Difference between revisions of "Cecilia Sonnenberg"
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Born Cecilia Goodman on June 6, 1913 in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, the daughter of Hyam Goodman and Rebecca Goodman. She married Richard "Dick" Sonnenberg, and was the mother of David Sonnenberg and an aunt of actress [[Janet Suzman]]. | Born Cecilia Goodman on June 6, 1913 in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, the daughter of Hyam Goodman and Rebecca Goodman. She married Richard "Dick" Sonnenberg, and was the mother of David Sonnenberg and an aunt of actress [[Janet Suzman]]. | ||
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She died in 1999. | She died in 1999. | ||
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===As stage crew=== | ===As stage crew=== | ||
| − | + | She was in charge of props for the [[REPS]]’s [[Anna Christie]], 1942. | |
| − | She was in charge of props for the [[REPS]]’s [[Anna Christie]], 1942. | + | |
===As actress=== | ===As actress=== | ||
Latest revision as of 16:21, 9 October 2026
Cecilia Sonnenberg (1913-1999) was an actress, director and theatre entrepreneur.
Her first name is sometimes written "Cecelia" for some reason. However the family records (e.g. the Diemersfontein Website[1]) and other official documents (e.g. the genealogical website GENi [2]) have the spelling as “Cecilia”.
Contents
Biography
Born Cecilia Goodman on June 6, 1913 in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, the daughter of Hyam Goodman and Rebecca Goodman. She married Richard "Dick" Sonnenberg, and was the mother of David Sonnenberg and an aunt of actress Janet Suzman.
She died in 1999.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As theatre producer/administrator
In collaboration with her friend René Ahrenson, she created the Spotlight Theatre during the second world war and they held numerous play readings in the Electricity House Theatre in Strand Street.
For more information, see Spotlight Theatre.
- Maynardville Open-Air Theatre (1956-1980)
In 1956 she and René Ahrenson initiated and went on to manage the Shaespeare productions at the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre in Wynberg, Cape Town. There she appeared in numerous productions. In 1975 Cecilia Sonnenberg and René Ahrenson signed an agreement with CAPAB to jointly manage the Maynardville theatre for the next five years. In 1980, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Maynardville Shakespeare production, they retired from the management of Maynardville.
For more information, see Maynardville Open-Air Theatre.
- The Company of Four (1977-1986)
She was a founder member of The Company of Four with Leonard Schach, Donald Inskip and René Ahrenson.
For more information, see The Company of Four.
As stage crew
She was in charge of props for the REPS’s Anna Christie, 1942.
As actress
Sonnenberg also appeared in a number of plays, including: Man and Superman (Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society, 1937), Arsenic and Old Lace (SAWAS, 1943), Design for Living (ACT & Theatre Players, 1947), The Importance of Being Earnest (Little Theatre Players, 1949), Berkeley Square (Cockpit Players, 1951), Deep are the Roots (Labia Theatre, 1951), Tartuffe (K.A.T., 1952), The Taming of the Shrew (Maynardville, 1956), The Winter's Tale (Maynardville, 1959), The Merchant of Venice (Maynardville, 1963), Hamlet (Maynardville, 1964), Macbeth (Maynardville, 1967), The Merry Wives of Windsor (Maynardville, 1969), Othello (Maynardville, 1970), The Winter's Tale (Maynardville, 1971), Antony and Cleopatra (Maynardville, 1972), Shakespeare and his Dark Lady (The Space Theatre, 1976).
Awards
In 1998 she received the Fleur du Cap Lifetime Award for her contribution to the industry.
Sources
The Women's Auxiliary, September 1943, pg 39.
De Beer, 1995;
Tucker, 1997;
Inskip, 197*
"Cecilia Sonnenberg" on the GENi website[3]
https://www.diemersfontein.co.za/about-diemersfontein/
Cape Times 15 June 1999.
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