Difference between revisions of "Ralph Lawson"

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LAWSON, Ralph. (194*-) Actor and director. Born and grew up in Cape Town, studied at the [[University of Cape Town Drama Department]] and the Central School for Speech and Drama, London. He made his professional debut as Ariel in the [[PACOFS]] production of ''[[The Tempest]]'' under the direction of [[Leslie French]] in 1968??**. Later became a member of the [[CAPAB]] company and also worked for [[Pieter Toerien]]. Roles in i.a. *** ''[[Amadeus]]'' (1981- [[Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards|Fleur du Cap Theatre Award]]  for Best Supporting Actor), ''[[Richard II]]'' (1990 - [[Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards|Fleur du Cap Theatre Award]]  for Best Supporting Actor), *. * As director won the [[Rosalie van der Gucht Prize]] for New Directors in 1988, ''[[Panorama]]'' ([[Pieter-Dirk Uys]], 1988), ''[[Rearranging the Deckchairs on the SA Bothatanic]]'' ([[Pieter-Dirk Uys]], 1987), did O'Neill's ''[[A Long Day's Journey into Night]]'' for [[CAPAB]] in 1989 ([[Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards|Fleur du Cap]] Best Director Award), * ''[[Two Gentlemen of Verona]]'' ([[Maynardville]], 1993).   
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[[Ralph Lawson]] (194*-) is a South African actor and director.   
  
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LAWSON, Ralph. He starred in [[Pieter Toerien]]’s production of Peter Shaffer’s ''[[Amadeus]]'' together with [[Richard Haines]] and directed by [[Nikolas Simmonds]] at the [[Alhambra Theatre]] in 1981. He starred in Oscar Wilde’s ''[[The Importance of Being Earnest]]'', directed by [[John Hussey]], together with [[Andrew Buckland]], [[Dorothy-Ann Gould]], [[Gabrielle Lomberg]] and [[Shelagh Holliday]] for [[PACT]] in 1982. He starred in A.R.Gurney Jr’s ''[[The Dining Room]]'' together with [[Amanda Strydom]], [[Gordon Mulholland]] and [[Patricia Sanders]] with direction by [[Bobby Heaney]] at the [[Baxter Theatre]] circa 1983 and the [[Alhambra Theatre]] in 1983. He starred in [[Pieter Toerien]]’s production of Michael Frayn’s ''[[Noises Off]]'' together with [[Joy Stewart Spence]], [[Eckard Rabe]], [[Clare Marshall]], [[Rex Garner]] and [[Kenneth Baker]] at the [[André Huguenet Theatre]] in 1983. It returned later that same year for another run. He starred in the [[Baxter Theatre|Baxter]]’s production of ''[[Every Good Boy Deserves Favour]]'' in 1988. ***(Tucker, 1997)
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''Not to be confused with the British DJ by this name''[https://ra.co/dj/ralphlawson/biography]
  
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LAWSON, Ralph, ''[[Hello and Goodbye]]'', [[Nazli George]], [[Artscape|Kunstekaap]], 2001. [[Pedro Kruger]] & Ralph Lawson (Regiseurs).
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==Biography==
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He was born and grew up in Cape Town, studied at the [[University of Cape Town Drama Department]] and the Central School for Speech and Drama, London.
  
