Difference between revisions of "Jana Cilliers"

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Jana Cilliers (born 1950). Actress.
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[[Jana Cilliers]] (1950-) is a bilingual ([[Afrikaans]]-English) actress.
  
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
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Jana was born in Pretoria as the daughter of renowned painter Betty-Cilliers Barnard.
 
  
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She married actor/film director [[Regardt van den Bergh]] and the couple have two daughters, of which one - [[Lika van den Bergh]] - also turned to acting. After their divorce she married actor [[Bill Flynn]]. Her daughter, [[Lika Berning|Lika]], is also an actress and film producer.  
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Born Johanna Wilhelmina Cilliers, the daughter of renowned artist [[Betty-Cilliers Barnard]] (1914-2010)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bettie_Cilliers-Barnard] and Carel Hancke (Bags) Cilliers.  
  
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=== Youth ===
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She involved herself in ballet, music and drama while still at school, and completed a BA degree at the [[University of Pretoria]] with majors in English, French and Theatre History. During this busy time she acted for the student theatre society called [[Persona]], which she had helped found (playing "Lady [[Macbeth]]" for it at the age of 18 for example) and went on several tours with the  ''Exploratio-vereniging'' ("Exploratio Society" - nowadays known as "TUKS-Exploratio"[https://www.up.ac.za/exploratio]). 
  
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Wanting to continue with a drama career, she auditioned for and was accepted by London’s '''Royal Academy of Dramatic Art''' ('''RADA''')[https://www.rada.ac.uk/]. On her return she would become  part of the new generation of bilingual performers working in South African theatre and media.
  
 +
She was married to film director and scriptwriter [[Regardt van den Bergh]] in the eighties and they had two daughters, actress [[Lika van den Bergh]] (aka [[Lika Berning]]) and Leán.  After their divorce she married actor [[Bill Flynn]]  (1948–2007).
  
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=== Training ===
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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
  
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She studied acting at the University of Pretoria and London’s Royal Academy of Performing Arts.  
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Cilliers has worked for the various [[Performing Arts Councils]], as well as the independent companies such as [[Space Theatre|The Space]] in Cape Town, The [[Market Theatre]] in Johannesburg and [[Pieter Toerien Productions]], as well as various companies in the radio, film and TV industries.  
  
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=== Career ===
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===Her career in theatre===
  
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to become part of the new generation of bilingual performers working for the various [[Performing Arts Councils]], as well as the independent companies such as [[Space Theatre|The Space]] in Cape Town () and The [[Market Theatre]] in Johannesburg) and [[Pieter Toerien Productions]] (**).
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She has worked for a wide range of theatre companies over the years, gradually also establishing a major reputation for her superb one-woman performances in the late 1980s and 1990s. This led to her co-founding  '''[[Opdrag Productions]]''' with her regular director at the time, [[Mark Graham]], after  the immense success of ''[[Opdrag: Ingrid Jonker]]'' (1998-9).  
  
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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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Among her many stage performances over the course of her career have been roles in:
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She performed in ''[[Don Juan]]'' (in [[Afrikaans]], [[CAPAB]] 1975), ''[[Die Vroue van Troje]]'' at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1977, ''[[My Husband’s wild desires almost drove me mad]]'', [[The Space]] 1977, ''[[Sly Fox]]'' 1979.
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1972: ''[[Luilummel en Flenterpiet]]'' ([[CAPAB]]),  
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1974: ''[[Kanna hy kô Hystoe]]'' ([[CAPAB]])
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1975: ''[[Don Juan]]'' (in [[Afrikaans]], [[CAPAB]]), ''[[Twaalfde Nag]]'' (in [[Afrikaans]], [[CAPAB]]),
 +
 
