Difference between revisions of "Anthony Farmer"

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== Anthony Farmer ==
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(1953-2006) Actor, stage and set designer, director and entrepreneur.
  
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FARMER, Anthony. (19**- 2006) Actor, stage and set designer, director and entrepreneur.
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== Biography==
  
 +
Anthony Farmer was born in Leamington Spa in England, and from an early age did a lot of acting in his early youth. After school, he trained as a draughtsman and engineer. During the 2nd World War, he worked on aircraft engine manufacturing, which enabled him to apply his aptitude for designing and creating.
  
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=== Early life ===
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After the war ended, Anthony worked in the British Film Industry, where his talents were used in the set construction department at the Rank Organisation studios. He later studied acting and production, during which time his enormous talent for stage design came to the fore. He never had any formal training but his talents were recognised and he was asked to work on the set design for the film of ''[[Great Expectations]]'' which starred John Mills, Martita Hunt and Jean Simmons. Later when he went to work in the West End where he stage managed the hit show ''[[Fifty Glorious Years]]'' starring Anna Neagle as Queen Victoria.
  
 +
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
  
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Born in ** (?*)
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He first came to South Africa as part of the Ivor Novello company with ''[[Perchance to Dream]]'' (1947). In 1953, he was stage manager, understudy and small-part player in Ivor Novello's ''[[King's Rhapsody]]''. Whilst he was here, he was interviewed by the [[Johannesburg Repertory Company]] to take the position of Resident Director. They staged their plays at the [[Reps Theatre]] in Braamfontein (later called the [[Alexander]]).
  
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=== Phase one of his South African career ===
+
He returned in January 1954 to work with the [[Johannesburg REPS]] and the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]] turned fully professional in 1954 with Farmer in charge. In 1956 he returned to England for a while, after his father fell ill,  cutting short his contract with the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Johannesburg REPS]]. On his return he went into a flourishing new phase of his career as a freelance practitioner, working for the many companies, including the  [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Johannesburg REPS]], [[East Rand Theatre Club]], [[Children's Theatre]], [[Johannesburg Operatic and Dramatic Society]], [[Adam Leslie]], [[Brian Brooke]].
 +
 
 +
Over the years Farmer was greatly involved with the industry, e.g. an active founding member of the [[South African Association of Theatre Managements]] for the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Johannesburg REPS]] (from 1956) and the [[South African Institute of Theatre Technology]] (1969).
 +
 
 +
In 1964, Anthony, as Managing Director of [[International Advertising]], was asked to co-ordinate the visit of Paris couturier, Pierre Balmain in association with Derber Furs.
 +
 
 +
The peak of his career was in 1979, when [[Sol Kerzner]] asked him to help design the new theatre at [[Sun City]] which was due to open in December of that year. During the next few years with shows like ''[[Sun City Extravaganza]]'', ''[[Flight of Fantasy]]'', ''[[Voila]]'' amongst many others, he achieved world recognition for his creative talent. He was instrumental for the set design for the first ''Miss World'' to be staged at the [[Sun City Superbowl]].
 +
 
 +
===As an actor===
 +
 
 +
He appeared with the [[Ivor Novello Company]] in ''[[Perchance to Dream]]'' (1947), and in 1953, he was stage manager, understudy and small-part player in Ivor Novello's ''[[King's Rhapsody]]''.
 +
 