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South African director, Ralph Lawson, is well known to audiences for his award-winning work both as an actor and a director. His career spans four decades, with landmark roles ranging from Shakespeare's Hamlet to Mozart in Shaffer's Amadeus and the Narrator in Sondheim's Into The Woods. Over the years he has worked with most theatre managements, from the Market to Pieter Toerien Productions, the Baxter Theatre and Artscape, has taught widely and been active in drama development programmes in Cape Town and Durban. Lawson has enjoyed a long and illustrious association with The Playhouse having directed the musicals Annie and The Sound Of Music, My Fair Lady (Durban Theatre Award – Best Director), Masterclass (Durban Theatre Award - Best Director) and most recently Cinderella (Durban Theatre Award – Best Director), where he followed his acclaimed performance as Prof. Higgins in My Fair Lady (Durban Theatre Award – Best Actor in a Musical) with an appearance in David Mamet's Race.
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==Contribution to South African theatre, film, media and performance==
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Return to [[ESAT Personalities L]]
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In a career that spans more than four decades, Lawson's contribution has been significant, including landmark roles as writer, actor and director, working with most theatre managements in the country, as well as lecturing and actively involving himself in a number of drama development programmes, ''inter alia'' in in Cape Town and Durban.
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=== As a stage actor ===
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He made his professional debut as "Ariel" in the [[PACOFS]] production of ''[[The Tempest]]'' under the direction of [[Leslie French]] in 1968.
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After 11 years of working in theatre and television in England, Ralph returned to South Africa in 1981 to play the role of "Mozart" in [[Pieter Toerien]]'s production of ''[[Amadeus]]'', thereafter becoming a freelance actor/director, working for most theatre managements, including the various arts councils - [[CAPAB]] ([[Artscape]]), [[NAPAC]] [[PACOFS]] and [[PACT]], as well as the [[Market Theatre]], [[Pieter Toerien Productions]], the [[Baxter Theatre]] and others.
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The numerous roles played over the four decades of his career have included appearances in "Mozart" in ''[[Amadeus]]'' (1981), ''[[The Importance of Being Earnest]]'' (1982), ''[[The Dining Room]]'' (1983), ''[[Noises Off]]'' (1983), ''[[Measure for Measure]]'' ([[Maynardville]], 1987), ''[[Every Good Boy Deserves Favour]]'' (1988), [[Shakespeare's Macbeth]] by [[Heiner Müller]] in 1989,''[[Richard II]]'' (1990), ''[[Good]]'' (as "Halder", 1990), ''[[Hamlet]]'' (1992 and 2007),  ''[[Into the Woods]]'' (1997), ''[[Race]]'' (2011), ''[[Ubuntu Bill]]'' (2022)
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=== As director ===
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He began directing in the late 1980s, pieces including ''[[Panorama]]'' ([[Pieter-Dirk Uys]], 1988), ''[[Rearranging the Deckchairs on the SA Bothatanic]]'' ([[Pieter-Dirk Uys]], 1987), ''[[A Long Day's Journey into Night]]'' (Eugene O'Neill, CAPAB, 1989), ''[[Two Gentlemen of Verona]]'' ([[Maynardville]], 1993), ''[[The Shakespeare Revue]]'' (1997), ''[[Annie]]'', ''[[The Sound of Music]]'', ''[[My Fair Lady]]'', ''[[ Masterclass]]'' ''[[Master Class]]'' and ''[[Cinderella]]'', ''[[Hello & Goodbye]]'' ([[Artscape]], 2000/2001), ''[[Atkinson at 80: The Importance of Being Michael]]'' (2007), ''[[Hello and Goodbye]]'' (co-directed with [[Pedro Kruger]], 2008) and ''[[For Your Ears Only]]'' (2008/2015).
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He also directed plays for the [[Stellenbosch Drama Department]] on occasion, including ''[[The Government Inspector]]'' (Gogol), ''[[Prometheus]]'' (Dehaeck), ''[[A Trip to Scarborough]]'' (Sheridan),
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===As playwright===
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He co-wrote ''[[A Voice I Cannot Silence]]'' with [[Greg Homann]], and performed the piece throughout the country.
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===TV and film===
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He has appeared in numerous South African and international films, TV dramas and TV series, including ''[[The Tomorrow People]]'' (1978), ''[[Love in a Cold Climate]]'' (1980), ''[[The Touch of Pink]]'' (1982), ''[[1922]]'' (1984), ''[[Two Weeks in Paradise]]'' (1985), ''[[Professional Foul]]'' (1986), ''[[That Englishwoman: An Account of the Life of Emily Hobhouse]]'' (1990), ''[[Young Survivors]]'' (1990), ''[[The Visual Bible: Acts]]'' (1994), ''[[Kalahari Harry]]'' (1994), ''[[The Gates of Cleveland Road ]]'' (2000), ''[[Rent a Baby]]'' (2001), ''[[Madam & Eve]]'' (2002), ''[[Flood]]'' (2007), ''[[The Devil's Whore]]'' (2008) and ''[[The Mauritanian]]'' (2021).
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== Awards==
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[[Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards|Fleur du Cap Theatre Award]] - Best Supporting Actor: "Mozart" in ''[[Amadeus]]'' (1981), ''[[Richard II]]'' (1990),
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[[Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards|Fleur du Cap Theatre Award]]: Best director: ''[[A Long Day's Journey into Night]]'' (1989)  
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[[Durban Theatre Awards]]: ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' (Best Director and Best Actor in a Musical) ''[[Masterclass]]'' (director),  ''[[Cinderella]]'' (director)  ''[[Annie]]'' (director), ''[[The Sound of Music]]'' (director).
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[[Naledi Awards]]: ''[[A Voice I Cannot Silence]]'' (Best Lead Performance In A Play and Best New SA Script)
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The [[Rosalie van der Gucht Prize]] for New Directors: ''[[Panorama]]'' (1988).
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[[Vita Awards]]  "Sigmund Freud" in ''[[Hysteria]]'' (Best actor).
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==Sources==
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[[CAPAB Brochure]], Aug-Nov 1989.
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Biography in [[Felicity Hand]] (Ed.). 2020. ''Durban Dialogues Dissected. An Analysis of Ashwin Singh's Plays''. Stellenbosch: Sun Press.
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[[Percival Tucker|Tucker, Percy]] 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press. 
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https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1668540/
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http://48hours.co.za/2016/05/25/actor-focus-ralph-lawson/
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Go to the  [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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== Return to ==
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Return to [[ESAT Personalities L]]  
  
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 06:50, 14 October 2023

Ralph Lawson (194*-) is a South African actor and director.

