Difference between revisions of "Cecilia Sonnenberg"

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(1914-1999) Actress, director and theatre entrepreneur. Born and raised in Johannesburg (??), she was an aunt of actress [[Janet Suzman]]. Began her career working back stage and on stage??** with the [[Johannesburg REPS]] . ** [When she replaced to Cape Town ] she appeared in [[André van Gyseghem]]’s production for the [[Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society]] of ''[[Man and Superman]]'' at the [[Little Theatre]], Cape Town in 1937 and **. 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. In 1957 she and Ahrenson founded the [[Maynardville Open-Air Theatre]] in Wynberg, Cape Town.  There she appeared in and directed numerous productions, including  ****. Later she also became a founder member of [[The Company of Four]], the last of the four original members to pass away in 2000. In 1998 she received the [[Fleur du Cap Lifetime Award]] for her contribution to the industry. SONNENBURG, Cecilia. In charge of props for the [[REPS]]’s [[Anna Christie]], 1942. Later founded the [[Open Air Shakespeare at Maynardville]] with [[René Ahrenson]]. Aunt of actress [[Janet Suzman]] (?). Also member of the [[Company of Four]] with [[Leonard Schach]], [[Donald Inskip]] and [[René Ahrenson]]. [[Leslie French]] became a regular director of Shakespeare for Sonnenberg and [[René Ahrenson]]’s [[Maynardville]].
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[[Cecilia Sonnenberg]] (1913-1999) was an actress, director and theatre entrepreneur.  
  
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Her first name is sometimes written "Cecelia" for some reason. However the family records (e.g. the Diemersfontein Website[https://www.diemersfontein.co.za/about-diemersfontein/]) and other official documents (e.g. the genealogical website GENi [https://www.geni.com/people/Cecilia-Sonnenberg/6000000007339085461]) have the spelling as “Cecilia”. 
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== Biography ==
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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]].
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She died in 1999.
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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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===As theatre producer/administrator===
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* [[Spotlight Theatre]]
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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. 
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'''For more information, see [[Spotlight Theatre]].'''
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* [[Maynardville Open-Air Theatre]] (1956-1980)
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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.
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'''For more information, see [[Maynardville Open-Air Theatre]].'''
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* [[The Company of Four]] (1977-1986)
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She was a founder member of [[The Company of Four]] with [[Leonard Schach]], [[Donald Inskip]] and [[René Ahrenson]].
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'''For more information, see [[The Company of Four]].'''
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===As stage crew===
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She was in charge of props for the [[REPS]]’s [[Anna Christie]], 1942.
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===As actress===
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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).
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==Awards==
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In 1998 she received the [[Fleur du Cap Lifetime Award]] for her contribution to the industry.
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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See: De Beer, 1995; Tucker, 1997; Inskip, 197* [FdV, TH]
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[[The Women's Auxiliary]], September 1943, pg 39.
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De Beer, 1995;  
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Tucker, 1997;  
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Inskip, 197*  
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"Cecilia Sonnenberg" on the GENi  website[https://www.geni.com/people/Cecilia-Sonnenberg/6000000007339085461]
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https://www.diemersfontein.co.za/about-diemersfontein/
  
 
''Cape Times'' 15 June 1999.
 
''Cape Times'' 15 June 1999.
  
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== Return to ==
  
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities S]]
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities S]]

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”.

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.

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.

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.

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities S

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to Main Page

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