 +
===As a designer===
 +
 
 +
As designer only, his work includes:
 +
 
 +
1955: ''[[I Capture the Castle]]'' ([[Johannesburg Reps]])
 +
 
 +
1958: ''[[Janus]]'' ([[Brooke Theatre]])
 +
 
 +
1961: ''[[The Women]]'' ([[Kushlick-Gluckman]])
 +
 
 +
1962: ''[[Wait a Minim!]]'' ([[Leon Gluckman]])
 +
 
 +
1968: ''[[La Traviata]]'' ([[PACT Opera]])
 +
 
 +
1969: ''[[Cabaret]]'' ([[Taubie Kushlick]])
 +
 
 +
1970: ''[[West Side Story]]'' ([[Academy Theatre|Academy]])
 +
 
 +
1971: ''[[Man of La Mancha]]'' ([[JODS]])
 +
 
 +
1971: ''[[Applause]]'' ([[JODS]])
 +
 
 +
1976:  ''[[Comedians]]'' ([[The Company]])
 +
 
 +
1977:  ''[[Absurd Person Singular]]'' ([[The Company]])
 +
 
 +
1992: ''[[A Touch of Webber...A Taste of Rice]]'' ([[Richard Loring]])
 +
 
 +
1999: ''[[African Footprint]]'' ([[Richard Loring]])
 +
 
 +
''[[Izidumo]]'' ([[Muzworks SA]], date unknown)
 +
 
 +
====As theatre designer====
 +
 
 +
He designed the theatre and the opening production at [[Sol Kerzner]]’s [[Sun City]] (1979).
 +
 
 +
In circa 1984, he designed an intimate dinner theatre, [[La Parisienne]], in the place of the old [[Siegfried Mynhardt Theatre]] which had been ravaged by fire.
 +
 
 +
He converted the [[Globe Theatre]] at [[Gold Reef City]] into a supper club venue.
 +
 
 +
He redesigned the [[Alhambra Theatre]] for [[Pieter Toerien]] in 1991.
 +
 
 +
===As a director/designer===
 +
 
 +
Farmer designed the sets for the majority of the productions he himself directed.
 +
 
 +
1954: ''[[Figure of Fun]]'' ([[Johannesburg Reps]])
 +
 
 +
1954: ''[[Witness for the Prosecution]]'' ([[Johannesburg Reps]])
 +
 
 +
1955: ''[[My Three Angels]]'' ([[Johannesburg Reps]])
 +
 
 +
1955: ''[[The Wooden Dish]]'' ([[Johannesburg Reps]])
 +
 
 +
1955: ''[[Spider's Web]]'' ([[Johannesburg Reps]])
 +
 
 +
1955: ''[[Dear Charles]]'' ([[Johannesburg Reps]])
 +
 
 +
1955: ''[[Bus Stop]]'' ([[Johannesburg Reps]])
 +
 
 +
1955: ''[[Larger than Life]]'' ([[Johannesburg Reps]])
 +
 
 +
1956: ''[[Dead on Nine]]'' ([[Johannesburg Reps]])
 +
 
 +
1956: ''[[The Remarkable Mr Pennypacker]]'' ([[Johannesburg Reps]])
 +
 
 +
1957: ''[[Sextet]]'' ([[Anthony Farmer Productions]])
 +
 
 +
1957: ''[[Bless the Bride]]'' ([[JODS]])
 +
 
 +
1957: ''[[Peter Pan]]'' ([[Children's Theatre]])
 +
 
 +
1958: ''[[Odd Man In]]'' ([[Anthony Farmer Productions]])
 +
 
 +
1958/1959: ''[[Ever Since Eve]]'' ([[Anthony Farmer Productions]])
 +
 
 +
1960: ''[[The Merry Widow]]'' ([[JODS]])
 +
 
 +
1960: ''[[Spring Quartet]]'' ([[JODS]])
 +
 
 +
1961:  ''[[The Dancing Years]]'' ([[JODS]])
 +
 
 +
1961: ''[[Naughty Marietta]]'' ([[JODS]])
 
   
 
   
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''His role with the Johannesburg Reps''
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1961:  ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]'' ([[Children's Theatre]])
 +
 
 +
1962: ''[[The Most Happy Fella]]'' ([[JODS]])
 +
 
 +
1963:  ''[[Show Boat]]'' ([[JODS]])
 +
 
 +
1964:  ''[[Show Boat]]'' ([[JODS]])
 +
 
 +
1964: ''[[The Moulin Rouge Show]]'' (for [[ACT]] at the [[Empire Theatre]])
 +
 
 +
1964: ''[[The Merry Widow]]'' ([[JODS]])
 +
 
 +
1965: ''[[Guys and Dolls]]'' ([[JODS]])
 +
 
 +
1966: ''[[Around the World in 80 Days]]'' ([[JODS]])
 +
 
 +
1966: ''[[Guys and Dolls]]'' ([[JODS]])
 +
 
 +
1967: ''[[Music Hall Revue]]'' ([[Adam Leslie]])
 +
 
 +
1968:  ''[[Eureka]]'' ([[Civic Theatre]])
 +
 
 +
1973: ''[[Kismet]]'' ([[PACT]])
 +
 
 +
1975: ''[[The Great Waltz]]'' ([[PACT Opera]])
 +
 
 +
1977:  ''[[A Night to Remember]]'' (the opening production of the [[Alhambra Theatre]], now owned by [[JODS]], on 17 April 1977).
  
