Difference between revisions of "Des Lindberg"

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(****-****).  Actor and Musician.  Obtained a B.A from Wits, also qualified in lighting and stage design, obtained a diploma in Salzburg.  
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[[Des Lindberg]] (born 1941).  Singer, performer, theatre entrepreneur.
Produced and performed in Godspell in 1973 and 1974.
 
Produced Pippin in 1975. 
 
Was the Narrator in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1980. 
 
Scripted Lennon in 1981 which was performed at the Arena Bistro and the Baxter Theater.
 
(SACD 1973) (SACD 1974) (SACD 1975/76) (SACD 1981/82)
 
  
LINDBERG, Des (1941-) Singer, performer, theatre entrepreneur. Studied Fine Arts at the University of the Witwatersrand. Met and married Dawn ****.  (See further the entry on Dawn Lindbergh.) An active member of the South African Association of Theatrical Managements, he became its chairman in 1982. LINDBERG, Des. Theatre producer, performer and director. He starred in Watermelons in 1962. He was contracted by Taubie Kushlick, the producer, to write extra music and lyrics, for The Wizard of Oz, her Children’s Theatre production. while Dawn Silver did choreography. Keith Blundell was the musical director, Nina Campbell-Quine did décor, while Heather MacDonald Rouse did costumes. It was staged at the University Great Hall in 1965. Together with Dawn they travelled for three years with their show Folk on Trek from 1965. Later created the company Folk On Trek Productions.The Lindbergs joined Robert Kirby in his show 8 Birds at the Labia Theatre in 1970. They helped convert the Carlton Cinema in Von Weilligh Street into a small theatre which opened with Birds of a Feather. They staged Godspell, directed by Dawn at the Maseru Holiday Inn in Lesotho from 30 September 1973 to 17 February 1974. On 30 September 1974 they returned from tour to stage a run at the Lake in Parkview. Des and Dawn Lindberg staged Pippin with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and direction, choreography and design by Des starring Hal Watters, Sammy Brown, Jo-Ann Pezzarro, Bess Finney, Taliep Petersen, Sophia Foster, Robin Dolton and Andre Hattingh at His Majesty’s in 1975. The Lindbergs opened their production of the musical The Black Mikado at the Diepkloof Hall in Soweto on 13 May 1976. It went on to play in Coronationville and at the Loreto Convent in Pretoria, Pietersburg, Pietermaritzburg and Durban’s Lyric Theatre before opening at the Brooke on 29 July. They formed a club called the South African Living Theatre (SALT) to get around the governments opposition to their multi-racial company. They also revived Godspell circa 1976. Together with Dawn he staged Jeremy Taylor’s Back in Town, and The Importance of Being Irish, directed by Nicholas Amer with Thom Delaney at the Arena in 1979. Back in Town went on to play at the Alhanbra. Together with Dawn he staged The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas starring Victor Melleney, Judy Page and Annabel Linder under direction by Dawn at His Majesty’s in 1979. Des and Dawn produced I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road directed by Malcom Purkey and starring Bruce Millar and Dawn  at the Arena Bistro Theatre in 1980. Des and Dawn presented Lennon with Dawn directing this tribute starring Bruce Millar, Gay Lambert, Colin Shapiro and Colin Shamley at the Arena Bistro in 1981. The Lindbergs directed a guitar festival called Guitars from Africa at the Civic in 1981. He tooke over from Michal Grobbelaar as chairman of the SAATM in 1982 and remained the chairman until they disbanded. He was elected chairman of Theatre Managements of South Africa in 1994. Together with Dawn he again directed Godspell starring Sam Marais at the Civic for PACT in May 1986. The Lindberg’s presented When I Was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout, directed by Dawn at the Adcock-Ingram Auditorium in July 1987. Together with PACT the Lindberg’s staged King Africa at the Standard Bank Arena in 1988. In conjunction with the Civic the Lindberg’s produced a revival of Godspell in 1994. *** ***( Schwartz, 1988, De Beer, 1995, Joyce, 1999,  Tucker, 1997) born in Johannesburg. Educated at St. Johns and Wits. (BA English, Zulu, African Admin.) Diploma in Lighting & Stage Design from Salzburg. The 60's was Folk Songs and coffee bars, and Des led the scene at the Troubadour in Doornfontein. Gold Discs: "Die Gezoem Van die Bye", "Seagull's Name was Nelson". Script and Lyric writer; specialises in writing corporate songs & scripts, Vice-Chairman of Theatre Managements of SA (TMSA). Formerly Vice-Chairman of the NGO PROMAT Colleges and Trust. Des likes cricket, fishing, and red wine.
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== Training ==
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He obtained a B.A from Wits, also qualified in lighting and stage design, obtained a diploma in Salzburg.
  
