Difference between revisions of "Roy Sargeant"
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== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
| + | He attended Rondebosch Boys Preparatory School in Cape Town, and his first experience of theatre was there, playing the lead role in the pantomime ''[[Ali Baba]]''. He then attended Rondebosch Boys High School. His interest in theatre and Shakespeare was encouraged at this time by school trips to [[Maynardville]]. | ||
He passed away in Cape Town on 27 December, 2021. | He passed away in Cape Town on 27 December, 2021. | ||
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=== Training === | === Training === | ||
| − | Sargeant graduated with a BA (Hons) from [[UCT]]. | + | Sargeant graduated with a BA (Hons) in literature from [[UCT]]. During his time at university, he was actively involved in the [[University of Cape Town's Dramatic Society]]. |
=== Career === | === Career === | ||
| − | After graduating, Roy | + | After graduating, Roy worked initially as a producer of radio plays, before being approached to direct for [[CAPAB]]. He subsequently went on to work as a freelance theatre director, directing a large number of plays for varous amateur and professional companies, including the various Performing Arts Councils. |
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| − | He | ||
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| − | |||
| − | + | In 1969 and 1970, [[Guy Butler]] invited young Roy to direct two highly successful productions with the students of the [[Rhodes University Drama Department]] (''[[Cape Charade or Kaatje Kekkelbek]]'' and ''[[Richard Gush of Salem]]''). After a further six months as a leave replacement, thirty-one-year-old Roy was appointed the first Head of the Drama Department in 1973, and later Professor. Sargeant turned the department into one of the premier schools for training in the country. As head of the department he also played a major role in the establishment of the [[Grahamstown Festival]] and served on its planning committee for many years. The [[Student Drama Festival]], the establishment of the [[Standard Bank Young Artist Awards]] and the [[Winter School]] were his brain children. | |
| − | + | He left [[Rhodes University]] in 1982 to become the Head of English Drama at the [[SABC]] and later moved into working in the film industry. After producing the film adaptation of [[Athol Fugard]]'s ''[[The Road to Mecca]]'' in 1991, he moved to Franschhoek near Cape Town, where he opened a restaurant ("Polfyntjies") with his partner, [[Paul Regenass]]. | |
From 1997, he was much involved with script development and enabling new artists in the region by his involvement with the [[Baxter Theatre]] as director of the [[Baxter Theatre]]’s successful [[Baxter Theatre New Writing Programme]]. ''[[A Writer's Last Word]]'', staged at the [[Baxter Theatre]], was its first commission. From 2001, the programme was run by [[Artscape]] as the [[Artscape New Writing Programme]]. | From 1997, he was much involved with script development and enabling new artists in the region by his involvement with the [[Baxter Theatre]] as director of the [[Baxter Theatre]]’s successful [[Baxter Theatre New Writing Programme]]. ''[[A Writer's Last Word]]'', staged at the [[Baxter Theatre]], was its first commission. From 2001, the programme was run by [[Artscape]] as the [[Artscape New Writing Programme]]. | ||
| − | + | He founded his own production company, [[Roy Sargeant Productions]]. Under this banner he produced a number of Greek classics at the amphitheatre at [[Kirstenbosch Gardens]], with whom he established the (short-lived) annual [[Dionysos Festival]]. | |
| − | With [[Fatima Dike]], he established the [[Siyasanga Theatre Company]] in | + | With [[Fatima Dike]], he established the [[Siyasanga Cape Town Theatre Company]] in 2001 which was subsequently run by Fatima and Roy’s partner [[Paul Regenass]]. Together, they were invited to take South African productions to the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. |
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
