Difference between revisions of "Robert Kavanagh"

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[[Robert Kavanagh]] (19**-). Highly influential South African theatre researcher, critic, theorist, teacher,  theatre practitioner and political activist. (Also known in his writings as [[RK]], [[Robert Mshengu Kavanagh]], [[Robert McLaren]] and [[Mshengu]])
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[[Robert Kavanagh]] (1944-). Highly influential South African theatre researcher, critic, theorist, teacher,  theatre practitioner and political activist.  
  
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== REQUIRES EDITING ==
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''(Known by a range of names in his writings, among them as [[RK]], [[Robert Mshengu Kavanagh]], [[Mshengu Kavanagh]], [[Robert Malcolm McLaren]], [[Robert Maclaren]], [[Robert McLaren]] and [[Mshengu]])''
  
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==Biography==
  
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(Also known in his writings as [[RK]], [[Robert Mshengu Kavanagh]], [[Robert McLaren]] and [[Mshengu]]) (19**-) Highly influential theatre researcher, critic, theorist, teacher,  theatre practitioner and political activist. **** In 1971 he was a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand and founded a training company called [[Theatre Workshop ’71]] which aimed at producing experimental and improvised political theatre utilizing multiracial casts.  ***. Under the name "[[Mshengu]]" he directed ''[[Crossroads]]'' for them and directed and helped devise ''[[Survival]]'' and ''[[uHlanga – The Reed]]'' (1975), staging them at [[Space Theatre|The Space]] before taking them on tour. Also helped found, edit and write many articles, commentaries  and reviews for ''[[S'ketsh']]'' under his various pseudonyms. In 19** he left the country for the UK to complete his doctoral studies at ***, which he published as the influential book ''Theatre and Cultural Struggle in South Africa'' (Zed, 1984?). Also edited (though uncredited) the seminal collection of plays entitled ''South African People’s Plays'' (***, 1981?*). In 199* he returned to Southern Africa to teach in Botswana, and in 199* returned to South Africa as part time lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand. In 2000 he published a handbook on theatre-making entitled ***** (Routledge?*) {''Making people's theatre'' / Robert Mshengu Kavanagh. --    Johannesburg : Witwatersrand University Press, 1997, Stellenbosch Library catalogue}, ??** [follow up!!]  MSHENGU. (****) He directed ''[[Crossroads]]'' as well as directed and helped devise ''[[Survival]]'' and ''[[uHlanga – The Reed]]''. All three of these productions were staged at [[Space Theatre|The Space]].
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He is a fourth generation African of Gaelic descent, born [[Robert Malcolm McLaren]] in Durban and educated at Highbury Preparatory School for Boys and Hilton College in Natal. He has a B.A. Hons. in English Literature from the University of Cape Town, an M.Phil. from Oxford University (as Rhodes Scholar) and a Ph.D. from Leeds University.  
  
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== Bio for [[Robert McLaren]] - '''to be added'''==
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Conversant in six African and three European languages, he has been a committed socialist since the 1960’s and has lived in Zimbabwe from 1984 to the present. He is married with four children by his late wife, Thembani – Sibongile, Thando, Njabulo and Gugu – and three with his present wife, Hazvinei – Shalom, Rudairo and Ropafadzo.
  
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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
  
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Biography of [[Robert McLaren]] as speaker at UNESCO International Arts Education Week 2012[http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-weeks/international-arts-education-week-2012/speakers-biography/robert-mclaren/]
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His contribution to arts and culture in Africa and Southern Africa encompases a number of fields, including:  
  
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Robert McLaren (aka Robert Mshengu Kavanagh) is an arts educator, practitioner and writer in South Africa, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. Educated in Cape Town, Oxford (Rhodes Scholar) and Leeds. Co-founded/chaired university Theatre Arts Departments at Addis Ababa and Zimbabwe. Co-founded influential South African theatre organisation, Workshop ’71 (1971-6), and Zimbabwean arts education trust, CHIPAWO, in 1989, of which he was Executive Director up to 2010. Currently Director of CHIPAWO World. Chairman ASSITEJ Zimbabwe (1996-9). His involvement in arts education ranges from university theatre arts departments to early childhood arts education, from music, dance and drama with children in disadvantaged rural and urban areas to professional youth theatre.
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===Lecturer===
  
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Robert McLaren was an invited speaker to the Second World Conference on Arts Education and works for the implementation of the Seoul Agenda in the African context by proposing an action plan which stresses the key exigencies of advocacy, research and active involvement of the informal sector.
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His involvement in arts education ranges from university theatre arts departments to early childhood arts education, from music, dance and drama with children in disadvantaged rural and urban areas to professional youth theatre. ''Inter alia'' has taught in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa (e.g. at the [[University of the Witwatersrand]] in the late 1960s/early 1970s).
  
