Royston Stoffels

(19**-) Actor, storyteller, composer and director. Studied at the University of Cape Town Drama Department, he worked freelance for ****. In 19** joined CAPAB as actor and 199* became the director of the Cape Town Theatre Laboratory. As an actor performed in Good (1990). Buckingham Palace (Artscape, 19**, District 6 - The play (Artscape 199*), Die Tou (Artscape, 1992), The Guitar that Rocked the World (Artscape 200*), Send for Dolly (Artscape, 20**), Twaalfde Nag (Oude Libertas /Baxter, 2005), Ghoema (Kramer and Petersen, 2007?*) . Directed ***, ** , Kanna hy kô Hystoe (Baxter, 2003), The Last Twist at the Blue Moon (Baxter, 2004?*), Die Gazoem vannie Township (Baxter 2004?*) ** ** Amadeus (Baxter, 2006), **. * Composed the music for Begeerte (Eugene O’Neill’s Desire under the Elms, Baxter Theatre and KKNK 2006), * In 2005 participated in The Baxter Storytelling Festival at The Baxter Theatre Centre (in association with Sibikwa Community Theatre Project). Also a radio announcer for Bush Radio, Fine Music Radio and the SABC, while TV and film credits include Fishy Fêshuns, Backstage, Egoli, Interrogation Room, The Soul Sessions, Don’t Touch and Liriekeraai. In 2000 nominated for a Fleur du Cap Award as best actor. ** STOFFELS, Royston. He starred in Esther van Ryswyk’s production of Hallo en Koebaai in 1987. Just Like Home (Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1989) ROYSTON STOFFELS – Script, Music and actor Royston has a career in theatre and education for more than thirty years. He started his career as a teacher in the early seventies but soon realized that his real calling was in theatre. In those days any possibility of that happening seemed bleak if not impossible. He believed that by combining teaching and theatre could he could appease his theatre appetite. And he became involved in Theatre in Education and spent the eighties touring schools and communities throughout South Africa , gaining invaluable experience an actor and director. He was also Drama organizer of the Eoan Group from 1976 to 1981 teaching, directing and being in theatre management. His other passion has always been music and he taught himself the piano; there having been a piano in his home. In his youth he also learned to play the guitar and always found himself playing a few chords - jamming with friends. When on tour, he would also often be responsible for the music in acting companies. In the mid eighties he joined the (then) Capab Drama Company and stayed with the company until 1994. He cites this period as being as one of his most productive – performing in over fifty productions back to back. He was also the Company’s Educational Programmes Manager. Opportunities in television has given him broad national exposure and he has performed in English and Afrikaans Drama and presented children’s (Pumpkin Patch) and adult actuality programmes (Video C). Royston also loves radio and has played in English and Afrikaans Radio plays as well as having been a presenter on national and community radio. He still loves teaching and mentoring and lectured at Stellenbosch Drama Department. He has also had a hand in writing and co-authored the Primary School Arts and Culture textbook. He is presenting a theatre mentorship programme at schools at present. Specific Production Highlights. Stage: Hamlet – playing Polonius for The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford -upon- Avon. Vatmaar – for the Baxter playing numerous roles including composing the music. Hallo en Koebaai – Fugard’s play which toured the country - playing Johnnie to Shaleen Surtie-Richards’ Hester Just Like Home – Pieter-Dirk Uys play which toured the country as well as The Edinburgh Festival and London Television: (recent) - Anner House; Shooting Stars; Erfsondes. He regards his greatest production – the birth and growth of his only child, Caitlin with his wife Sharon.

Sources

Tucker, 1997

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