 +
1977: ''[[Die Vroue van Troje]]'' ([[Market Theatre]]), ''[[My Husband’s wild desires almost drove me mad]]'' ([[The Space]]),
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 +
1978: ''[[Twelfth Night, or What You Will]]'' [[Maynardville]],  
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1979: ''[[Sly Fox]]'' (Gelbart), ''[[The Norman Conquests]]'' ([[Brickhill-Burke]] production, [[His Majesty's Theatre]]),
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 +
1983: ''[[Die Vasvat van 'n Feeks]]'' (''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' in [[Afrikaans]], [[PACT]], as "Bianca"), ''[[Rain]]'' ([[CAPAB]])
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1985: ''[[Pous Johanna II]]''
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1986: ''[[Wild Honey]]'' , ''[[Snake Beneath the Rose]]'', ,
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1988: ''[[Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune]]'' (as "Frankie", 1988),
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1989: ''[[Die Groot Wit Roos]]'' (as "Lorna"),
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1990: ''[[The Maintenance Man]]'' 1990
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1991: ''[[Love Letters]]'' at the [[Richard Haines Theatre]] in September,
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1994: ''[[The Glass Menagerie]]'' (Williams),
 +
 
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1995: ''[[In Praise of Love]]'' (as "Lydia", for [[Pieter Toerien]])
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1996: ''[[Master Class]]'' (as "Maria Callas"),
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1998: ''[[Opdrag: Ingrid Jonker]]'' (1998-9), ''[[Yelena]]'' (De Wet), ''[[The Dance of Death]]'' (Strindberg),
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1999: ''[[Antony and Cleopatra]]'', (as Cleopatra, 1999),
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2001: ''[[Die Amerikanische Päpstin|The American Popess]]'',  ''[[Play@Risk]]'' ([[Opdrag Productions]])
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2004: ''[[1975]]'' (Botha),  ''[[The Breath of Life]]'' (2004),
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2005: ''[[Romeo en Julia (Studie van 'n Verdrinkende Liggaam)|Romeo en Julia]]'' ([[Vleis, Rys en Aartappels]]),
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2014: ''[[Macbeth|macbeth.slapeloos]]'' (2014).
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===As playwright===
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In 2024 she wrote and performed in her first play text, ''[[Veelhoek]]''.
 +
 
 +
===Television and film===
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Her television and film work has included:
  
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Other of the many productions on stage include ''[[1975]]'', ''[[Die Groot Wit Roos]]'', ''[[Luilummel en Flenterpiet]]'', ''[[Play@Risk]]'', ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'', ''[[Yelena]]'', ''[[Kanna hy kô Hystoe]]'', ''[[The Dance of Death]]'', ''[[Twelfth Night, or What You Will]]'', ''[[Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune]]'' (as "Frankie", 1988), ''[[Rain]]'' for [[CAPAB]], the [[Brickhill-Burke]] production of Alan Aykbourn’s trilogy, ''[[The Norman Conquests]]'', separately titled ''[[Table Manners]]'', ''[[Living Together]]'' and ''[[Round and Round the Garden]]'', at [[His Majesty's Theatre]] in 1979, ''[[Die Amerikanische Päpstin|Pous Johanna II]]'' which originally premiered as one of the productions at the [[Market Theatre]]'s Women's Festival, ''[[Wild Honey]]'' 1986, ''[[Snake Beneath the Rose]]'' performed in 1986, ''[[The Maintenance Man]]'' 1990, ''[[Love Letters]]'' at the [[Richard Haines Theatre]] in September 1991, ''[[The Glass Menagerie]]'' in 1994, ''[[In Praise of Love]]'', ''[[Antony and Cleopatra]]'', (as Cleopatra, 1999),''[[The Breath of Life]]'' (2004), ''[[Romeo en Julia (Studie van 'n Verdrinkende Liggaam)|Romeo en Julia]]'' ([[Vleis, Rys, en Aartappels]], 2005), ''[[Macbeth|macbeth.slapeloos]]'' (2014).
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'''Films''': ''[[Die Vervlakste Tweeling]]'' (1969); ''[[Eendag op 'n Reëndag]]'' (1975); ''[[Plekkie in die son]]'' (1979), ''[[Game of Vultures]]'' (1979); ''[[Blink Stefaans]]'' (1981), ''[[Boetie Gaan Border Toe!]]'' (1984); ''[[Niemand weint für immer]]'' (1984); ''[[Quest for Love]]'' (1988); ''[['n Pot Vol Winter]]'' (1992); ''[[The Good Fascist]]'' (1992), ''[[The Visual Bible]]'': ''Acts'' (Video series, 1994)
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''[[Die Leeftyd van 'n Orgidee]]'' (short film, 2018);
  