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First came to South Africa as part of the Ivor Novello company with Perchance to Dream (1947). In 1953 featured as stage manager, understudy and small-part player in Ivor Novello's King's Rhapsody with Zena Dare and others. Professionally employed as  producer, director and stage manager with the Johannesburg REPS in 1951??*[/from January 1954, when they turned fully professional?* - Tucker, 1997]. In this period he produced, directed and designed sets and costumes worked on a whole range of plays for them. He secured all the rights for Agatha Christie’s plays and directed Witness for the Prosecution (1954) and The Spider’s Web (1955). Other plays in this period were Dodie Smith’s ''[[I Capture the Castle]]'' (1955), My Three Angels (1955),  William Inge’s Bus Stop (1955), Larger than Life (1955) Dead on Nine (1956) and The Remarkable Mr Pennypacker (1956).  
+
1978: ''[[New Faces of 1978]]'' ([[JODS]]), with choreography by [[Wendy de la Harpe]] at the [[Alhambra Theatre]] in 1978.  
  
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In 1956 he returned to England for a while, after his father fell ill,  cutting short his contract with the Johannesburg REPS .  
+
1979:  The opening production of the Sun City Theatre, with choreography by [[Nick Navarro]], costume design by [[Neels Hansen]] and [[Adolpho Waitzman]] leading the musical team. It opened on the 15 December 1979.  
  
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=== Phase two of his South African career ===
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1981: ''[[Applause]]'' (an opening production for the Pretoria [[State Theatre]])
  
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''As freelance director/designer''
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1984/1985: ''[[Show Boat]]'' ([[PACT]])
  
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On his return he went into a flourishing new phase of his career as a freelance practitioner, working for the many companies, including the  [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Johannesburg REPS]], [[East Rand Theatre Club]], [[Children's Theatre]], [[Johannesburg Operatic and Dramatic Society]], [[Adam Leslie]], ** [[Brian Brooke]], **. With [[Ralph Trewhela]] and [[Adam Leslie]], co-wrote and produced a series of revues  (''[[Sextet]]'', 1957  and ''[[I Spy]]'', 1959) and musicals (''[[Ever Since Eve]]'', 1958), and began to specialise in directing musicals. Among his major works as director (often as designer as well) in this second phase of his career have been ''[[Peter Pan]]'' ([[Children's Theatre]], 1957), ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]'' ([[Children's Theatre]], 1961),  ''[[The Dancing Years]]'' ([[JODS]], 1961), ''[[Naughty Marietta]]'' ([[JODS]],1961), ''[[The Most Happy Fella]]'' ([[JODS]], 1962), ''[[Show Boat]]'' ([[JODS]], 1963), ''[[Guys and Dolls]]'' ([[JODS]], 1965), ''[[Around the World in 80 Days]]'' ([[JODS]], 1966), ''[[Music Hall Revue]]'' ([[Adam Leslie Theatre]], 1967), ''[[Eureka]]'', (Johannesburg [[Civic Theatre]], 1968), * , * .
+
1995: ''[[Sexy]]'' ([[Sun City]])
  
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''As freelance designer''
+
===As playwright/show-maker===
  
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As designer only his work has included ''[[Janus]]'' ([[Brooke Theatre]], 1958), ''[[The Women]]'' ([[Kushlick-Gluckman]], 1961), ''[[Wait a Minim!]]'' ([[Leon Gluckman]], 1962), * , and ''[[A Touch of Webber…A Taste of Rice]]'' (Dir. [[Richard Loring]], 1992), ''[[African Footprint]]'' (Dir. [[Richard Loring]], 1999), ''[[Izidumo]]'' (Muzworks SA, 19**) . As impressario he staged the ''[[Moulin Rouge show from Paris]]'' ([[ACT]], 1964), and later became resident producer of revues and extravaganzas at [[Sun City]] , including **,  ''[[Sexy]]'' (1995), **(??**).
+
He co-wrote ''[[Sextet]]'', a South African revue, with music by [[Ralph Trewhela]] and additional material by [[Adam Leslie]] (1957).  
  