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== Biography ==
  
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Born in Johannesburg, educated at St. Johns and Wits. (BA English, Zulu, African Admin.) Diploma in Lighting & Stage Design from Salzburg. The 1960's was Folk Songs and coffee bars, and Des led the scene at the Troubadour in Doornfontein.
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Des met and married [[Dawn Silver]]. They began performing together as Des and Dawn Lindberg. They collaborated on a number of projects, under the banners of [[Folk on Trek Productions]], The [[Soirée Society]] and [[CAT Productions]].
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The couple have two sons, Adam and [[Joshua Lindberg]].
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'''For further information on their joint work, see the entry [[Des and Dawn]].
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'''For Dawn Lindberg's biographical and career information, see the individual entry under [[Dawn Lindberg]]'''.
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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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===As folk singer===
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By the mid-1960s, Des Lindberg had already established himself as a fine folk singer and he achieved enormous success with an Afrikaans song, ‘Die Gezoem Van Die Bye’, which went to number one on the South African charts where it remained for 20 weeks.
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His albums include:
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* ''A Long and a Dusty Road''
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* ''Come Near and Listen...''
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* ''Des Lindberg: Live''
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===As theatre producer===
 +
 +
The Lindbergs produced a number of theatre productions.
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 +
'''For further information on these, see [[Des and Dawn]].'''
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 +
===As actor===
 +
 +
Des appeared in a number of productions.
 +
 +
Des and Dawn Lindberg joined [[Robert Kirby]] in his show ''[[8 Birds]]'' at the [[Labia Theatre]] in 1970. They helped convert the Carlton Cinema in Von Weilligh Street into a small theatre which opened with ''[[Birds of a Feather]]'' (a revised version of ''[[8 Birds]]''), also about 1970.
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He starred in ''[[Watermelons]]'' in 1962. He performed in ''[[Godspell]]'' (1973, 1974), ''[[The Shrew]]'' (1975, 1980) and in ''[[The Black Mikado]]'' (1976).
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He played the Narrator in ''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]'' (1980). 
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Together with Dawn, they performed ''[[Sex, Tango and Everything Else]]'' in the [[State Theatre Arena]] (2001).
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===As writer===
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He was contracted by [[Taubie Kushlick]], the producer, to write extra music and lyrics, for ''[[The Wizard of Oz]]'', her [[Children's Theatre]] production, while [[Dawn Silver]] did choreography. [[Keith Blundell]] was the musical director, [[Nina Campbell-Quine]] did décor, while [[Heather MacDonald-Rouse]] did costumes. It was staged at the [[Wits Great Hall]] in 1965.
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He scripted ''[[Lennon]]'' in 1981 which was performed at the [[Arena Bistro]] and the [[Baxter Theatre]].
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===As Arts administrator===
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An active member of the [[South African Association of Theatre Managements]], he became its chairman in 1982, taking over from [[Michal Grobbelaar]] and remaining as chairman until [[SAATM]] disbanded. He was elected chairman of [[Theatre Managements of South Africa]] in 1994, and remained as chairman for 22 years. He was on the Boards of the State Theatre and the Joburg Theatre for 5 years each. He crafted the new Standard Theatre Contract with the theatre Agents and Actors’ Union in 1998, which is still in use today.
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==Awards==
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Des and [[Dawn Lindberg]] were named Living Legends by Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa in 2015.
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== Sources ==
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[[SACD]] 1973; 1974; 1975/76; 1981/82.
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Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue.
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[[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997.
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Schwartz, 1988, De Beer, 1995, Joyce, 1999.
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http://www.desdawn.co.za
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https://www.up.ac.za/calendar/event-info/2359366/living-legends-legacy-openbare-lesing-des-en-dawn-lindberg
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== Return to ==
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities L]]
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities L]]
  