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* Screen | * Screen | ||
| − | Sargeant wrote material for the 1993 TV movie, ''[[Sentinel]]''. He wrote and directed the 1997 TV mini series, ''[[The Principal]]'', about [[Alan Paton]]'s tenure as warden of the Diepkloof Reformatory for young African offenders. He wrote the 1998 TV movie, ''[[If This Be Treason]]'', telling the story of Helen Joseph, the first woman to be put under house arrest in South Africa. | + | Sargeant wrote material for (and co-produced) the 1993 TV movie, ''[[Sentinel]]''. He wrote and directed the 1997 TV mini series, ''[[The Principal]]'', about [[Alan Paton]]'s tenure as warden of the Diepkloof Reformatory for young African offenders. He wrote the 1998 TV movie, ''[[If This Be Treason]]'', telling the story of Helen Joseph, the first woman to be put under house arrest in South Africa. |
===As theatre director=== | ===As theatre director=== | ||
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Sargeant worked prolifically as a director. Some of the productions directed by him include: | Sargeant worked prolifically as a director. Some of the productions directed by him include: | ||
| − | 1965: ''[[Aladdin]]'' | + | 1965: ''[[Aladdin]]'' ([[University of Cape Town's Dramatic Society]]) |
1966: ''[[Volpone]]'' ([[University of Cape Town's Dramatic Society]]) | 1966: ''[[Volpone]]'' ([[University of Cape Town's Dramatic Society]]) | ||
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1967: ''[[The Beaux Stratagem]]'' ([[CAPAB]]) | 1967: ''[[The Beaux Stratagem]]'' ([[CAPAB]]) | ||
| − | 1968: ''[[Cape Charade]]'' ([[CAPAB]]) | + | 1968: ''[[Cape Charade or Kaatje Kekkelbek]]'' ([[CAPAB]]) |
1968: ''[[Moeite met die Minnaars]]'' ([[PACOFS]]) | 1968: ''[[Moeite met die Minnaars]]'' ([[PACOFS]]) | ||
| − | 1969: ''[[The Rivals]]'' ([[PACOFS]] | + | 1969: ''[[The Rivals]]'' ([[PACOFS]]) |
| − | 1969: ''[[She Stoops to Conquer]]'' (NAPAC) | + | 1969: ''[[She Stoops to Conquer]]'' ([[NAPAC]]) |
1969: ''[[The Magistrate]]'' ([[PACT]]) | 1969: ''[[The Magistrate]]'' ([[PACT]]) | ||
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1969: ''[[The School for Scandal]]'' | 1969: ''[[The School for Scandal]]'' | ||
| − | 1969: ''[[The Father]]'' ([[CAPAB]]/[[PACOFS]]) | + | 1969: Strindberg's ''[[The Father]]'' ([[CAPAB]]/[[PACOFS]]) |
1969: ''[[Epicœne, or The Silent Woman]]'' ([[Rhodes University Drama Department]]) | 1969: ''[[Epicœne, or The Silent Woman]]'' ([[Rhodes University Drama Department]]) | ||
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1976: ''[[The Hollow Crown]]'' ([[Rhodes University Drama Department]]) | 1976: ''[[The Hollow Crown]]'' ([[Rhodes University Drama Department]]) | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1976: ''[[The Circus Adventure]]'' ([[John Burch]] and [[Carl Gouveia]]) | ||
1977: ''[[King Lear]]'' ([[CAPAB]]) | 1977: ''[[King Lear]]'' ([[CAPAB]]) | ||
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2001: ''[[Dearly Beloved]]'' | 2001: ''[[Dearly Beloved]]'' | ||
| − | 2003: ''[[Rustlers]]'' (Artscape) | + | 2002: ''[[The Bacchae]]'' ([[Kirstenbosch]]) |
| + | |||
| + | 2003: ''[[Oedipus the Tyrant]]'' ([[Kirstenbosch]]) | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2003: ''[[Rustlers]]'' ([[Artscape]]) | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2003: ''[[King Lear]]'' ([[Artscape]]) | ||
| − | 2004/2005: ''[[The Birds]]'' | + | 2004/2005: ''[[The Birds]]'' ([[Kirstenbosch]]) |
2005: ''[[Now Now]]'' ([[Artscape]]) | 2005: ''[[Now Now]]'' ([[Artscape]]) | ||
2006: ''[[Hamlet]]'' ([[Artscape]]) | 2006: ''[[Hamlet]]'' ([[Artscape]]) | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2006: ''[[Unforced Errors]]'' ([[Artscape]]) | ||
2007: ''[[The Boy Who Fell from the Roof]]'' | 2007: ''[[The Boy Who Fell from the Roof]]'' | ||
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2008: ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]'' ([[Maynardville]]) | 2008: ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]'' ([[Maynardville]]) | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2010: ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' ([[Siyasanga South African Theatre Company]], [[Artscape]]) | ||