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=== Involvement in the theatre industry ===
+
He co-wrote, with [[Ken Hooper]], the book for the musical, ''[[Ever Since Eve]]'', with music and lyrics by [[Ralph Trewhela]] (1958).
  
 +
He joined forces with [[Adam Leslie]] and composer [[Ralph Trewhela]] to create the satirical revue ''[[I Spy]]'' (1959).
  
−
Over the years Farmer has been greatly involved with the industry, e.g. an active founding member of the [[South African Association of Theatre Managements]] for the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Johannesburg REPS]] (from 1956) and the [[South African Institute of Theatre Technology]] (1969). Besides his theatrical work, he also he started and worked with the company International Advertising in 19**.  
+
Together with [[Nick Navarro]] and [[Adolpho Waitzman]] he created the extravaganza called ''[[Stars]]'' at the [[Sun City]] Theatre in 1984.
  
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'''TO BE EDITED AND ADDED'''
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===As producer - [[Anthony Farmer Productions]]===
  
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FARMER, Anthony. Theatre director and designer. He was part of the Ivor Novell company which did Perchance to Dream in 1947. Directed a production for the [[East Rand Theatre Club]]. Starred in Novello's ''[[King's Rhapsody]]'' in South Africa in 1953 together with [[Barry Sinclair]], [[Olive Gilbert]], [[Zena Dare]] and [[Muriel Barron]]. He was the stage manager, understudy and small-part player and during this production he was offered the position of resident producer and stage manager of the [[Johannesburg Repertory Theatre|Reps Theatre]] from January 1954. He directed and designed the set for Agatha Christie’s ''[[Witness for the Prosecution]]''. The set was a replica of the Old Bailey. [[Robert Griffiths]] and [[Sadie Festenstein]] played in this sell out show. He designed the sets for Dodie Smith’s romantic comedy ''[[I Capture the Castle]]'' which was staged at the [[YMCA]] in 1955. [[Jimmy Mentis]] produced and the cast included [[Shirley Firth]]. The [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]] turned fully prosfessional in 1954 with Farmer in charge. He brought out English actor [[John Boulter]] for the British comedy ''[[My Three Angels]]'' which was staged at the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]] in 1955. He secured all the rights for Agatha Christie’s plays and directed ''[[The Spider's Web]]'' which starred [[Yolande Turnbill]] for the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]] in 1955. He staged Agatha Christie’s ''[[Bus Stop]]'' at the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]] in 1955, starring [[Brian Bell]]. He did a production of ''[[Larger than Life]]'' for the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]] in 1955. It was based on the novel ''Theatre'' by Somerset Maugham, and dramatised by the author with [[Guy Bolton]], with a guest appearance by British star [[Jessie Matthews]]. He attended the first meeting of  the [[South African Association of Theatre Managements]] for the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]] in 1956. He directed the thriller, ''[[Dead on Nine]]'' for the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]] in March 1956, and followed this with ''[[The Remarkable Mr Pennypacker]]''. He then left for England after his father fell ill, cutting short his contract with the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]], and went into a new phase of a career that flourished on his return. He devised and wrote the review ''[[Sextet]]'', with music by [[Ralph Trewhela]]. [[Adam Leslie]] contributed material to the show. Starring [[Olive Wright]], [[Olive King]], [[Norma Vorster]], [[Dennis Hale]], [[Jimmy Mentis]] and [[Tommy Tucker]] in 1957. He directed and also designed the set for [[Children's Theatre]] Christmas show of 1957, J.M. Barrie’s ''[[Peter Pan]]'', which was stage at the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]] and starred the boyish [[Evadne Kohler-Baker]] in the title role. He designed the sets for ''[[Janus]]'', a comedy, at the [[Brooke Theatre]] in 1958. [[Brian Brooke]] directed this play which starred [[Gordon Mulholland]] and [[Margaret Inglis]]. He wrote the musical ''[[Ever Since Eve]]'' which received rave reviews when it was staged at the [[YMCA]] in 1958. This [[Anthony Farmer Productions]]’ offering starred [[Olive Wright]], [[Maureen Adair]], [[John Boulter]], and newcomer [[Patrick O’Byrne|Patrick ‘Paddy’ O’Byrne]]. He joined forces with [[Adam Leslie]] and composer [[Ralph Trewhela]] to create the satirical revue ''[[I Spy]]'' in 1959. He was designer for [[Kushlick-Gluckman]]’s revival of Clare Boothe’s ''[[The Women]]'' at the [[Intimate Theatre]] with [[Shirley Firth]], [[Jenny Gratus]], [[Valerie Miller]] and [[Diane Wilson]] in the lead roles in 1961. He directed Ivor Novello’s ''[[The Dancing Years]]'' and ''[[Naughty Marietta]]'' for the [[JODS]] in 1961.  He did ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]'', [[Children's Theatre]]’s only production for 1961. He designed the set for [[Leon Gluckman]]’s revue, ''[[Wait a Minim!]]'' at the [[Intimate Theatre]] in 1962 with musicians [[Andrew Tracey|Andrew]] and [[Paul Tracey]], [[Kendrew Lascelles]] and [[Jeremy Taylor]]. They toured the country for eleven months, visiting Durban’s [[Alhambra Theatre]], Rhodesia, Cape Town, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth before returning to Johannesburg to play at the [[Alexander Theatre]] and the [[Colony]] in Hyde Park Hotel. He directed and designed décor and costumes for Frank Loesser’s Broadway musical ''[[The Most Happy Fella]]'' which was staged at the [[Civic Theatre]] by the [[JODS]] in 1962. It starred ''[[Edwin Steffe]].
+
1957: ''[[Sextet]]'' ([[Anthony Farmer Productions]])
  
