Difference between revisions of "Benjy Francis"
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| − | + | [[Benjy Francis]]. (19**-) Actor, director and arts activist. | |
| − | + | == Biography == | |
| − | + | === Youth === | |
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| − | Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African | + | === Training === |
| − | Theatre Personalities]] | + | Studied at the University of Durban-Westville. |
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| + | === Career === | ||
| + | One of the founding members of [[TECON]] in 1969, working with them to till the mid 1970s. Working with TECON towards the end of its existance, he also developed productions with black casts in Soweto, including a revival of [[Athol Fugard|Fugard]]’s ''[[The Blood Knot]]'' (also playing at [[Upstairs at the Market]], 1976) and a workshopped version of Beckett’s ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'' (with [[James Mthoba]] and [[Sam Williams]], playing in Durban, Soweto and [[Upstairs at the Market]] during 1976.) He then joined [[Federated Union of Black Artists]] ([[FUBA]]) in Johannesburg, and at one time was second in command of the organisation. Directed a number of works for them, including [[Zakes Mda|Mda]]’s ''[[Dead End]]'' and ''[[We Shall Sing for the Fatherland]]'' (1978/9?*), ''[[The Me Nobody Knows]]'' ([[Market Theatre]], 198*), *** In 198* founded the [[Dhlomo Theatre]] and set up and headed the Afrika Cultural Centre in ***. | ||
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| + | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
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| + | [[The Blood Knot]] (1976), [[Waiting for Godot]], [[Company]] (1977) | ||
| + | ''[[We Shall Sing for the Fatherland]]'' directed by [[Benjy Francis]] | ||
| + | Directed and starred in [[Athol Fugard|Fugard]]’s ''[[The Blood Knot]]'' together with [[Fats Bookholane]] at [[Upstairs at the Market]] in 1976. Francis also directed [[Waiting for Godot]] with an all black cast at the same venue in 1976. [[Ken Leach]] directed his ''[[Conspiracy]]'', starring [[Patrick Mynhardt]] for [[PACT]] at the [[Alexander Theatre]] in 1976. He directed the show ''[[The Me Nobody Knows]]'', with music by [[Gary William Friedman]] and lyrics by [[Will Holt]] which was staged by [[The Company]] at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1977. It starred [[Leonie Hofmeyr]], [[Leslie Mongezi]], [[Nomsa Nene]], [[Barrie Shah]] and [[Jonathan Taylor]]. (See Schwartz, 1988; Tucker, 1997, Kruger, 1999**) | ||
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| + | He directed ''[[Night of the Long Wake]]'', the opening production of The [[Dhlomo Theatre]] on 21 March 1983. | ||
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| + | Founded [[Federated Union of Black Artists]] in 1978 and formed the [[Afrika Culture Centre]]. | ||
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| + | == Awards, etc == | ||
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| + | == Sources == | ||
| + | [[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997. 335, 344. | ||
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| + | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
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| + | == Return to == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[ESAT Personalities F]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]] | ||
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] | ||
Return to [[Main Page]] | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
Revision as of 10:53, 6 November 2017
Benjy Francis. (19**-) Actor, director and arts activist.
Contents
Biography
Youth
Training
Studied at the University of Durban-Westville.
Career
One of the founding members of TECON in 1969, working with them to till the mid 1970s. Working with TECON towards the end of its existance, he also developed productions with black casts in Soweto, including a revival of Fugard’s The Blood Knot (also playing at Upstairs at the Market, 1976) and a workshopped version of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot (with James Mthoba and Sam Williams, playing in Durban, Soweto and Upstairs at the Market during 1976.) He then joined Federated Union of Black Artists (FUBA) in Johannesburg, and at one time was second in command of the organisation. Directed a number of works for them, including Mda’s Dead End and We Shall Sing for the Fatherland (1978/9?*), The Me Nobody Knows (Market Theatre, 198*), *** In 198* founded the Dhlomo Theatre and set up and headed the Afrika Cultural Centre in ***.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
The Blood Knot (1976), Waiting for Godot, Company (1977) We Shall Sing for the Fatherland directed by Benjy Francis Directed and starred in Fugard’s The Blood Knot together with Fats Bookholane at Upstairs at the Market in 1976. Francis also directed Waiting for Godot with an all black cast at the same venue in 1976. Ken Leach directed his Conspiracy, starring Patrick Mynhardt for PACT at the Alexander Theatre in 1976. He directed the show The Me Nobody Knows, with music by Gary William Friedman and lyrics by Will Holt which was staged by The Company at the Market Theatre in 1977. It starred Leonie Hofmeyr, Leslie Mongezi, Nomsa Nene, Barrie Shah and Jonathan Taylor. (See Schwartz, 1988; Tucker, 1997, Kruger, 1999**)
He directed Night of the Long Wake, the opening production of The Dhlomo Theatre on 21 March 1983.
Founded Federated Union of Black Artists in 1978 and formed the Afrika Culture Centre.
Awards, etc
Sources
Tucker, 1997. 335, 344.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities F
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
