Difference between revisions of "Joan Brickhill"

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(b. 06/03/1924 - d. Johannesburg, 15/01/2014). Actress, singer, dancer, director  and producer. Originally from Durban and for much of her life based there. Brickhill was a child prodigy, making her stage debut at two. She later worked as a drama teacher. In the 1960s and 1970s the leading lady of the grand musicals in South Africa, mostly staged by the [[Brickhill-Burke Company]], for which she directed and managed by herself and her husband [[Louis Burke]] and starring herself and her husband. Involved in more than 50 productions over the years, as producer, director and actress. These include ''[[Oklahoma!]]'' (1963/4), ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' (1964), ''[[The Miser]]'' (PACT, 1964), ''[[The Dark of the Moon]]'' (1965), ''[[Rashomon]]'' (PACT, 1965),  ''[[The Beggar's Opera]]'' (1965-66), ''[[The Minstrel Scandals]]'' (1966),  ''[[The Owl and the Pussycat]]'' (1967), ''[[South Pacific]]'' (1969), ''[[All-New, non-Stop Minstrel Scandals]]'' (1970), ''[[Follies Spectacular]]'' (1972),''[[ Minstrel Follies]]'' (1974),  ''[[Meropa]]'' (1974), ''[[The Tempest]]'' (1975), ''[[Gypsy]]'' (1975), ''[[The Sound of Music]]'' (1976), ''[[Follies Fantastique]]'', (1976), ''[[Winnie the Pooh]]'' (1977), ''[[Annie]]'' (1978), ''[[I Love My Wife]]'' (1978), ''[[They're Playing Our Song]]'' (1980),  ''[[Last of the Red Hot Lovers]]'' (1980), ''[[Hello Dolly]]''  (1980), ''[[Bedazzled]]'', (1981), ''[[ I Love My Wife]]'' (1982), ''[[Mame]]'' (1982),  ''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]]'' (1984), ''[[Brighton Beach Memoirs]]'' (1986), ''[[Double Act]]'' (1988).  She and [[Louis Burke]] led the fight to save the [[His Majesty's Theatre]] in Johanesburg, which they used as the base for their big musicals. When they divorced after 25 years and Burke went to New York, she remained in Durban to continue mounting productions.  She also starred in some movies, including ''Nor the Moon by Night'' (1958) and ''Follow That Rainbow'' (1979). For a while was an Executive Entertainment Producer at [[Sun City]].
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'''Joan Brickhill''' (b. 06/03/1924 - d. Johannesburg, 15/01/2014). Actress, singer, dancer, director  and producer.  
  
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She died in Johannesburg on Wednesday 15th, January 2014.  
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== Biography ==
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Originally from Durban and for much of her life based there. She was married to [[Louis Burke]]. They founded the successful [[Brickhill-Burke Company]]. They also opened the [[Brickhill-Burke School of Speech and Drama]] in Durban in 1959.  
  
