
 +
2003 – ''[[Whole in One]]''
 +
 
 +
2005 – ''[[Art of Charf (Lady Lonely Hearts)]]''
 +
 
 +
2006 – ''[[Not the Big Easy]]''
 +
 
 +
2008 – ''[[For Your Ears Only]]''
 +
 
 +
2008 – ''[[Freak Country]]''
 +
 
 +
2016 – ''[[Suddenly the Storm]]'' (preceded by ''[[Guarding Mrs Gumede]]'' - an abandoned, destroyed text)
 +
 
 +
Many of Slabolepszy's plays reflect and focus on his love of sport, particularly: cricket (''[[Under the Oaks]]'', ''[[Tickle to Fine Leg]]'', ''[[It's Just Not Cricket!]]'', ''[[Life's a Pitch]]''); rugby (''[[Over the Hill]]'', ''[[Heel Against the Head]]''); soccer (''[[Once a Pirate]]''), golf (''[[Whole in One]]'', ''[[Not the Big Easy]]'') and running (''[[Running Riot]]'').
 +
 
 +
Slabolepszy has had six World Premieres at the [[Market Theatre]] in Johannesburg. ''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]'' went on to perform at London’s Old Vic Theatre in 1984. ''[[The Eyes of their Whites]]'' (co-written and co-performed with [[David Kramer]]) received acclaim at the 1990 Edinburgh Festival, and ''[[Mooi Street Moves]]''. ''[[Once a Pirate]]'' (starring [[Seputla Sebogodi]]) was part of the Lincoln Centre’s Woza Africa Festival in New York City in July, 1997
 +
 
 +
===Published works:===  
 +
 
 +
''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]''. 1985. [[AD Donker]].
 +
 
 +
''[[Mooi Street and Other Moves]]''. 1994. [[Wits University Press]] (includes ''[[Under the Oaks]]'', ''[[Over the Hill]]'', ''[[Boo to the Moon]]'', ''[[Smallholding]]'', ''[[Mooi Street Moves]]'' and ''[[The Return of Elvis du Pisanie]]'').
 +
 
 +
''[[Suddenly the Storm]]''. 2017. [[Wits University Press]].
 +
 
 +
===Screenplays:===
 +
 
 +
1983 - ''[[Highrise Cowboy]]''
 +
 
 +
1985 - ''[[Van Der Merwe P.I.]]'' (with [[Bill Flynn]])
 +
 
 +
1986 -  ''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]'' (adapted from his 1982 play) (Merit Award AFI FEST, Los Angeles 1987, TAORMINA Best Actor - [[John Kani]])
 +
 
 +
1990 - ''[[Kwagga Strikes Back]]'' (also known as ''[[Oh, Schucks...! Here Comes UNTAG]]'') (with [[Leon Schuster]])
 +
 
 +
1991 - ''[[Sweet 'n Short]]'' (with [[Gray Hofmeyr]], [[Leon Schuster]], [[Daan Smuts]] and [[Peet Buys]]); ''[[Taxi to Soweto]]'' (with [[Edgar Bold]], [[Manie van Rensburg]])
 +
 
 +
1992 - ''[[Die Prince van Pretoria]]'' (with [[Bill Flynn]])
 +
 
 +
1998 -''[[Heel Against the Head]]'' (adapted from his 1995 play)
 +
 
 +
2005 - ''[[Mama Jack]]'' (with [[Steven Francis]], [[Gray Hofmeyr]], [[Geoff Newton]], [[Leon Schuster]] and [[Gus Silber]])
 +
 
 +
2006 - ''[[Running Riot]]'' (adapted from his 2001 play)
 +
 
 +
2017 - ''[[Riders on the Wind]]''
 +
 
 +
===Television:===
 +
 
 +
1986 -  ''[[Señor Smith]]'' (with [[Bill Flynn]]) (13-part series, SABC),
 +
 
 +
1987 - ''[[People Like Us]]'' (with [[Gray Hofmeyr]])
 +
 
 +
2000 - ''[[Madam & Eve]]'' (contributing writer)
 +
 
 +
2001 - ''[[Scoop Schoombie]]'' (original concept and contributing writer) 
 +
 
 +
2003 - ''[[Swansong for Charlie]]'' (based on his own play ''[[Over the Hill]]'', directed and produced by [[Bobby Heaney]])
 +
 
 +
2008 -''[[Hillside]]'' (head writer on SABC2 Drama Series) 
 +
 
 +
2009 - ''[[Konsternasie Oppie Stasie]]'' (conceived, created and written by Slabolepszy (13 part sitcom for SABC2, directed and produced by [[Bobby Heaney]]))
 +
 
