Difference between revisions of "Percy Baneshik"

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'''Percy Baneshik''' born Percival Leon Baneshik, (6th November, 1915-1999) Critic, author, broadcast producer and playwright. An auto-didact, he became one of the most esteemed, articulate and influential music, film and theatre critics in the country. The [[African Broadcasting Company]] (ABC) started broadcasting on 1st of July 1924. During the 1930s, Baneshik was appointed Assistant News Editor with the station and, known as “Uncle Percy,” started the “Children's Hour”. When the [[South African Broadcasting Corporation]] (SABC) was established by an Act of Parliament as the new public service broadcaster in 1936, he continued in the same position with them. He worked for a number of Johannesburg newspapers, notably [[The Star]]. He was the chief columnist for the [[Rand Daily Mail]] from 1962 till 1964 and an Executive member of the [[SA PEN Centre]]. He was an Assistant Editor in charge of the Arts and Entertainments section and dramatic critic, of the [[Sunday Chronicle]] in Johannesburg. Between 1947-48 he served as a Radio Officer with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in Washington DC, USA.
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[[Percy Baneshik]] (1915-1999) was an influential critic, author, broadcast producer and playwright.
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==Biography==
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Born [[Percival Leon Baneshik]], on 6th November, 1915, he was an auto-didact, wjho would go on to become one of the most esteemed, articulate and influential music, film and theatre critics in the country.  
 +
 
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The [[African Broadcasting Company]] (ABC) started broadcasting on 1st of July 1924. During the 1930s, Baneshik was appointed Assistant News Editor with the station and, known as "Uncle Percy", started the ''Children's Hour''. When the [[South African Broadcasting Corporation]] (SABC) was established by an Act of Parliament as the new public service broadcaster in 1936, he continued in the same position with them.  
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He also worked for a number of Johannesburg newspapers, notably ''[[The Star]]'' and became the chief columnist for the ''[[Rand Daily Mail]]'' from 1962 till 1964 and an Executive member of the [[SA PEN Centre]]. He was an Assistant Editor in charge of the Arts and Entertainments section and dramatic critic, of the [[Sunday Chronicle]] in Johannesburg. Between 1947-48 he served as a Radio Officer with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in Washington DC, USA.
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[[Des Lindberg]] said of him: "Percy Baneshik was physically a small man, cruelly challenged by the disability that polio had inflicted on him. But his intellect matched and even dwarfed the finest scholars, broadcasters, racconteurs , orators and scribes of our land. His wit was legendary, an urbane and cultured gentleman, whose very presence at an opening night lent stature to the event. His opinion was important to the Theatre. He provided respected and reliable benchmarks for excellence, courage, talent, and endeavour."
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He received the [[Thomas Pringle Award]] for journalism in 1974.
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Baneshik passed away in 1999.
  
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
  
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Baneshik also wrote a number of one act plays, many of them performed at the [[FATSSA]] play festivals by the [[East Rand Theatre Club]], including ''[[Elizabeth Wears a Wig]]'' (1945, published 1947)  and ''[[The Garden at the Threshold]]'' (the Van Riebeeck Festival play) (1951, published 1965) and ''[[Hole in the Heart]]’’, a radio presentation about a heart operation which was broadcast all over the world.  Full-lenth plays include ''[[Mr. Midas]]'' ([[Library Theatre]], 1945)and the  musical ''[[Eureka]]'' (with music by [[Bertha Egnos]], produced at the [[Johannesburg Civic Theatre]], 1968), *. Baneshik is also the author of radio features entitled ''[[Fugue for South African Voices]]'' (1952) and ''Portrait of Sammy Marks'' (1958). * Also wrote an ode to the [[Johannesburg REPS]]  which was read by [[Muriel Alexander]] during the inaugural ceremony of the new [[Johannesburg Repertory Theatre|Johannesburg REPS Theatre]] which opened in Johannesburg on the 7th of November 1951. Wrote As scriptwriter produced many features for radio.
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Baneshik also wrote a number of one-act plays, many of them performed at the [[FATSSA]] play festivals by the [[East Rand Theatre Club]], including ''[[Elizabeth Wears a Wig]]'' (1945, published 1947)  and ''[[The Garden at the Threshold]]'' (the Van Riebeeck Festival play) (1951, published 1965) and ''[[Hole in the Heart]]'', a radio presentation about a heart operation which was broadcast all over the world.  Full-lenth plays include ''[[Mr. Midas]]'' ([[Library Theatre]], 1945) and the  musical ''[[Eureka]]'' (with music by [[Bertha Egnos]], produced at the [[Johannesburg Civic Theatre]], 1968). Baneshik is also the author of radio features entitled ''[[Fugue for South African Voices]]'' (1952) and ''Portrait of Sammy Marks'' (1958).   
  