Latest revision as of 14:34, 27 May 2025

Des Lindberg (born 1941). Singer, performer, theatre entrepreneur.

Training

He obtained a B.A from Wits, also qualified in lighting and stage design, obtained a diploma in Salzburg.

Biography

Born in Johannesburg, educated at St. Johns and Wits. (BA English, Zulu, African Admin.) Diploma in Lighting & Stage Design from Salzburg. The 1960's was Folk Songs and coffee bars, and Des led the scene at the Troubadour in Doornfontein.

Des met and married Dawn Silver. They began performing together as Des and Dawn Lindberg. They collaborated on a number of projects, under the banners of Folk on Trek Productions, The Soirée Society and CAT Productions.

The couple have two sons, Adam and Joshua Lindberg.

For further information on their joint work, see the entry Des and Dawn.

For Dawn Lindberg's biographical and career information, see the individual entry under Dawn Lindberg.

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

As folk singer

By the mid-1960s, Des Lindberg had already established himself as a fine folk singer and he achieved enormous success with an Afrikaans song, ‘Die Gezoem Van Die Bye’, which went to number one on the South African charts where it remained for 20 weeks.

His albums include:

  • A Long and a Dusty Road
  • Come Near and Listen...
  • Des Lindberg: Live

As theatre producer

The Lindbergs produced a number of theatre productions.

For further information on these, see Des and Dawn.

As actor

Des appeared in a number of productions.

Des and Dawn Lindberg joined Robert Kirby in his show 8 Birds at the Labia Theatre in 1970. They helped convert the Carlton Cinema in Von Weilligh Street into a small theatre which opened with Birds of a Feather (a revised version of 8 Birds), also about 1970.

He starred in Watermelons in 1962. He performed in Godspell (1973, 1974), The Shrew (1975, 1980) and in The Black Mikado (1976).

He played the Narrator in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1980).

Together with Dawn, they performed Sex, Tango and Everything Else in the State Theatre Arena (2001).

As writer

He was contracted by Taubie Kushlick, the producer, to write extra music and lyrics, for The Wizard of Oz, her Children's Theatre production, while Dawn Silver did choreography. Keith Blundell was the musical director, Nina Campbell-Quine did décor, while Heather MacDonald-Rouse did costumes. It was staged at the Wits Great Hall in 1965.

He scripted Lennon in 1981 which was performed at the Arena Bistro and the Baxter Theatre.

As Arts administrator

An active member of the South African Association of Theatre Managements, he became its chairman in 1982, taking over from Michal Grobbelaar and remaining as chairman until SAATM disbanded. He was elected chairman of Theatre Managements of South Africa in 1994, and remained as chairman for 22 years. He was on the Boards of the State Theatre and the Joburg Theatre for 5 years each. He crafted the new Standard Theatre Contract with the theatre Agents and Actors’ Union in 1998, which is still in use today.

Awards

Des and Dawn Lindberg were named Living Legends by Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa in 2015.

Sources

SACD 1973; 1974; 1975/76; 1981/82.

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

Tucker, 1997.

Schwartz, 1988, De Beer, 1995, Joyce, 1999.

http://www.desdawn.co.za

https://www.up.ac.za/calendar/event-info/2359366/living-legends-legacy-openbare-lesing-des-en-dawn-lindberg

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Return to ESAT Personalities L

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