Difference between revisions of "Kessie Govender"
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| − | Kessie Govender (1942 – 2002) was a pioneering voice in South African protest theatre. Born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, his grandfather came to South Africa as an indentured labourer. His father was a bricklayer and, upon leaving school | + | '''Kessie Govender''' (1942 – 2002). Actor, playwright and director. |
| + | |||
| + | == Biography == | ||
| + | |||
| + | He was a pioneering voice in South African protest theatre. Born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, his grandfather came to South Africa as an indentured labourer. His father was a bricklayer and, upon leaving school, Kessie also took up this trade. | ||
| + | |||
| + | He became a keen member of the [[Shah Theatre Academy]] in the 1950s, becoming one of its most successful protegés. | ||
| + | |||
| + | He was also an exponent of the traditional Indian art of finger painting. | ||
| + | |||
| + | He died in Durban on 20 January 2002 at the age of 59. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Training === | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | === Career === | ||
| + | He made an entrance into theatre in 1967 as part of playwright [[Ronnie Govender]]’s troupe of actors. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
He launched his [[Stable Theatre Company]] with his first play ''[[Stable Expense]]'' which was produced in the mid-70's, a time when Indians were being relocated to low cost housing in Chatsworth from areas around Durban which had been rezoned for whites only. He also created and ran the [[Stable Theatre]] in Durban. | He launched his [[Stable Theatre Company]] with his first play ''[[Stable Expense]]'' which was produced in the mid-70's, a time when Indians were being relocated to low cost housing in Chatsworth from areas around Durban which had been rezoned for whites only. He also created and ran the [[Stable Theatre]] in Durban. | ||
| − | + | Between 1974 and 2001, Kessie wrote about 25 stage plays, including ''[[Stablexpense]]'', ''[[Pariah]]'', ''[[On the Fence]]'', ''[[God Made Mosquitoes Too]]''. His works were classic protest theatre. Most of these plays were produced and directed by him. | |
| + | |||
| + | A keen artist, he is remembered for his improvisation and performance of the character “Mothie” in [[Ronnie Govender]]’s ''[[The Lahnee’s Pleasure]]'' and his lauded performance as the lead in the same playwright's play ''[[Swami]]''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | His own playwriting includes his acclaimed ''[[Working Class Hero]]'', which he wrote and produced in 1979. It was revived in the [[Little Theatre]], Durban in conjunction with The [[Playhouse Company]] in 2001. Also wrote ''[[Kagoos]]'' (19**) | ||
| + | |||
| + | At the time of his death, he was working with [[Jerry Pooe]] and [[Edmund Mhlongo]] on a touring project for taking theatre to the people - presenting a variety show made up of selected scenes from [[Jerry Pooe|Pooe]]'s ''[[Ekaya Poppie]]'', Govender's own ''[[Working Class Hero]]'', [[Edmund Mhlongo|Mhlongo]]'s ''[[Bayede Shaka]]'' and a number of other groups. | ||
| + | He wrote ''[[Kagoos]]'' which [[John Kani]] directed at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1988. | ||
| − | + | Some of his Community Activism activities include: arts and crafts workshop in Durban Girl's High, taught basic script writing and acting at lxopo High School (1995), workshopped voter education plays (1994), tutored a writing session for the Film and AllIed Workers Union (1993), conducted creative writing workshops - Culture and Working Life Project -University of Natal (1992), writing workshops-Westville Prison and North West Prison (1997/8). | |
| − | |||
| + | == Awards, etc == | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
| + | Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Obituary published in ''The Star'', 23 January 2002. | ||
| − | + | Obituary written by Viroshen Chetty, published in ''Leader'', 25 January 2002. | |
| − | + | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | |
| − | == | + | == See also == |
| + | [[ESAT Bibliography Bar-Bas| Bassa]] 1995. | ||
== Return to == | == Return to == | ||
| − | Return to [[ESAT Personalities G]] | + | Return to [[ESAT Personalities G]] |
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]] | ||
Revision as of 16:21, 30 December 2016
Kessie Govender (1942 – 2002). Actor, playwright and director.
Contents
Biography
He was a pioneering voice in South African protest theatre. Born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, his grandfather came to South Africa as an indentured labourer. His father was a bricklayer and, upon leaving school, Kessie also took up this trade.
He became a keen member of the Shah Theatre Academy in the 1950s, becoming one of its most successful protegés.
He was also an exponent of the traditional Indian art of finger painting.
He died in Durban on 20 January 2002 at the age of 59.
Training
Career
He made an entrance into theatre in 1967 as part of playwright Ronnie Govender’s troupe of actors.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He launched his Stable Theatre Company with his first play Stable Expense which was produced in the mid-70's, a time when Indians were being relocated to low cost housing in Chatsworth from areas around Durban which had been rezoned for whites only. He also created and ran the Stable Theatre in Durban.
Between 1974 and 2001, Kessie wrote about 25 stage plays, including Stablexpense, Pariah, On the Fence, God Made Mosquitoes Too. His works were classic protest theatre. Most of these plays were produced and directed by him.
A keen artist, he is remembered for his improvisation and performance of the character “Mothie” in Ronnie Govender’s The Lahnee’s Pleasure and his lauded performance as the lead in the same playwright's play Swami.
His own playwriting includes his acclaimed Working Class Hero, which he wrote and produced in 1979. It was revived in the Little Theatre, Durban in conjunction with The Playhouse Company in 2001. Also wrote Kagoos (19**)
At the time of his death, he was working with Jerry Pooe and Edmund Mhlongo on a touring project for taking theatre to the people - presenting a variety show made up of selected scenes from Pooe's Ekaya Poppie, Govender's own Working Class Hero, Mhlongo's Bayede Shaka and a number of other groups.
He wrote Kagoos which John Kani directed at the Market Theatre in 1988.
Some of his Community Activism activities include: arts and crafts workshop in Durban Girl's High, taught basic script writing and acting at lxopo High School (1995), workshopped voter education plays (1994), tutored a writing session for the Film and AllIed Workers Union (1993), conducted creative writing workshops - Culture and Working Life Project -University of Natal (1992), writing workshops-Westville Prison and North West Prison (1997/8).
Awards, etc
Sources
Various entries in the NELM catalogue.
Obituary published in The Star, 23 January 2002.
Obituary written by Viroshen Chetty, published in Leader, 25 January 2002.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
See also
Bassa 1995.
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities G
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