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According to G.J. Joubert Percy Baneshik of ''[[The Star]]'', is a fine stylist capable of informed evaluation at all times. His reviews maintain a consistently high standard, with hardly any fluctuation of critical perspective. Stimulation and development of the public's interest in, and knowledge of the theatre are the most commendable feature of his reviews.
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Also wrote an ode to the [[Johannesburg REPS]]  which was read by [[Muriel Alexander]] during the inaugural ceremony of the new [[Johannesburg Repertory Theatre|Johannesburg REPS Theatre]] which opened in Johannesburg on the 7th of November 1951.  
  
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== Awards ==
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As a scriptwriter he wrote many features for radio.
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He received the [[Thomas Pringle Award]] for journalism in 1974.  
 
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
  
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South African Jewry, Edited by Leon Feldberg, 1965.
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[[Mona de Beer]]. 1995. ''Who Did What in South Africa'' (Revised edition). Johannesburg: [[Ad Donker]].  
  
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[[ESAT Bibliography Jo-Jz|Joubert, G.J.]] 1974.  
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[[Gideon Jacobus Joubert]],  1974. ''Rigtings en figure in die toneelkritiek van Suid-Afrika, 1963-1972''. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Pretoria: [[University of Pretoria]].
  
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De Beer, 1995, Joyce, 1999, [[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997.
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[[Peter Joyce]]. 1999. ''A Concise Dictionary of South African Biography''. Cape Town: [[Francolin Publishers]].
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[[Percy Tucker]]. 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: [[Witwatersrand University Press]]. 
  
 
http://esaach.org.za/index.php?title=Baneshik,_Percy
 
http://esaach.org.za/index.php?title=Baneshik,_Percy
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''South African Jewry'', Edited by Leon Feldberg, 1965.
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"Tribute - Percy Baneshik" ''[[ArtsLink]]''
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[https://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm.contentID=11892]
  
 
Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue.
 
Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue.

Latest revision as of 06:38, 25 May 2023

Percy Baneshik (1915-1999) was an influential critic, author, broadcast producer and playwright.

Biography

Born Percival Leon Baneshik, on 6th November, 1915, he was an auto-didact, wjho would go on to become one of the most esteemed, articulate and influential music, film and theatre critics in the country.

The African Broadcasting Company (ABC) started broadcasting on 1st of July 1924. During the 1930s, Baneshik was appointed Assistant News Editor with the station and, known as "Uncle Percy", started the Children's Hour. When the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was established by an Act of Parliament as the new public service broadcaster in 1936, he continued in the same position with them.

He also worked for a number of Johannesburg newspapers, notably The Star and became the chief columnist for the Rand Daily Mail from 1962 till 1964 and an Executive member of the SA PEN Centre. He was an Assistant Editor in charge of the Arts and Entertainments section and dramatic critic, of the Sunday Chronicle in Johannesburg. Between 1947-48 he served as a Radio Officer with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in Washington DC, USA.

Des Lindberg said of him: "Percy Baneshik was physically a small man, cruelly challenged by the disability that polio had inflicted on him. But his intellect matched and even dwarfed the finest scholars, broadcasters, racconteurs , orators and scribes of our land. His wit was legendary, an urbane and cultured gentleman, whose very presence at an opening night lent stature to the event. His opinion was important to the Theatre. He provided respected and reliable benchmarks for excellence, courage, talent, and endeavour."

He received the Thomas Pringle Award for journalism in 1974.

Baneshik passed away in 1999.

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

Baneshik also wrote a number of one-act plays, many of them performed at the FATSSA play festivals by the East Rand Theatre Club, including Elizabeth Wears a Wig (1945, published 1947) and The Garden at the Threshold (the Van Riebeeck Festival play) (1951, published 1965) and Hole in the Heart, a radio presentation about a heart operation which was broadcast all over the world. Full-lenth plays include Mr. Midas (Library Theatre, 1945) and the musical Eureka (with music by Bertha Egnos, produced at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, 1968). Baneshik is also the author of radio features entitled Fugue for South African Voices (1952) and Portrait of Sammy Marks (1958).

Also wrote an ode to the Johannesburg REPS which was read by Muriel Alexander during the inaugural ceremony of the new Johannesburg REPS Theatre which opened in Johannesburg on the 7th of November 1951.

As a scriptwriter he wrote many features for radio.

Sources

Mona de Beer. 1995. Who Did What in South Africa (Revised edition). Johannesburg: Ad Donker.

Gideon Jacobus Joubert, 1974. Rigtings en figure in die toneelkritiek van Suid-Afrika, 1963-1972. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Pretoria: University of Pretoria.

Peter Joyce. 1999. A Concise Dictionary of South African Biography. Cape Town: Francolin Publishers.

Percy Tucker. 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

http://esaach.org.za/index.php?title=Baneshik,_Percy

South African Jewry, Edited by Leon Feldberg, 1965.

"Tribute - Percy Baneshik" ArtsLink [1]

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

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