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In the 1990s she began to establish a major reputation for her superb one-woman performances – including ''[[Opdrag: Ingrid Jonker]]'' (1998-9), ''[[Die Amerikanische Päpstin|The American Popess]]'', 2001 and ''[[Master Class]]'' (where she played Maria Callas).
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'''TV dramas''': ''[[La Musica]]'' (1976); ''[[Duet]]'' (1977); ''[[Salomé]]'' (1979); ''[[Skoppensboer]]''  (1984); ''[[City People]]'' (1985); ''[[A Private Life]]'' (1991).
  
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Her television work includes ''[[Salome]]'', ''[[Waiting]]'' and the series ''[[City People]]''. She has also appeared in feature films for producer [[Jans Rautenbach]] and for [[Regardt van den Bergh]], e.g. ''[[Boetie Gaan Border Toe!]]''.
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'''TV series''': ''[[Dokter, Dokter]]'' (1976); ''[[Sebastiaan Senior]]'' (1978); ''[[Phoenix & Kie]]'' (1979); ''[[Oh George!]]'' (1981); ''[[Die Dood Van Elmien Adler]]'' (1984); ''[[Screen Two]]'' (1989); ''[[Arende]] II: MoordenaarsKaroo]]'' (1992); ''[[Arende]] III: Dorsland'' (1993); ''[[MMG Engineers]]''  (1994); ''[[Feast of the Uninvited]]'' (2008); ''[[Die Boekklub]]'' (2017-).
  
 
== Awards, etc ==
 
== Awards, etc ==
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== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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 +
[[Burger]], 4 January 1978.
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[[SACD]] 1977/78; 1979/80.
 
[[SACD]] 1977/78; 1979/80.
  
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[[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997.
 
[[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997.
 +
 +
[[Die Tukkie]], November 2000.
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[[Beeld]] Plus, 2 June 2001.
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[[Kobus Burger]]. 2024. "Jama Cilliers lei 'n lewe van eenvoud", ''[[Plus 50]]''June/July 2024: pp 8-11.
  
  

Latest revision as of 09:12, 11 June 2024

Jana Cilliers (1950-) is a bilingual (Afrikaans-English) actress.


Biography

Born Johanna Wilhelmina Cilliers, the daughter of renowned artist Betty-Cilliers Barnard (1914-2010)[1] and Carel Hancke (Bags) Cilliers.

She involved herself in ballet, music and drama while still at school, and completed a BA degree at the University of Pretoria with majors in English, French and Theatre History. During this busy time she acted for the student theatre society called Persona, which she had helped found (playing "Lady Macbeth" for it at the age of 18 for example) and went on several tours with the Exploratio-vereniging ("Exploratio Society" - nowadays known as "TUKS-Exploratio"[2]).

Wanting to continue with a drama career, she auditioned for and was accepted by London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)[3]. On her return she would become part of the new generation of bilingual performers working in South African theatre and media.

She was married to film director and scriptwriter Regardt van den Bergh in the eighties and they had two daughters, actress Lika van den Bergh (aka Lika Berning) and Leán. After their divorce she married actor Bill Flynn (1948–2007).

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

Cilliers has worked for the various Performing Arts Councils, as well as the independent companies such as The Space in Cape Town, The Market Theatre in Johannesburg and Pieter Toerien Productions, as well as various companies in the radio, film and TV industries.