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When they divorced after 25 years and Burke went to New York, she remained in Durban to continue mounting productions.  She died in Johannesburg on Wednesday 15th, January 2014.
 +
 +
'''For further information on their joint work, see the entry on the [[Brickhill-Burke Company]].'''
 +
 +
'''For [[Louis Burke]]'s biographical and career information, see the individual entry under [[Louis Burke]].'''
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 +
=== Training ===
 +
 +
=== Career ===
 +
Brickhill was a child prodigy, making her stage debut at two. She later worked as a drama teacher. For a while was an Executive Entertainment Producer at [[Sun City]].
 +
 +
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 +
 +
In the 1960s and 1970s, she was the leading lady of the grand musicals in South Africa, mostly staged with her husband [[Louis Burke]] for their company, the [[Brickhill-Burke Company]]. Involved in more than 50 productions over the years, as producer, director and actress.
 +
 +
She and [[Louis Burke]] led the fight to save the [[His Majesty's Theatre]] in Johanesburg, which they used as the base for their big musicals.
 +
 +
===As director/choreographer===
 +
 +
1963: ''[[Oklahoma!]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]])
 +
 +
1964: ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]])
 +
 +
1964:  ''[[The Miser]]'' ([[PACT]])
 +
 +
1965: ''[[Rashomon]]'' ([[PACT]])
 +
 +
1965: ''[[Dark of the Moon]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]] for [[PACT]])
 +
 +
1967: ''[[The Owl and the Pussycat]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]])
 +
 +
1968: ''[[A Phoenix too Frequent]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]] for [[Tavern Theatre]])
 +
 +
1969: ''[[South Pacific]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]] for [[JODS]])
 +
 +
1969: ''[[Robert and Elizabeth]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]])
 +
 +
1970: ''[[Non-Stop Minstrel Scandals]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]] for [[ACT]])
 +
 +
1974: ''[[Meropa, the Drums of Africa]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]] and  [[Clarence Wilson]])
 +
 +
1974: ''[[Minstrel Follies]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]])
 +
 +
1975: ''[[Gypsy]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]])
 +
 +
1976: ''[[Follies Fantastique]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]])
 +
 +
1976: ''[[The Sound of Music]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]] for [[PACT]])
 +
 +
1977: ''[[Grease]]''
 +
 +
1978: ''[[I Love my Wife]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]])
 +
 +
1979: ''[[Annie]]''
 +
 +
1980: ''[[They're Playing Our Song]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]])
 +
 +
1980: ''[[Last of the Red Hot Lovers]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]])
 +
 +
1981: ''[[Bedazzled]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]], [[Sun City]])
 +
 +
1982: ''[[I Love my Wife]]'' (with [[Louis Burke]])
 +
 +
1988: ''[[Double Act]]'' (for [[Shirley Firth]], [[Christopher Seabrooke]] in association with [[PACT]])
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===As actor===
 +
====Stage====
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 +
Joan appeared in several Follies-type productions, including ''[[The Minstrel Scandals]]'' (1966), ''[[Follies Spectacular]]'' (1972), ''[[Follies Fantastique]]'' (1976)
 +
 +
She also appeared in a number of musicals and plays, including: ''[[The Beggar's Opera]]'' (1965-66), ''[[Annie]]'' (1979), Dolly in ''[[Hello, Dolly!]]'' (1980), Mame in ''[[Mame]]'' (1982), ''[[Brighton Beach Memoirs]]'' (1986).
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In June 2003 she staged a one-woman show.
 +
 +
====Film====
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 +
She also starred in some movies, including ''[[Nor the Moon by Night]]'' (1958) and ''[[Follow That Rainbow]]'' (1979).
 +
 +
== Awards, etc ==
 +
She was nominated for a Tony Award for her choreography of the Broadway production of ''[[Meet Me in St Louis]]'', 1989.
 +
 +
She was awarded a honorary doctorate from [[Tshwane University of Technology]] in 2005 for her contribution to South African theatre.
 +
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The [[Joburg Theatre]] named one of the their venues [[The Brickhill]] in memory of Joan Brickhill.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
  
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Brickhill
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Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Brickhill].
 +
 
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https://brandsouthafrica.com/113683/uncategorised/lights-dim-on-south-africa-s-stages/
  
 
[[Artslink]].co.za Headlines - Week 03 - 16/01/2014 08:45
 
[[Artslink]].co.za Headlines - Week 03 - 16/01/2014 08:45
Line 14: Line 101:
 
Toffoli and Silber, 1989;  
 
Toffoli and Silber, 1989;  
  
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Tucker, 1997; 
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[[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997.
  
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[[SACD]] 1973
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[[SACD]] 1973.
  
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[[Beeld]] Plus, 2 June 2001.
  
