John Caviggia

John Caviggia (19**-2016) was an actor, designer, director and make-up artist and a prominent and eccentric figure in theatrical circles in the Cape Town since the 1980s. (His surname is sometimes misspelled "Cavaggia" or "Cavaggio" by sources.)

Training

Trained at Maas-Phillips and the University of Cape Town, after which he also did courses at the Cine Citta and the Silvio d'Amico Academy, specializing in Design and the Dramatic Arts.

Biography

He died in Cape Town on the 13th March, 2016.

Career

Costume and Jewelry Historian and Head of History at Fedisa since 200*. He has studied and worked both nationally and internationally in various disciplines, which include Fashion & Jewelry Design and the Performing Arts. He has lectured on various subjects: English, History of Art, of Fashion, of Cosmetology and of Jewellery, of Design of Theatre, Opera, Ballet and Film. He has taught at the University of Cape Town, the University of Stellenbosch, the American University in London, the University of Rome, the Italian Ministry of Health in Rome, the Academy of Film and Dramatic Arts (AFDA) and the Cape Technikon (CPUT) and now head the Design History programme at FEDISA. He has served on the Cape Town Press Club Committee, (founder Member), the Cape Town Theatre Club Committee (Chairman of the Board) and the Little Touring Company (Chairman of the Board), which takes educational programmes to disadvantage areas.

He also did stints as radio commentator and announcer, theatre, music and art reviewer,

As actor:

As stage actor

Appeared in School Play at The Space (Cape Town, 1972 - though his name is given as "Caviggio" in the 1979 book on the Space Theatre),The Rise and Fall of the First Empress Bonaparte (Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1977), Chinchilla (1980), David Nissen's The Prince and the Sphinx (1987), The Taming of the Shrew (Maynardville, 2011).

As film actor:

Played himself in The Satyr of Springbok Heights (2009) and appeared in Wolhaarstories (1983).

As director:

For Little Touring Company he directed Hamlet, King Lear and a "Poetry and Prose School Tour".

As designer

Stage

Film/TV

Production designer for Slavery of Love (1999)

Sources

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3503417/

http://adrianbekker.blogspot.com/

" 'La bella figura' in a frock", Tonight (21 January 2011)[1]

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities C

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page