Difference between revisions of "Janet Suzman"
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| − | + | '''Janet Suzman''' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Suzman]. (1939-). Internationally renowned actress, director and playwright. | |
| − | + | == Biography == | |
| − | + | Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 9 February 1939, the daughter of Betty (née Sonnenberg) and Saul Suzman, a wealthy tobacco importer. (The influential theatrical figure [[Cecilia Sonnenberg]] and the redoubtable politician Helen Suzman [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Suzman] were her aunts.) | |
| + | |||
| + | She was brought up in Natal by her father, and had her schooling at Kingsmead College in Durban, before going on to study at the [[University of the Witwatersrand]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1959 she emigrated to England, where she went on to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Her first stage appearance was to be in ''[[Billy Liar]]'' in Ipswich on 30 April 1962. Spotted later the same year at the Library Theatre in Manchester, she was recruited by the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] for ''[[The Wars of the Roses]]'', becoming a highly regarded member of the ensemble. She went on from there to play a number of great Shakespearean roles during the 60s and 70s, among them "Kate" in ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'', "Portia" in ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]'' and "Ophelia" in ''[[Hamlet]]''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Her vast canon of work over the years has been lauded in London and internationally. Though the stage was her main focus, her work included some TV and film roles, among them a fine BBC portrayal of ''[[Hedda Gabler]]'', an Oscar-nominated performance in the title role in ''[[Nicholas and Alexandra]]'' (1971) and ''[[A Dry White Season]]'' (1989). | ||
| + | . | ||
| + | |||
| + | She married director Trevor Nunn[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Nunn] in 1969, but by 1984 the marriage had collapsed and they divorced in 1986. They have one son, Joshua. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
| + | |||
| + | As a student she played Calpurnia in ''[[Julius Caesar]]'', directed by [[John Boulter]] for the Wits [[University Players]] in 1957. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | In 1970 she returned to the country to perform the one-woman piece ''[[An Agreeable Blunder]]'' in Johannesburg, directed by [[Barney Simon]]. The production was also staged in Durban by [[TECON]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Her continued association with South African theatre came through her close involvement with [[Barney Simon]] and [[Mannie Manim]], as a patron and supporter of the [[Market Theatre]]. She appeared in the 1974 fund raising production for [[The Company]] and the opening production of the [[Market Theatre]] (1976), then – because she strongly supported the cultural boycott - she only returned to the country a decade later, when changes had begun to occur. She directed ''[[Othello]]'' with [[John Kani]], [[Richard Haines]] and [[Joanna Weinberg]] at the [[Market Theatre|Market]] in 1986. In 2005 she returned once more to direct ''[[Hamlet]]'' for The [[Baxter Theatre]] and the [[National Arts Festival]] (with [[Rajesh Gopie]], [[John Kani]] and [[Dorothy-Ann Gould]]). | ||
| + | |||
| + | As dramatist she has written and directed South Africanised versions of Brecht’s ''[[Der gute Mensch von Sezuan|The Good Person of Sezuan]]'' (entitled ''[[The Good Woman of Sharkville]]'') and Chekhov’s ''[[The Cherry Orchard]]'' (entitled ''[[The Free State]]'') in 1998. | ||
| + | |||
| + | She starred in [[Athol Fugard]]’s ''[[Hello and Goodbye]]'' in London opposite British actor Ben Kingsley. She starred in ''[[Pleasure and Repentance]]'', a fund-raising show for the [[Market Theatre]] on 4 January 1976. [[Barney Simon]] directed and the cast also starred [[Ron Smerczak]], [[Keith Blundell]] and [[Michael McCabe]]. She starred in [[Barney Simon]]’s production of [[Edward Albee]]’s ''[[The Death of Bessie Smith]]'' together with [[John Kani]] and [[Winston Ntshona]] at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1979. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1987 she directed an immensely influential multi-racial production of ''[[Othello]]'' at the [[Market Theatre|Market]], opening on 16 September of that year. | ||
| + | |||
| + | She directed [[The Good Woman of Sharkville]] at the [[Market Theatre]] in July 1996, with a text which adapted by herself and [[Gcina Mhlope]] . | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Awards, etc == | ||
| + | Winner of numerous awards, including two Evening Standard Best Actress Awards in Britain. She has received honorary D.Litt degrees from a number of British universities. | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
| − | |||
| − | Return to [[ESAT Personalities S]] | + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Suzman |
| + | |||
| + | Stuart Jeffries 2011. "The Saturday Interview: Janet Suzman", ''[[The Guardian]]'', 26 August, 2011.[https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2011/aug/20/janet-suzman-actor-saturday-interview] | ||
| + | |||
| + | https://gldc.ukzn.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Graphic-vol.20-no.13-27-November-1970.pdf | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Percy Tucker]] 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: [[Witwatersrand University Press]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Return to == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[ESAT Personalities S]] | ||
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]] | Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] | ||
Return to [[Main Page]] | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:34, 10 January 2025
Janet Suzman [1]. (1939-). Internationally renowned actress, director and playwright.