 +
===Radio:===
 +
 
 +
Several of his plays have been adapted for radio and broadcast by SAfm (SABC), among them:
 +
 
 +
''[[Under the Oaks]]''
 +
 
 +
''[[Over the Hill]]''
 +
 
 +
''[[Art of Charf]]''
 +
 
 +
''[[Whole in One]]''.
 +
 
 +
Since 2014, Slabolepszy has been Head Writer on a daily serial on SAfm called ''[[Radio Vuka]]''. In 2017 the series went past the Episode 2,100 mark.
 +
 
 +
== Awards, etc ==
 +
In 1983, Slabolepszy received the [[Standard Bank Young Artist Awards|Standard Bank Young Artist Award]].
 +
 
 +
Numerous awards for Stage include Biff in ''[[Death of a Salesman]]'', Chance Wayne in ''[[Sweet Bird of Youth]]'', Kaspar in Pieter Handke’s ''[[Kaspar]]'', Smitty in ''[[Fortune and Men's Eyes]]'' (where he won his first [[DALRO]] Best Actor Award in 1976), As Eddie, in his own play ''[[The Return of Elvis du Pisanie]]'', he became the first actor in SA to win every Best Actor Award nationwide in a single year ([[Vita Award|Vita]], [[Fleur du Cap]] and [[DALRO]], 1993).
 +
 
 +
Awards for his plays include ''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]] '' (Amstel, Vita & Fleur du Cap Best Play); 1983, 1985 – ''[[Over the Hill]]'' (DALRO Best Play); ''[[Making Like America]]'' (Vita Best Play);  1989 – ''[[Smallholding]]'' (Vita Best Play); 1991 – ''[[Braait Laaities]]'' (Pick of the Fringe, Grahamstown Fest); 1992 – ''[[Mooi Street Moves]]'' (Paper Boat Best Play Award, Glasgow MayFest), ''[[The Return of Elvis du Pisanie]]'' (Vita, Fleur du Cap and DALRO Best Play); ''[[Heel Against the Head]]'' (Vita, Star Tonight Best Comedy); ''[[Suddenly the Storm]]'' (Naledi Best New South African Script 2016/17). 
 +
 
 +
''[[Mooi Street Moves]]'' was invited to the Teater der Weld Festival in Germany and the Images of Africa Festival in Denmark, in 1993. The same play won the Paper Boat Award at the Glasgow MayFest in 1994.
  
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Return to [[ESAT Personalities S]]
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In March, 1993 Slabolepszy was invited to do a four week study tour of American Theatres with a group of international drama practitioners as part of the USA International Visitor Program.
  
−
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
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== Sources ==
  
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
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[[CAPAB Brochure]], Aug-Nov 1989.
  
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Return to [[Main Page]]
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[[Beeld]], 12 August 1995.
  
 +
[[Die Beeld]] 26 June 2001.
  
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== '''NOTES''' ==
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CV provided by Paul Slabolepszy, October 2017.
  
 +
Paul Slabolepszy Official Webpage http://paulslabolepszy.com
  
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Performed in ''[[People are Living There]]'', ''[[Othello Slegs Blankes]]'', 
+
[[Bobby Heaney]]'s Foreword to ''[[Suddenly the Storm]]''. 2017. [[Wits University Press]].
−
''[[Enemy – An Anti-War Collage]]'', ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'', ''[[Charley’s Aunt]]'' (as "Charley"),
 
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[[Charles Marowitz]]'s ''[[A Macbeth]]'' (as “Macduff”), , ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' (as "Tybalt"), ''[[You're a Good Man Charlie Brown]]'' (as "Charlie Brown"), ''[[Siener in die Suburbs]]'' (as "Jakes"), ''[[Sweet Bird of Youth]]'' (as "Chance Wayne") and in ''[[Death of a Salesman]]'' (as "Biff").
 