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He directed and did the designed for the [[JODS]] production of  the musical ''[[Show Boat]]'', with [[Inia te Wiata]], [[Marie van Zyl]], [[Olive King]], [[Ronnie Shelton]], [[Shirley Arden]] and the Capedium Choir at the [[Civic Theatre]] in 1963. It played at the [[Civic Theatre]] again in 1964, and [[JODS]] took it to [[African Theatre]]’s Cape Town venue, the [[Alhambra Theatre|Alhambra]], where the [[Eoan Group]] replaced the Capedium Choir. He started the company [[International Advertising]]. He staged the Moulin Rouge show from Paris for [[ACT]] at the [[Empire Theatre]] in 1964, and designed the sets. He directed and did the design for Frank Loesser’s musical ''[[Guys and Dolls]]'' which [[JODS]] staged at the [[Civic Theatre|Civic]] in 1965. It was based on the writings of Damon Runyon and starred [[Diane Todd]], [[Michael McGovern]], [[Charles Stodel]], [[Patricia Langford]] and [[Bradley Harris]]. It returned for another sell out season the following year. Anthony Farmer staged ''[[Around the World in 80 Days]]'' for [[JODS]] at the [[Civic Theatre]] in 1966. [[Wendy de la Harpe]] did the choreography, music was conducted by [[Bob Adams]] with [[Aubrey Louw]] assisting this show starring [[John Boulter]] and English actor [[Jack Tripp]]. He directed and designed ''[[Music Hall Revue]]'', which was the opening show at The [[Adam Leslie Theatre]] in August 1967. It starred [[Adam Leslie]] and [[Joan Blake]]. He directed Percy Baneshik’s ''[[Eureka]]'', with score by [[Bertha Egnos]], which opened at the [[Civic Theatre]] in March 1967. It starred [[Lawrence Folley]] and [[Pat Lancaster]]. He designed the set for [[Taubie Kushlick]]’s production of ''[[Cabaret]]'' at the [[Brooke Theatre|Brooke]] in 1969. [[Bonnie Walker]] did choreography and it starred [[Amanda Barrie]].
+
1958: ''[[Odd Man In]]'' [[Anthony Farmer Productions]]
  