Contents
Biography
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 9 February 1939, the daughter of Betty (née Sonnenberg) and Saul Suzman, a wealthy tobacco importer. (The influential theatrical figure Cecilia Sonnenberg and the redoubtable politician Helen Suzman [2] were her aunts.)
She was brought up in Natal by her father, and had her schooling at Kingsmead College in Durban, before going on to study at the University of the Witwatersrand.
In 1959 she emigrated to England, where she went on to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Her first stage appearance was to be in Billy Liar in Ipswich on 30 April 1962. Spotted later the same year at the Library Theatre in Manchester, she was recruited by the Royal Shakespeare Company for The Wars of the Roses, becoming a highly regarded member of the ensemble. She went on from there to play a number of great Shakespearean roles during the 60s and 70s, among them "Kate" in The Taming of the Shrew, "Portia" in The Merchant of Venice and "Ophelia" in Hamlet.
Her vast canon of work over the years has been lauded in London and internationally. Though the stage was her main focus, her work included some TV and film roles, among them a fine BBC portrayal of Hedda Gabler, an Oscar-nominated performance in the title role in Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) and A Dry White Season (1989). .
She married director Trevor Nunn[3] in 1969, but by 1984 the marriage had collapsed and they divorced in 1986. They have one son, Joshua.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As a student she played Calpurnia in Julius Caesar, directed by John Boulter for the Wits University Players in 1957.
In 1970 she returned to the country to perform the one-woman piece An Agreeable Blunder in Johannesburg, directed by Barney Simon. The production was also staged in Durban by TECON.
Her continued association with South African theatre came through her close involvement with Barney Simon and Mannie Manim, as a patron and supporter of the Market Theatre. She appeared in the 1974 fund raising production for The Company and the opening production of the Market Theatre (1976), then – because she strongly supported the cultural boycott - she only returned to the country a decade later, when changes had begun to occur. She directed Othello with John Kani, Richard Haines and Joanna Weinberg at the Market in 1986. In 2005 she returned once more to direct Hamlet for The Baxter Theatre and the National Arts Festival (with Rajesh Gopie, John Kani and Dorothy-Ann Gould).
As dramatist she has written and directed South Africanised versions of Brecht’s The Good Person of Sezuan (entitled The Good Woman of Sharkville) and Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard (entitled The Free State) in 1998.
She starred in Athol Fugard’s Hello and Goodbye in London opposite British actor Ben Kingsley. She starred in Pleasure and Repentance, a fund-raising show for the Market Theatre on 4 January 1976. Barney Simon directed and the cast also starred Ron Smerczak, Keith Blundell and Michael McCabe. She starred in Barney Simon’s production of Edward Albee’s The Death of Bessie Smith together with John Kani and Winston Ntshona at the Market Theatre in 1979.
In 1987 she directed an immensely influential multi-racial production of Othello at the Market, opening on 16 September of that year.
She directed The Good Woman of Sharkville at the Market Theatre in July 1996, with a text which adapted by herself and Gcina Mhlope .
Awards, etc
Winner of numerous awards, including two Evening Standard Best Actress Awards in Britain. She has received honorary D.Litt degrees from a number of British universities.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Suzman
Stuart Jeffries 2011. "The Saturday Interview: Janet Suzman", The Guardian, 26 August, 2011.[4]
https://gldc.ukzn.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Graphic-vol.20-no.13-27-November-1970.pdf
Percy Tucker 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.
Various entries in the NELM catalogue.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities S
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