  
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A founder member of the [[Space Theatre]] in Cape Town, where he performed in ''[[Enemy]]'', ''[[Othello Slegs Blankes]]'' (?), ''[[People are Living There]]'', ''[[School Play]]'', ''[[Skyvers/Jollers]]'', ''[[Three Cheers for President Charlie]]'', ''[[Tinkle Tinkle]]'' and ''[[Workplay]]''. ** In 19** he moved to Johannesburg. After the enormous success of his first play (''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]''  – which was shaped and directed by [[Bobby Heaney]] for a record-breaking run, beginning at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1982), Slabolepszy developed into a prolific writer and one of the country’s most successful playwrights. Very often working with his friend [[Bill Flynn]], he has produced works which range between relatively sombre socio-political explorations of South African society, to light and crude (but hugely popular) farces. A prime characteristic of his work is his sharp observation of the language, personalities and concerns of lower middle and working class white South Africa. They include the full-length plays ''[[Renovations]]'' (19**),  ''[[The Defloration of Miles Koekemoer]]'' (19**), ''[[Karoo Ground]]'' (1983), ''[[Boo to the Moon]]'' (19**), ''[[Under the Oaks & Over the Hill]] ''(1985), ''[[Making Like America]]'' (1986), ''[[Smallholding]]'' (1989),  ''[[Mooi Street Moves]]'' (1992), ''[[The Return of Elvis du Pisanie]]'' (1992/3, winner of [[Vita Best Play Award]] and [[Vita Best Actor Award]], and the [[Fleur du Cap Theatre Award]], Best Actor and [[Fleur du Cap Best New Indigenous Script Award]] 1992), ''[[Victoria Almost Falls]]'' (1994), ******.  Again working with [[Bill Flynn]],  Slabolepszy also developed a fine and profitable style of local comedy which ranged from the poignancy of his more serious work to the crude slapstick fun of the "[[The Corky Trilogy]]" about cricket and cricket fans: (''[[Heel Against the Head]]'', ''[[A Tickle to Fine Leg]]'' and ''[[Life's a Pitch]]''). The two also developed television and film versions of some of the ideas, with their farce about the Rugby World Cup, ''Heel Against the Head'', being filmed in 2000. He also wrote several TV-plays, including ''Highrise Cowboy'' and ''Hands of Stone'', as well as the TV-series ''Senor Smith''. A number of his stage works were published in the collection  ''[[Mooi Street and Other Moves]]'' (1994) as well as single issues of some plays. A number of the plays have also been published in collections. **  SLABOLEPSZY, Paul. He starred in [[Aubrey Berg]]’s ''[[Story Theatre]]'' together with [[Frantz Dobrowsky]], [[Janice Honeyman]], [[Eckard Rabe]] and [[Richard Haines]] for [[PACT]] in 1974. He starred in [[Robert Möhr]]’s production of ''[[The Tempest]]'' with [[Patrick Magee]], [[Bill Flynn]] and [[Michael Richard]] for [[PACT]] at the [[Alexander]]  in 1975. Slabolepszy and [[Flynn]] collaborated in several successful productions over the years including ''[[Heel Against the Head]]'' in 1996. He starred in [[John Herbert]]’s ''[[Fortune and Men’s Eyes]]'' with [[Bill Flynn]], [[Ron Smerczak]] and [[Danny Keogh]] for [[The Company]] at [[The Nunnery]] in 1975. He starred in [[Ken Leach]]’s production of [[Feydeau]]’s ''[[A Flea in Her Ear]]'' together with [[Dorothy Ann Gould]], [[Diane Wilson]], [[Richard Haines]], [[Frantz Dobrowsky]], [[Michael Richard]], [[Annelisa Weiland]] and [[Lesley Nott]] for [[PACT]] at the [[Alexander]] in 1976. He starred in [[Ken Leach]]’s production of the musical ''[[Fangs]]'' with [[Michael Richard]], [[Annelisa Weiland]], [[Lesley Nott]] and [[Bill Flynn]] for [[PACT]] in 1977. His ''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]'' starring himself, [[Bill Flynn]] and [[Fats Dibeko]] and directed by [[Bobby Heaney]] was staged at [[Upstairs at the Market]] in 1982. It returned to the [[Market]] in October. His double bill ''[[Under the Oaks]]'' and ''[[Over the Hill]]'', directed by himself and [[Frantz Dobrowsky]] was presented by the [[Market]] in September 1985. His ''[[Making Like America]]'' starring himself, [[Marius Weyers]], [[Nicky Rebelo]] and [[Lida Meiring]] under [[Bobby Heaney]]’s direction was staged at the [[Market]] in December 1986. He wrote and starred in ''[[The Return of Elvis du Pisanie]]'' at the [[Grahamstown National Arts Festival]], the [[Rosebank Theatre]] (pg 513 which Rosebank Theatre?) and the [[Laager]] in 1992. He won a best actor award from [[DALRO]] and Vita for this play. His ''[[Mooi Street Moves]]'' was staged at the [[Laager]] in 1992. His ''[[Pale Natives]]'' was staged at the [[Market]] in 1994. It subsequently played at the [[Baxter]] before returning to the [[Market]] for a second season. He wrote ''[[Planet Perth]]'' in 1998.
+
== For more in formation ==
 +
Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Slabolepszy].
  