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===Founder of structures and organizations===
  
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Return to [[ESAT Personalities K]]
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He co-founded the following:
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1971: [[Workshop '71]] Experimental Theatre (Johannesburg),
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1980: Theatre Arts Department (Addis Ababa University),
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1985: Zambuko/Izibuko (a political theatre group, Harare)
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1986: Theatre Arts Department (University of Zimbabwe),
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1989: The CHIPAWO Arts Education for Development and Employment Trust (Harare), of which he was Executive Director up to 2010.
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1989: The Zimbabwe Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ZATCYP/[[ASSITEJ]]).
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1996-1999: Chairman [[ASSITEJ]] Zimbabwe
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===Playmaker and director===
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Under the name "[[Mshengu]]" he helped to devise and directed plays for [[Theatre Workshop '71]], including ''[[Crossroads]]'', ''[[Survival]]'' and ''[[uHlanga – The Reed]]'' (1975), staging them at [[Space Theatre|The Space]] before taking them on tour.
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===Author===
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Besides helping to found, edit and write many articles, commentaries and reviews for ''[[S'ketsh']]'' under his various pseudonyms, he has also published books and articles other journals on a wide range of subjects, mostly relating to theatre. culture, ideology and politics.
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The following is an edited list of some his published works (see also the [[ESAT Bibliography]]):
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''The Making of a Servant and Other Poems'' (translated with [[Z.S. Qangule]], 1971).
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''[[South African People's Plays]]'' (editor, 1''Italic text''981)
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''[[Theatre and Cultural Struggle in South Africa]]'' (author,  [[Zed Books]], 1985) 
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''[[Making People's Theatre]]'' (author, 1997)
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''Ngoma: Approaches to Arts Education in Southern Africa'' (editor, 2006)
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''[[The Complete S'ketsh']]'' (editor, 2016)
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''[[Selected Plays Vol. I: The Theatre of Workshop '71]]'' (editor, 2016)
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''[[Selected Plays Vol II, The Political Theatre of Zambuko/Izibuko]]'' (editor, 2017)
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''[[Selected Plays III, The New Horizon Youth Theatre Company]]'' (editor, 2017)
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''[[Selected Plays V, Three Southern African Plays]]'' (editor, 2019)
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''[[Mangothobane: A Soweto Nobody]]''  (author,  2016)
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''[[A Contended Space: The Theatre of Gibson Mtutuzeli Kente]]''  (author,  2016)
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''[[Jan's Book]]'' (author,  2016)[https://www.amazon.com/Jans-Book-Robert-Mshengu-Kavanagh/dp/1542993261]
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''[[Theatre and Cultural Struggle Under Apartheid]]'' (editor, 2017)
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''[[Insila: The Eyes and Ears of the King]]'', translated by [[Robert Mshengu Kavanagh]] and [[Thembani Ndiya Nene]] from "''[[Insila kaShaka]]'' by [[John Langalibalele Dube]] (2017)
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== Sources ==
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CV of [[Mshengu Kavanagh]] on [[Academia.edu]][https://www.academia.edu/42793902/PROTEST_THEATRE_AND_APPLIED_THEATRE_IN_CONTEXT?email_work_card=abstract-read-more]
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https://artsforaction.org.uk/practitioners/robert-maclaren/
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https://artsforaction.org.uk/practitioners/robert-maclaren/
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https://www.amazon.com/Jans-Book-Robert-Mshengu-Kavanagh/dp/1542993261
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Biographical note, Programme: ''UNESCO International Arts in Education Week'' (2012)[http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-weeks/international-arts-education-week-2012/speakers-biography/robert-mclaren/]
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Go to the  [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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== Return to ==
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Return to [[ESAT Personalities K]]  
  
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 07:14, 17 November 2023

Robert Kavanagh (1944-). Highly influential South African theatre researcher, critic, theorist, teacher, theatre practitioner and political activist.