2011/2012: ''[[The Birds]]'' ([[Siyasanga Cape Town Theatre Company]]) | 2011/2012: ''[[The Birds]]'' ([[Siyasanga Cape Town Theatre Company]]) | ||
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2013: ''[[Cardenio]]'' ([[Maynardville]]) | 2013: ''[[Cardenio]]'' ([[Maynardville]]) | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2019: ''[[The MP's New Suit]]'' | ||
===As film director=== | ===As film director=== | ||
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1997: ''[[The Principal]]'' (TV mini series) | 1997: ''[[The Principal]]'' (TV mini series) | ||
| − | ===As television producer=== | + | ===As television/film producer=== |
| − | Sargeant produced (or worked as executive producer on a number of films and works for television. These include: | + | Sargeant produced (or worked as executive producer on) a number of films and works for television. These include: |
1982: ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' (producer, [[SABC]]) | 1982: ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' (producer, [[SABC]]) | ||
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== Awards, etc == | == Awards, etc == | ||
| − | He received the [[Three Leaf Arts Award]] for best director for ''[[Hadrian VII]]'' and ''[[Romeo and Juliet | + | He received the [[Three Leaf Arts Award]] for best director for ''[[Hadrian VII]]'' and ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]''. |
| − | + | He received the [[Fleur du Cap]] for his direction of ''[[The Relapse]]'' (1979) and won the award again in 2000. | |
He won the M-Net Vita Best Film award for his production of [[Athol Fugard]]'s ''[[The Road to Mecca]]''. | He won the M-Net Vita Best Film award for his production of [[Athol Fugard]]'s ''[[The Road to Mecca]]''. | ||
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https://theatrelives.co.za/people/roy-sargeant/ | https://theatrelives.co.za/people/roy-sargeant/ | ||
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| + | https://iol.co.za/entertainment/whats-on/2005-06-28-siyasangas-time-is-now/ | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Walter Greyvenstein|Greyvenstein, Walter]] 1988. ''The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa''. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University. | ||
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:43, 31 May 2026
Roy Sargeant (1941-2021) Director, filmmaker, academic and teacher.
Contents
Biography
He attended Rondebosch Boys Preparatory School in Cape Town, and his first experience of theatre was there, playing the lead role in the pantomime Ali Baba. He then attended Rondebosch Boys High School. His interest in theatre and Shakespeare was encouraged at this time by school trips to Maynardville.
He passed away in Cape Town on 27 December, 2021.
Training
Sargeant graduated with a BA (Hons) in literature from UCT. During his time at university, he was actively involved in the University of Cape Town's Dramatic Society.
Career
After graduating, Roy worked initially as a producer of radio plays, before being approached to direct for CAPAB. He subsequently went on to work as a freelance theatre director, directing a large number of plays for varous amateur and professional companies, including the various Performing Arts Councils.
In 1969 and 1970, Guy Butler invited young Roy to direct two highly successful productions with the students of the Rhodes University Drama Department (Cape Charade or Kaatje Kekkelbek and Richard Gush of Salem). After a further six months as a leave replacement, thirty-one-year-old Roy was appointed the first Head of the Drama Department in 1973, and later Professor. Sargeant turned the department into one of the premier schools for training in the country. As head of the department he also played a major role in the establishment of the Grahamstown Festival and served on its planning committee for many years. The Student Drama Festival, the establishment of the Standard Bank Young Artist Awards and the Winter School were his brain children.