 +
IMDb [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0805114/].
  
 +
== Return to ==
  
−
'''[[Art of Charf]]''' (2006), ''[[For Your Ears Only]]'' (2015)
+
Return to [[ESAT Personalities S]]
  
 +
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
  
 +
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
−
In Cape Town:
+
Return to [[Main Page]]
−
''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' (Mercutio);
 
−
''[[Black Comedy]]'';
 
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''[[Death of a Salesman]]'';
 
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''[[The Relapse]]'';
 
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''[[Absurd Person Singular]]'';
 
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''[[El Grande De Coca Cola]]'';
 
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[[Barney Simon]]'s ''[[Joburg Sis]]'';
 
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The Company's production at the Market Theatre in ''[[An Arabian Night]]'';
 
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''[[Cold Stone Jug]]'';
 
−
''[[Marico Moonshine and Mampoer]]''.
 

Latest revision as of 15:43, 21 January 2024

Paul Slabolepszy (1948-). Actor, Playwright, Screenwriter, Director.

Biography

Born in Bolton, England in 1948, his family emigrated to South Africa when Paul was aged 3. He then grew up in a number of small towns around South Africa, including Modderfontein, Witbank and Musina.

Slabolepszy lives in Johannesburg with his wife, Carol. They have three children.

Training

He completed a B.A. (Drama) degree at the University of Cape Town, studying under Rosalie van der Gucht, Tessa Marwick and Mavis Taylor. University productions included Royal Hunt of the Sun and Oh What a Lovely War!.

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

Founder member of SA’s first non-racial theatre company, the The Space in Cape Town (with Athol Fugard, John Kani and Yvonne Bryceland) in 1972.

In Johannesburg (with Mannie Manim and Barney Simon) he was a founder member of the world famous Market Theatre Company in 1976.

As actor

As an actor, Slabolepszy has appeared in well over 100 stage and TV plays, as well as 15 feature films. Highlights include - Frederick Courtney Selous in Rhodes (for the BBC) and Jan Christiaan Smuts, in The Apprenticeship of a Mahatma [1]. He appeared in Barney Simon's monologue, Men Should Cry More Often, as Biff in Death of a Salesman, Chance Wayne in Sweet Bird of Youth, Kaspar in Pieter Handke’s Kaspar, Smitty in Fortune and Men's Eyes, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Chandebise/Poche in A Flea in Her Ear.

He has also performed in many of his own plays, with roles such as Vince in Saturday Night at the Palace, Pa in Smallholding, Eddie in The Return of Elvis du Pisanie, Crispin in Heel Against the Head, and Dwayne in Suddenly the Storm.

As a writer

Slabolepszy has written prolifically for the stage and for the screen (film and television). His works and contributions are listed below.

Plays:

With over thirty plays to his credit, Slabolepszy is arguably (after Athol Fugard) South Africa’s foremost English playwright, his work having been performed in the UK, the USA, Germany, France, Australia, Sweden, Denmark and the Middle East.

1979 – Renovations

1980 – The Defloration of Miles Koekemoer

1982 – Saturday Night at the Palace

1983 – Karoo Grand

1984 - Under the Oaks

1985 – Over the Hill

1986 – Boo to the Moon

1986 - Making Like America

1988 – Travelling Shots

1989 – Smallholding

1990 – One for the High Jump

1990 - The Eyes of their Whites (with David Kramer)

1991 – Braait Laaities

1992 – Mooi Street Moves

1992 - The Return of Elvis du Pisanie

1993 – Pale Natives

1994 – Victoria Almost Falls (reworked and retitled My Low-Fat, Almost Italian Wedding in 2013)

1994 - Tickle to Fine Leg

1995 – Heel Against the Head

1996 – Once a Pirate

1997 – Going for the Jocular

1997 - Fordsburg's Finest

1998 – Planet Perth

1998 - Life's a Pitch

2000 – Crashing the Night

2001 – Running Riot

2002 – It's Just Not Cricket!

2003 – Whole in One

2005 – Art of Charf (Lady Lonely Hearts)

2006 – Not the Big Easy

2008 – For Your Ears Only

2008 – Freak Country

2016 – Suddenly the Storm (preceded by Guarding Mrs Gumede - an abandoned, destroyed text)

Many of Slabolepszy's plays reflect and focus on his love of sport, particularly: cricket (Under the Oaks, Tickle to Fine Leg, It's Just Not Cricket!, Life's a Pitch); rugby (Over the Hill, Heel Against the Head); soccer (Once a Pirate), golf (Whole in One, Not the Big Easy) and running (Running Riot).