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He did the set design for the [[Academy Theatre|Academy]]’s ''[[West Side Story]]'' at the [[Alexander Theatre]] in 1970. It starred [[Michael Harrison]], [[Patricia Arnell]], [[Lynton Burnes]] and [[Richard Loring]], [[Delia Sainsbury]] and [[Keith Galloway]] while [[Kip Andrews]] directed and choreographed and [[Paul Jannsen]] was the stage director. It eventually moved to the [[Empire Theatre]] and then to Cape Town. He did set design for the [[JODS]] production of ''[[Applause]]'', starring [[Janis Paige]] and [[Gay Lambert]], at the [[Civic Theatre]] in 1971. [[Otto Pirchner]] directed and choreography was taken over from [[Geoffrey Sutherland]] by [[Wendy de la Harpe]]. At this stage he was president of [[JODS]], and this proved to be their last production at the [[Civic Theatre|Civic]]. He directed and did set design for ''[[Kismet]]'', the first [[PACT]] musical to be staged. [[Neels Hansen]] did costumes and [[Lawrence Folley]], [[Gé Korsten]], [[Barbara Veenemans]], [[Kerry Jordan]] and [[Iris Chapple]] starred in this musical at the [[Civic Theatre]] in late 1973. He did the designs for Trevor Griffiths’s ''[[Comedians]]'', directed by [[Leonard Schach]] and starring [[Bill Brewer]], [[Michael Howard]], [[Danny Keogh]], [[Richard Cox]], [[Ian Hamilton]], [[Robert Whitehead]] and [[Anthony James]] at The [[Market Theatre|Market]] in December 1976. He directed ''[[A Night to Remember]]'' which was staged as the opening production of the [[Alhambra Theatre]], now owned by [[JODS]], on 17 April 1977. He did the designs for [[The Company]]’s production of Alan Ayckbourn’s ''[[Absurd Person Singular]]'', co-directed by [[John Hussey]] and [[Mannie Manim]], with [[Diane Appleby]], [[Graham Armitage]], [[Naomi Buch]], [[Wilson Dunster]], [[Kerry Jordan]] and [[Gay Lambert]] at the [[Market Theatre]] in November 1977. He directed the [[JODS]] production of ''[[New Faces of 1978]]'' with choreography by [[Wendy de la Harpe]] at the [[Alhambra Theatre]] in 1978.
+
1958/1959: ''[[Ever Since Eve]]'' [[Anthony Farmer Productions]] (in association with [[Howard Hooper (Pty) Ltd]])
  
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He designed the theatre at [[Sol Kerzner]]’s [[Sun City]]. He also designed and directed its opening production with choreography by [[Nick Navarro]], costume design by [[Neels Hansen]] and [[Adolpho Waitzman]] leading the musical team.  It opened on the 15 December 1979. He devised and directed an opening production for the Pretoria [[State Theatre]] called ''[[Applause]]'' in 1981. Together with [[Nick Navarro]] and [[Adolpho Waitzman]] he created the extravaganza called ''[[Stars]]'' at the [[Sun City]] Theatre in 1984. He designed an intimate dinner theatre in the place of the old [[Siegfried Mynhardt Theatre]] which was ravaged by fire circa 1984.  The opening production was ''[[Oh! La! La!]]'' conceived and directed by [[Siegfried Mynhardt]]. He directed ''[[Showboat]]'' starring [[Bess Arlene[[, [[Mayo Miza]] with [[Ed Barrett]] and [[Pieter Niemann]] alternating the role of Gaylord Ravenals. It was staged by [[PACT]] at the Pretoria [[State Theatre]] in December 1984. (See Du Toit,  1988; Tucker, 1997) [TH, JH, GH, SH]
+
==Legacy==
  
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FARMER, Anthony, (prod), ''[[Showboat]]'', (Kern & Hammerstein), [[PACT]], 1985, [[Chris van den Berg]], (costume designs), [[Jo-Ann Pezarro]], [[William C. Witter]], [[Mara Louw]], [[Paddy Canavan]], [[Susan Braatvedt]], [[Mayo Miza]], [[Bill Smale]], [[Ed Barrett]], [[Bess Arlene]], [[Leo Quayle]] (orchestra) [[David Moore]] (Choreography)  [[Nic Michaletos]] (lighting).[[
+
This stalwart of the performing arts passed away in 2006, but since the inception of The [[Anthony Farmer Trust]], his legacy continues. In 2016 [[Oakfields College]] was granted the right to use the [[Anthony Farmer Trust]] as a bursary programme for underprivileged students wishing to enter the performing arts field. With this news, the Pretoria Campus of Oakfields College renamed their library in his honour.
  