He left Rhodes University in 1982 to become the Head of English Drama at the SABC and later moved into working in the film industry. After producing the film adaptation of Athol Fugard's The Road to Mecca in 1991, he moved to Franschhoek near Cape Town, where he opened a restaurant ("Polfyntjies") with his partner, Paul Regenass.
From 1997, he was much involved with script development and enabling new artists in the region by his involvement with the Baxter Theatre as director of the Baxter Theatre’s successful Baxter Theatre New Writing Programme. A Writer's Last Word, staged at the Baxter Theatre, was its first commission. From 2001, the programme was run by Artscape as the Artscape New Writing Programme.
He founded his own production company, Roy Sargeant Productions. Under this banner he produced a number of Greek classics at the amphitheatre at Kirstenbosch Gardens, with whom he established the (short-lived) annual Dionysos Festival.
With Fatima Dike, he established the Siyasanga Cape Town Theatre Company in 2001 which was subsequently run by Fatima and Roy’s partner Paul Regenass. Together, they were invited to take South African productions to the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As actor
As actor, he appeared in J.B. (University of Cape Town Drama Department, 1964), Hamlet (as Horatio, Maynardville, 1964), Waiting for Godot (as Pozzo, 1965) and The Mind Mirror (The Space, 1975).
As writer
- Stage
He translated P.G. du Plessis' 'n Seder val in Waterkloof into English, first titled An Oak falls in Bishopscourt (the first production was cancelled but eventually staged as An Oak Falls in 1980, and later as Send for Dolly in 1986. A new translation in 'Cape English', by Sergeant and Brent Palmer was staged in 2004.
From Alan Paton's novel, Sargeant adapted Cry, the Beloved Country for the stage in 2003.
- Screen
Sargeant wrote material for (and co-produced) the 1993 TV movie, Sentinel. He wrote and directed the 1997 TV mini series, The Principal, about Alan Paton's tenure as warden of the Diepkloof Reformatory for young African offenders. He wrote the 1998 TV movie, If This Be Treason, telling the story of Helen Joseph, the first woman to be put under house arrest in South Africa.
As theatre director
Sargeant worked prolifically as a director. Some of the productions directed by him include:
1965: Aladdin (University of Cape Town's Dramatic Society)
1966: Volpone (University of Cape Town's Dramatic Society)
1967: The Beaux Stratagem (CAPAB)
1968: Cape Charade or Kaatje Kekkelbek (CAPAB)
1968: Moeite met die Minnaars (PACOFS)
1969: The Rivals (PACOFS)
1969: She Stoops to Conquer (NAPAC)
1969: The Magistrate (PACT)
1969: The School for Scandal
1969: Strindberg's The Father (CAPAB/PACOFS)
1969: Epicœne, or The Silent Woman (Rhodes University Drama Department)
1971/1972: Hadrian the Seventh (CAPAB)
1971: The Entertainer (PEMADS)
1972: Kats in die Pekel (CAPAB)
1972: White Horse Inn (CAPAB)
1972: Romeo and Juliet (CAPAB)
1973: A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (Rhodes University Drama Department)
1974: The Relapse (Rhodes University Drama Department)
1974: Butley (Rhodes University Drama Department)
1975: A Scent of Flowers (Rhodes University Drama Department)
1976: Make Like Slaves (Rhodes University Drama Department)
1976: The Hollow Crown (Rhodes University Drama Department)
1976: The Circus Adventure (John Burch and Carl Gouveia)
1977: Much Ado About Nothing (CAPAB)
1977: Hay Fever (Rhodes University Drama Department)
1978: The Diary of Anne Frank (Rhodes University Drama Department)