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Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]
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Report written by [[Adrienne Sichel]] published in ''[[The Star]]'', 15 May 2007.
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==
  
−
Return to [[ESAT Personalities B]]
+
Return to [[ESAT Personalities B]]  
  
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]

Latest revision as of 11:11, 9 July 2025

Joan Brickhill (b. 06/03/1924 - d. Johannesburg, 15/01/2014). Actress, singer, dancer, director and producer.

Biography

Originally from Durban and for much of her life based there. She was married to Louis Burke. They founded the successful Brickhill-Burke Company. They also opened the Brickhill-Burke School of Speech and Drama in Durban in 1959.

When they divorced after 25 years and Burke went to New York, she remained in Durban to continue mounting productions. She died in Johannesburg on Wednesday 15th, January 2014.

For further information on their joint work, see the entry on the Brickhill-Burke Company.

For Louis Burke's biographical and career information, see the individual entry under Louis Burke.

Training

Career

Brickhill was a child prodigy, making her stage debut at two. She later worked as a drama teacher. For a while was an Executive Entertainment Producer at Sun City.

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

In the 1960s and 1970s, she was the leading lady of the grand musicals in South Africa, mostly staged with her husband Louis Burke for their company, the Brickhill-Burke Company. Involved in more than 50 productions over the years, as producer, director and actress.

She and Louis Burke led the fight to save the His Majesty's Theatre in Johanesburg, which they used as the base for their big musicals.

As director/choreographer

1963: Oklahoma! (with Louis Burke)

1964: A Midsummer Night's Dream (with Louis Burke)

1964: The Miser (PACT)

1965: Rashomon (PACT)

1965: Dark of the Moon (with Louis Burke for PACT)

1967: The Owl and the Pussycat (with Louis Burke)

1968: A Phoenix too Frequent (with Louis Burke for Tavern Theatre)

1969: South Pacific (with Louis Burke for JODS)

1969: Robert and Elizabeth (with Louis Burke)

1970: Non-Stop Minstrel Scandals (with Louis Burke for ACT)

1974: Meropa, the Drums of Africa (with Louis Burke and Clarence Wilson)

1974: Minstrel Follies (with Louis Burke)

1975: Gypsy (with Louis Burke)

1976: Follies Fantastique (with Louis Burke)

1976: The Sound of Music (with Louis Burke for PACT)

1977: Grease

1978: I Love my Wife (with Louis Burke)

1979: Annie

1980: They're Playing Our Song (with Louis Burke)

1980: Last of the Red Hot Lovers (with Louis Burke)

1981: Bedazzled (with Louis Burke, Sun City)

1982: I Love my Wife (with Louis Burke)

1988: Double Act (for Shirley Firth, Christopher Seabrooke in association with PACT)

As actor

Stage

Joan appeared in several Follies-type productions, including The Minstrel Scandals (1966), Follies Spectacular (1972), Follies Fantastique (1976)

She also appeared in a number of musicals and plays, including: The Beggar's Opera (1965-66), Annie (1979), Dolly in Hello, Dolly! (1980), Mame in Mame (1982), Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986).

In June 2003 she staged a one-woman show.

Film

She also starred in some movies, including Nor the Moon by Night (1958) and Follow That Rainbow (1979).

Awards, etc

She was nominated for a Tony Award for her choreography of the Broadway production of Meet Me in St Louis, 1989.

She was awarded a honorary doctorate from Tshwane University of Technology in 2005 for her contribution to South African theatre.

The Joburg Theatre named one of the their venues The Brickhill in memory of Joan Brickhill.

Sources

Wikipedia [1].

https://brandsouthafrica.com/113683/uncategorised/lights-dim-on-south-africa-s-stages/

Artslink.co.za Headlines - Week 03 - 16/01/2014 08:45

De Beer, 1995;

Toffoli and Silber, 1989;

Tucker, 1997.

SACD 1973.

Beeld Plus, 2 June 2001.

Report written by Adrienne Sichel published in The Star, 15 May 2007.

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities B

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page

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