Not to be confused with the British DJ by this name[1]

Biography

He was born and grew up in Cape Town, studied at the University of Cape Town Drama Department and the Central School for Speech and Drama, London.

Contribution to South African theatre, film, media and performance

In a career that spans more than four decades, Lawson's contribution has been significant, including landmark roles as writer, actor and director, working with most theatre managements in the country, as well as lecturing and actively involving himself in a number of drama development programmes, inter alia in in Cape Town and Durban.

As a stage actor

He made his professional debut as "Ariel" in the PACOFS production of The Tempest under the direction of Leslie French in 1968.

After 11 years of working in theatre and television in England, Ralph returned to South Africa in 1981 to play the role of "Mozart" in Pieter Toerien's production of Amadeus, thereafter becoming a freelance actor/director, working for most theatre managements, including the various arts councils - CAPAB (Artscape), NAPAC PACOFS and PACT, as well as the Market Theatre, Pieter Toerien Productions, the Baxter Theatre and others.

The numerous roles played over the four decades of his career have included appearances in "Mozart" in Amadeus (1981), The Importance of Being Earnest (1982), The Dining Room (1983), Noises Off (1983), Measure for Measure (Maynardville, 1987), Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (1988), Shakespeare's Macbeth by Heiner Müller in 1989,Richard II (1990), Good (as "Halder", 1990), Hamlet (1992 and 2007), Into the Woods (1997), Race (2011), Ubuntu Bill (2022)

As director

He began directing in the late 1980s, pieces including Panorama (Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1988), Rearranging the Deckchairs on the SA Bothatanic (Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1987), A Long Day's Journey into Night (Eugene O'Neill, CAPAB, 1989), Two Gentlemen of Verona (Maynardville, 1993), The Shakespeare Revue (1997), Annie, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Masterclass Master Class and Cinderella, Hello & Goodbye (Artscape, 2000/2001), Atkinson at 80: The Importance of Being Michael (2007), Hello and Goodbye (co-directed with Pedro Kruger, 2008) and For Your Ears Only (2008/2015).

He also directed plays for the Stellenbosch Drama Department on occasion, including The Government Inspector (Gogol), Prometheus (Dehaeck), A Trip to Scarborough (Sheridan),

As playwright

He co-wrote A Voice I Cannot Silence with Greg Homann, and performed the piece throughout the country.

TV and film

He has appeared in numerous South African and international films, TV dramas and TV series, including The Tomorrow People (1978), Love in a Cold Climate (1980), The Touch of Pink (1982), 1922 (1984), Two Weeks in Paradise (1985), Professional Foul (1986), That Englishwoman: An Account of the Life of Emily Hobhouse (1990), Young Survivors (1990), The Visual Bible: Acts (1994), Kalahari Harry (1994), The Gates of Cleveland Road (2000), Rent a Baby (2001), Madam & Eve (2002), Flood (2007), The Devil's Whore (2008) and The Mauritanian (2021).

Awards

Fleur du Cap Theatre Award - Best Supporting Actor: "Mozart" in Amadeus (1981), Richard II (1990),

Fleur du Cap Theatre Award: Best director: A Long Day's Journey into Night (1989)

Durban Theatre Awards: My Fair Lady (Best Director and Best Actor in a Musical) Masterclass (director), Cinderella (director) Annie (director), The Sound of Music (director).

Naledi Awards: A Voice I Cannot Silence (Best Lead Performance In A Play and Best New SA Script)

The Rosalie van der Gucht Prize for New Directors: Panorama (1988).

Vita Awards "Sigmund Freud" in Hysteria (Best actor).

Sources

CAPAB Brochure, Aug-Nov 1989.

Biography in Felicity Hand (Ed.). 2020. Durban Dialogues Dissected. An Analysis of Ashwin Singh's Plays. Stellenbosch: Sun Press.

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

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1668540/

http://48hours.co.za/2016/05/25/actor-focus-ralph-lawson/

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities L

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page

Retrieved from "https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php?title=Ralph_Lawson&oldid=245461"