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== Anthony Farmer Productions ==
+
== Sources ==
 +
Obituary: ''Beeld'' 26 May 2006.
  
 +
Du Toit,  1988
  
 +
Tucker, 1997
  
−
Anthony Farmer’s production house which staged his musical ''[[Ever Since Eve]]'' at the [[YMCA]] in 1958. It starred Olive Wright, Maureen Adair, John Boulter, and newcomer Patrick ‘Paddy’ O’Byrne. *** (Tucker, 1997)
+
Percy Tucker. 'Who was Anthony Farmer?' https://www.iloveza.com/blogs/news/the-anthony-farmer-oakfields-college-trust
  
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]

Latest revision as of 10:38, 5 August 2025

(1953-2006) Actor, stage and set designer, director and entrepreneur.

Biography

Anthony Farmer was born in Leamington Spa in England, and from an early age did a lot of acting in his early youth. After school, he trained as a draughtsman and engineer. During the 2nd World War, he worked on aircraft engine manufacturing, which enabled him to apply his aptitude for designing and creating.

After the war ended, Anthony worked in the British Film Industry, where his talents were used in the set construction department at the Rank Organisation studios. He later studied acting and production, during which time his enormous talent for stage design came to the fore. He never had any formal training but his talents were recognised and he was asked to work on the set design for the film of Great Expectations which starred John Mills, Martita Hunt and Jean Simmons. Later when he went to work in the West End where he stage managed the hit show Fifty Glorious Years starring Anna Neagle as Queen Victoria.

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

He first came to South Africa as part of the Ivor Novello company with Perchance to Dream (1947). In 1953, he was stage manager, understudy and small-part player in Ivor Novello's King's Rhapsody. Whilst he was here, he was interviewed by the Johannesburg Repertory Company to take the position of Resident Director. They staged their plays at the Reps Theatre in Braamfontein (later called the Alexander).

He returned in January 1954 to work with the Johannesburg REPS and the Reps turned fully professional in 1954 with Farmer in charge. In 1956 he returned to England for a while, after his father fell ill, cutting short his contract with the Johannesburg REPS. On his return he went into a flourishing new phase of his career as a freelance practitioner, working for the many companies, including the Johannesburg REPS, East Rand Theatre Club, Children's Theatre, Johannesburg Operatic and Dramatic Society, Adam Leslie, Brian Brooke.

Over the years Farmer was greatly involved with the industry, e.g. an active founding member of the South African Association of Theatre Managements for the Johannesburg REPS (from 1956) and the South African Institute of Theatre Technology (1969).

In 1964, Anthony, as Managing Director of International Advertising, was asked to co-ordinate the visit of Paris couturier, Pierre Balmain in association with Derber Furs.

The peak of his career was in 1979, when Sol Kerzner asked him to help design the new theatre at Sun City which was due to open in December of that year. During the next few years with shows like Sun City Extravaganza, Flight of Fantasy, Voila amongst many others, he achieved world recognition for his creative talent. He was instrumental for the set design for the first Miss World to be staged at the Sun City Superbowl.

As an actor

He appeared with the Ivor Novello Company in Perchance to Dream (1947), and in 1953, he was stage manager, understudy and small-part player in Ivor Novello's King's Rhapsody.

As a designer

As designer only, his work includes:

1955: I Capture the Castle (Johannesburg Reps)

1958: Janus (Brooke Theatre)

1961: The Women (Kushlick-Gluckman)

1962: Wait a Minim! (Leon Gluckman)

1968: La Traviata (PACT Opera)

1969: Cabaret (Taubie Kushlick)

1970: West Side Story (Academy)

1971: Man of La Mancha (JODS)

1971: Applause (JODS)

1976: Comedians (The Company)

1977: Absurd Person Singular (The Company)

1992: A Touch of Webber...A Taste of Rice (Richard Loring)

1999: African Footprint (Richard Loring)

Izidumo (Muzworks SA, date unknown)

As theatre designer

He designed the theatre and the opening production at Sol Kerzner’s Sun City (1979).