(Known by a range of names in his writings, among them as RK, Robert Mshengu Kavanagh, Mshengu Kavanagh, Robert Malcolm McLaren, Robert Maclaren, Robert McLaren and Mshengu)

Biography

He is a fourth generation African of Gaelic descent, born Robert Malcolm McLaren in Durban and educated at Highbury Preparatory School for Boys and Hilton College in Natal. He has a B.A. Hons. in English Literature from the University of Cape Town, an M.Phil. from Oxford University (as Rhodes Scholar) and a Ph.D. from Leeds University.

Conversant in six African and three European languages, he has been a committed socialist since the 1960’s and has lived in Zimbabwe from 1984 to the present. He is married with four children by his late wife, Thembani – Sibongile, Thando, Njabulo and Gugu – and three with his present wife, Hazvinei – Shalom, Rudairo and Ropafadzo.

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

His contribution to arts and culture in Africa and Southern Africa encompases a number of fields, including:

Lecturer

His involvement in arts education ranges from university theatre arts departments to early childhood arts education, from music, dance and drama with children in disadvantaged rural and urban areas to professional youth theatre. Inter alia has taught in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa (e.g. at the University of the Witwatersrand in the late 1960s/early 1970s).

Founder of structures and organizations

He co-founded the following:

1971: Workshop '71 Experimental Theatre (Johannesburg),

1980: Theatre Arts Department (Addis Ababa University),

1985: Zambuko/Izibuko (a political theatre group, Harare)

1986: Theatre Arts Department (University of Zimbabwe),

1989: The CHIPAWO Arts Education for Development and Employment Trust (Harare), of which he was Executive Director up to 2010.

1989: The Zimbabwe Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ZATCYP/ASSITEJ).

1996-1999: Chairman ASSITEJ Zimbabwe

Playmaker and director

Under the name "Mshengu" he helped to devise and directed plays for Theatre Workshop '71, including Crossroads, Survival and uHlanga – The Reed (1975), staging them at The Space before taking them on tour.

Author

Besides helping to found, edit and write many articles, commentaries and reviews for S'ketsh' under his various pseudonyms, he has also published books and articles other journals on a wide range of subjects, mostly relating to theatre. culture, ideology and politics.

The following is an edited list of some his published works (see also the ESAT Bibliography):

The Making of a Servant and Other Poems (translated with Z.S. Qangule, 1971).

South African People's Plays (editor, 1Italic text981)

Theatre and Cultural Struggle in South Africa (author, Zed Books, 1985)

Making People's Theatre (author, 1997)

Ngoma: Approaches to Arts Education in Southern Africa (editor, 2006)

The Complete S'ketsh' (editor, 2016)

Selected Plays Vol. I: The Theatre of Workshop '71 (editor, 2016)

Selected Plays Vol II, The Political Theatre of Zambuko/Izibuko (editor, 2017)

Selected Plays III, The New Horizon Youth Theatre Company (editor, 2017)

Selected Plays V, Three Southern African Plays (editor, 2019)

Mangothobane: A Soweto Nobody (author, 2016)

A Contended Space: The Theatre of Gibson Mtutuzeli Kente (author, 2016)

Jan's Book (author, 2016)[1]

Theatre and Cultural Struggle Under Apartheid (editor, 2017)

Insila: The Eyes and Ears of the King, translated by Robert Mshengu Kavanagh and Thembani Ndiya Nene from "Insila kaShaka by John Langalibalele Dube (2017)

Sources

CV of Mshengu Kavanagh on Academia.edu[2]

https://artsforaction.org.uk/practitioners/robert-maclaren/

https://artsforaction.org.uk/practitioners/robert-maclaren/

https://www.amazon.com/Jans-Book-Robert-Mshengu-Kavanagh/dp/1542993261

Biographical note, Programme: UNESCO International Arts in Education Week (2012)[3]

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities K

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page

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