Her career in theatre

She has worked for a wide range of theatre companies over the years, gradually also establishing a major reputation for her superb one-woman performances in the late 1980s and 1990s. This led to her co-founding Opdrag Productions with her regular director at the time, Mark Graham, after the immense success of Opdrag: Ingrid Jonker (1998-9).

Among her many stage performances over the course of her career have been roles in:

1972: Luilummel en Flenterpiet (CAPAB),

1974: Kanna hy kô Hystoe (CAPAB)

1975: Don Juan (in Afrikaans, CAPAB), Twaalfde Nag (in Afrikaans, CAPAB),

1977: Die Vroue van Troje (Market Theatre), My Husband’s wild desires almost drove me mad (The Space),

1978: Twelfth Night, or What You Will Maynardville,

1979: Sly Fox (Gelbart), The Norman Conquests (Brickhill-Burke production, His Majesty's Theatre),

1983: Die Vasvat van 'n Feeks (The Taming of the Shrew in Afrikaans, PACT, as "Bianca"), Rain (CAPAB)

1985: Pous Johanna II

1986: Wild Honey , Snake Beneath the Rose, ,

1988: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (as "Frankie", 1988),

1989: Die Groot Wit Roos (as "Lorna"),

1990: The Maintenance Man 1990

1991: Love Letters at the Richard Haines Theatre in September,

1994: The Glass Menagerie (Williams),

1995: In Praise of Love (as "Lydia", for Pieter Toerien)

1996: Master Class (as "Maria Callas"),

1998: Opdrag: Ingrid Jonker (1998-9), Yelena (De Wet), The Dance of Death (Strindberg),

1999: Antony and Cleopatra, (as Cleopatra, 1999),

2001: The American Popess, Play@Risk (Opdrag Productions)

2004: 1975 (Botha), The Breath of Life (2004),

2005: Romeo en Julia (Vleis, Rys en Aartappels),

2014: macbeth.slapeloos (2014).

As playwright

In 2024 she wrote and performed in her first play text, Veelhoek.

Television and film

Her television and film work has included:

Films: Die Vervlakste Tweeling (1969); Eendag op 'n Reëndag (1975); Plekkie in die son (1979), Game of Vultures (1979); Blink Stefaans (1981), Boetie Gaan Border Toe! (1984); Niemand weint für immer (1984); Quest for Love (1988); 'n Pot Vol Winter (1992); The Good Fascist (1992), The Visual Bible: Acts (Video series, 1994) Die Leeftyd van 'n Orgidee (short film, 2018);

TV dramas: La Musica (1976); Duet (1977); Salomé (1979); Skoppensboer (1984); City People (1985); A Private Life (1991).

TV series: Dokter, Dokter (1976); Sebastiaan Senior (1978); Phoenix & Kie (1979); Oh George! (1981); Die Dood Van Elmien Adler (1984); Screen Two (1989); Arende II: MoordenaarsKaroo]] (1992); Arende III: Dorsland (1993); MMG Engineers (1994); Feast of the Uninvited (2008); Die Boekklub (2017-).

Awards, etc

Nominated for Best Actress for Fleur du Cap 1978.

Nominated Fleur du Cap Cilliers, Jana for In Praise of Love [best actress], 1995.

Master Class (where she played Maria Callas, winning a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award, Best Actress, 1996), a Edinburgh Crystal Award and a national and several regional Vita Awards.

Vita Award (Cape Town region) Cilliers, Jana; Bezuidenhout, Aletta : [joint winners - best lead actress, award year 1997.

Vita award (Cape Town region) Jana Cilliers: The American popess; Best actress, 2002.

Sources

Burger, 4 January 1978.

SACD 1977/78; 1979/80.

Programme of Snake Beneath the Rose in 1986.

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

Tucker, 1997.

Die Tukkie, November 2000.

Beeld Plus, 2 June 2001.

Kobus Burger. 2024. "Jama Cilliers lei 'n lewe van eenvoud", Plus 50June/July 2024: pp 8-11.


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