In circa 1984, he designed an intimate dinner theatre, La Parisienne, in the place of the old Siegfried Mynhardt Theatre which had been ravaged by fire.

He converted the Globe Theatre at Gold Reef City into a supper club venue.

He redesigned the Alhambra Theatre for Pieter Toerien in 1991.

As a director/designer

Farmer designed the sets for the majority of the productions he himself directed.

1954: Figure of Fun (Johannesburg Reps)

1954: Witness for the Prosecution (Johannesburg Reps)

1955: My Three Angels (Johannesburg Reps)

1955: The Wooden Dish (Johannesburg Reps)

1955: Spider's Web (Johannesburg Reps)

1955: Dear Charles (Johannesburg Reps)

1955: Bus Stop (Johannesburg Reps)

1955: Larger than Life (Johannesburg Reps)

1956: Dead on Nine (Johannesburg Reps)

1956: The Remarkable Mr Pennypacker (Johannesburg Reps)

1957: Sextet (Anthony Farmer Productions)

1957: Bless the Bride (JODS)

1957: Peter Pan (Children's Theatre)

1958: Odd Man In (Anthony Farmer Productions)

1958/1959: Ever Since Eve (Anthony Farmer Productions)

1960: The Merry Widow (JODS)

1960: Spring Quartet (JODS)

1961: The Dancing Years (JODS)

1961: Naughty Marietta (JODS)

1961: Beauty and the Beast (Children's Theatre)

1962: The Most Happy Fella (JODS)

1963: Show Boat (JODS)

1964: Show Boat (JODS)

1964: The Moulin Rouge Show (for ACT at the Empire Theatre)

1964: The Merry Widow (JODS)

1965: Guys and Dolls (JODS)

1966: Around the World in 80 Days (JODS)

1966: Guys and Dolls (JODS)

1967: Music Hall Revue (Adam Leslie)

1968: Eureka (Civic Theatre)

1973: Kismet (PACT)

1975: The Great Waltz (PACT Opera)

1977: A Night to Remember (the opening production of the Alhambra Theatre, now owned by JODS, on 17 April 1977).

1978: New Faces of 1978 (JODS), with choreography by Wendy de la Harpe at the Alhambra Theatre in 1978.

1979: The opening production of the Sun City Theatre, with choreography by Nick Navarro, costume design by Neels Hansen and Adolpho Waitzman leading the musical team. It opened on the 15 December 1979.

1981: Applause (an opening production for the Pretoria State Theatre)

1984/1985: Show Boat (PACT)

1995: Sexy (Sun City)

As playwright/show-maker

He co-wrote Sextet, a South African revue, with music by Ralph Trewhela and additional material by Adam Leslie (1957).

He co-wrote, with Ken Hooper, the book for the musical, Ever Since Eve, with music and lyrics by Ralph Trewhela (1958).

He joined forces with Adam Leslie and composer Ralph Trewhela to create the satirical revue I Spy (1959).

Together with Nick Navarro and Adolpho Waitzman he created the extravaganza called Stars at the Sun City Theatre in 1984.

As producer - Anthony Farmer Productions

1957: Sextet (Anthony Farmer Productions)

1958: Odd Man In Anthony Farmer Productions

1958/1959: Ever Since Eve Anthony Farmer Productions (in association with Howard Hooper (Pty) Ltd)

Legacy

This stalwart of the performing arts passed away in 2006, but since the inception of The Anthony Farmer Trust, his legacy continues. In 2016 Oakfields College was granted the right to use the Anthony Farmer Trust as a bursary programme for underprivileged students wishing to enter the performing arts field. With this news, the Pretoria Campus of Oakfields College renamed their library in his honour.

Sources

Obituary: Beeld 26 May 2006.

Du Toit, 1988

Tucker, 1997

Percy Tucker. 'Who was Anthony Farmer?' https://www.iloveza.com/blogs/news/the-anthony-farmer-oakfields-college-trust

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