1978: Twelfth Night (Maynardville)
1978/1979: Say Who You Are (1820 Foundation)
1979: Death of a Salesman (CAPAB)
1979: The Relapse (CAPAB)
1979: Death of a Salesman (CAPAB)
1979: Macbeth (Rhodes University Drama Department)
1980: Romeo and Juliet (with Leslie French, CAPAB/Maynardville)
1980: The School for Scandal (PACT)
1980: A Day in the Death of Joe Egg for the Company at the Market Theatre
1980: How the Other Half Loves (CAPAB)
1980: The Shadow Box (CAPAB)
1982: Othello (Maynardville)
1987: Lysistrata (Rhodes University Drama Department)
1992: Wuthering Heights (CAPAB)
1994: Travesties (CAPAB)
1994: The Tempest (CAPAB)
1995: Broken Glass (CAPAB)
1996: Gertrude Stein and a Companion (CAPAB)
1997: Kindertransport (Baxter Theatre)
1998: Dancing at Lughnasa (Baxter)
1998: The Elephant Man (Baxter Theatre)
1999: Equus (Baxter Theatre)
1999: "Master Harold"...and the Boys (Baxter Theatre)
2000: Glass Roots (Baxter Theatre)
2001: Dearly Beloved
2002: The Bacchae (Kirstenbosch)
2003: Oedipus the Tyrant (Kirstenbosch)
2004/2005: The Birds (Kirstenbosch)
2006: Unforced Errors (Artscape)
2007: The Boy Who Fell from the Roof
2008: The Return (Fatima Dike)
2008: The Merchant of Venice (Maynardville)
2010: Romeo and Juliet (Siyasanga South African Theatre Company, Artscape)
2011/2012: The Birds (Siyasanga Cape Town Theatre Company)
2011: The Taming of the Shrew (Maynardville)
2013/2015: Cry Havoc
2013: Cardenio (Maynardville)
2019: The MP's New Suit
As film director
Sargeant directed the following works:
1972: The Winners (with Emil Nofal)
1974: Oh Brother..!
1975: Kniediep (with Joe Stewardson)
1987: The Soldier's Tale (TV film)
1997: The Principal (TV mini series)
As television/film producer
Sargeant produced (or worked as executive producer on) a number of films and works for television. These include:
1982: A Midsummer Night's Dream (producer, SABC)
1983: Man in a Sidecar (producer)
1984: Richard Gush of Salem (producer)
1985: Faulkner's Law (with Elmo de Witt)
1986: Heroes (executive producer)
1986: The Summer House (executive producer)
1986: Professional Foul (executive producer)
1986: The Territory (producer)
1986: Playing with Fire (executive producer)
1986: Thicker than Water (executive producer)
1986: Web of Persuasion (executive producer)
1987: The Fiddler (executive producer)
1987: The Merchant of Venice (executive producer)
1987: Nukie (producer)
1987: The Mantis Project (executive producer)
1987: Satan's Shutes (executive producer)
1989: In the Name of Blood (producer)
1989: Dirty Games (producer)
1989: Barney Barnato (producer)
1991: Just Nuisance (producer)
1991: The Road to Mecca (producer)
1993: Sentinel (producer)
Awards, etc
He received the Three Leaf Arts Award for best director for Hadrian VII and Romeo and Juliet.
He received the Fleur du Cap for his direction of The Relapse (1979) and won the award again in 2000.
He won the M-Net Vita Best Film award for his production of Athol Fugard's The Road to Mecca.
Sources
Burger, 4 January 1978.
Programme notes of The Elephant Man in 1998.
Tucker, 1997.
Numerous entries in the NELM catalogue.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0765086/?ref_=ttfc_fcr_4_1
https://theatrelives.co.za/people/roy-sargeant/
https://iol.co.za/entertainment/whats-on/2005-06-28-siyasangas-time-is-now/
Greyvenstein, Walter 1988. The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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Return to ESAT Personalities S
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
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