Slabolepszy has had six World Premieres at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. Saturday Night at the Palace went on to perform at London’s Old Vic Theatre in 1984. The Eyes of their Whites (co-written and co-performed with David Kramer) received acclaim at the 1990 Edinburgh Festival, and Mooi Street Moves. Once a Pirate (starring Seputla Sebogodi) was part of the Lincoln Centre’s Woza Africa Festival in New York City in July, 1997

Published works:

Saturday Night at the Palace. 1985. AD Donker.

Mooi Street and Other Moves. 1994. Wits University Press (includes Under the Oaks, Over the Hill, Boo to the Moon, Smallholding, Mooi Street Moves and The Return of Elvis du Pisanie).

Suddenly the Storm. 2017. Wits University Press.

Screenplays:

1983 - Highrise Cowboy

1985 - Van Der Merwe P.I. (with Bill Flynn)

1986 - Saturday Night at the Palace (adapted from his 1982 play) (Merit Award AFI FEST, Los Angeles 1987, TAORMINA Best Actor - John Kani)

1990 - Kwagga Strikes Back (also known as Oh, Schucks...! Here Comes UNTAG) (with Leon Schuster)

1991 - Sweet 'n Short (with Gray Hofmeyr, Leon Schuster, Daan Smuts and Peet Buys); Taxi to Soweto (with Edgar Bold, Manie van Rensburg)

1992 - Die Prince van Pretoria (with Bill Flynn)

1998 -Heel Against the Head (adapted from his 1995 play)

2005 - Mama Jack (with Steven Francis, Gray Hofmeyr, Geoff Newton, Leon Schuster and Gus Silber)

2006 - Running Riot (adapted from his 2001 play)

2017 - Riders on the Wind

Television:

1986 - Señor Smith (with Bill Flynn) (13-part series, SABC),

1987 - People Like Us (with Gray Hofmeyr)

2000 - Madam & Eve (contributing writer)

2001 - Scoop Schoombie (original concept and contributing writer)

2003 - Swansong for Charlie (based on his own play Over the Hill, directed and produced by Bobby Heaney)

2008 -Hillside (head writer on SABC2 Drama Series)

2009 - Konsternasie Oppie Stasie (conceived, created and written by Slabolepszy (13 part sitcom for SABC2, directed and produced by Bobby Heaney))

Radio:

Several of his plays have been adapted for radio and broadcast by SAfm (SABC), among them:

Under the Oaks

Over the Hill

Art of Charf

Whole in One.

Since 2014, Slabolepszy has been Head Writer on a daily serial on SAfm called Radio Vuka. In 2017 the series went past the Episode 2,100 mark.

Awards, etc

In 1983, Slabolepszy received the Standard Bank Young Artist Award.

Numerous awards for Stage include Biff in Death of a Salesman, Chance Wayne in Sweet Bird of Youth, Kaspar in Pieter Handke’s Kaspar, Smitty in Fortune and Men's Eyes (where he won his first DALRO Best Actor Award in 1976), As Eddie, in his own play The Return of Elvis du Pisanie, he became the first actor in SA to win every Best Actor Award nationwide in a single year (Vita, Fleur du Cap and DALRO, 1993).

Awards for his plays include Saturday Night at the Palace (Amstel, Vita & Fleur du Cap Best Play); 1983, 1985 – Over the Hill (DALRO Best Play); Making Like America (Vita Best Play); 1989 – Smallholding (Vita Best Play); 1991 – Braait Laaities (Pick of the Fringe, Grahamstown Fest); 1992 – Mooi Street Moves (Paper Boat Best Play Award, Glasgow MayFest), The Return of Elvis du Pisanie (Vita, Fleur du Cap and DALRO Best Play); Heel Against the Head (Vita, Star Tonight Best Comedy); Suddenly the Storm (Naledi Best New South African Script 2016/17).

Mooi Street Moves was invited to the Teater der Weld Festival in Germany and the Images of Africa Festival in Denmark, in 1993. The same play won the Paper Boat Award at the Glasgow MayFest in 1994.

In March, 1993 Slabolepszy was invited to do a four week study tour of American Theatres with a group of international drama practitioners as part of the USA International Visitor Program.

Sources

CAPAB Brochure, Aug-Nov 1989.

Beeld, 12 August 1995.

Die Beeld 26 June 2001.

CV provided by Paul Slabolepszy, October 2017.

Paul Slabolepszy Official Webpage http://paulslabolepszy.com

Bobby Heaney's Foreword to Suddenly the Storm. 2017. Wits University Press.

For more in formation

Wikipedia [2].

IMDb [3].

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