Difference between revisions of "Helen Houghton"
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She directed a number of productions for the [[Cape Town Gilbert and Sullivan Society]], including ''[[Ruddigore]]'' (1975), ''[[Iolanthe]]'' (1976 & 2004), ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'' (1976 & 1983), ''[[The Mikado]]'' (1977), ''[[The Sorcerer]]'' (1978 & 1990), ''[[Patience]]'' (1979), ''[[The Yeomen of the Guard]]'' (1980), ''[[The Gondoliers]]'' (1981), ''[[Princess Ida]]'' (1982), ''[[Utopia, Limited]]'' (1984), is an honorary life member of the Society and was appointed Honorary Vice President in 2013. | She directed a number of productions for the [[Cape Town Gilbert and Sullivan Society]], including ''[[Ruddigore]]'' (1975), ''[[Iolanthe]]'' (1976 & 2004), ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'' (1976 & 1983), ''[[The Mikado]]'' (1977), ''[[The Sorcerer]]'' (1978 & 1990), ''[[Patience]]'' (1979), ''[[The Yeomen of the Guard]]'' (1980), ''[[The Gondoliers]]'' (1981), ''[[Princess Ida]]'' (1982), ''[[Utopia, Limited]]'' (1984), is an honorary life member of the Society and was appointed Honorary Vice President in 2013. | ||
| − | She directed ''[[1066, and All That]]'' (1949), ''[[The Tempest]]'' at [[Maynardville]] and ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]'', a [[Compass Productions]] ([[Space Theatre|The Space]], 1978). | + | She directed ''[[1066, and All That]]'' (1949), ''[[The Tempest]]'' at [[Maynardville]] (probably collaborating with [[Leslie French]] in 1973) and ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]'', a [[Compass Productions]] ([[Space Theatre|The Space]], 1978). |
One of her most successful students, whom she trained while lecturing at UCT in the education department, was [[Geoffrey Hyland|Geoff Hyland]], and [[Leslie French]] collaborated with her in early Shakespeare productions at [[Maynardville]]. | One of her most successful students, whom she trained while lecturing at UCT in the education department, was [[Geoffrey Hyland|Geoff Hyland]], and [[Leslie French]] collaborated with her in early Shakespeare productions at [[Maynardville]]. | ||
Revision as of 17:34, 26 January 2018
Helen Houghton (19**-) is a South African theatre director and academic.
Contents
Biography
When she left university to live with her widowed mother in Port Elizabeth, she discovered a vibrant theatre scene there.
Like gher friend and colleague, the late Donald Inskip, she has a great love of French theatre.
Youth
A Capetonian born and bred.
Training
She graduated from the University of Cape Town Drama Department after having studied under Rosalie van der Gucht.
Career
She has variably been an academic teacher, actress, director and producer of plays, and author of books dealing with the history of South African towns and villages.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Her f1rst big production was under the banner of the Theatre Workshop which she started in Port Elizabeth; it was Jean Anouilh's Point of Departure.
She was in the cast of The Madwoman of Chaillot in the Little Theatre in 1951.
She directed a number of productions for the Cape Town Gilbert and Sullivan Society, including Ruddigore (1975), Iolanthe (1976 & 2004), The Pirates of Penzance (1976 & 1983), The Mikado (1977), The Sorcerer (1978 & 1990), Patience (1979), The Yeomen of the Guard (1980), The Gondoliers (1981), Princess Ida (1982), Utopia, Limited (1984), is an honorary life member of the Society and was appointed Honorary Vice President in 2013.
She directed 1066, and All That (1949), The Tempest at Maynardville (probably collaborating with Leslie French in 1973) and Beauty and the Beast, a Compass Productions (The Space, 1978).
One of her most successful students, whom she trained while lecturing at UCT in the education department, was Geoff Hyland, and Leslie French collaborated with her in early Shakespeare productions at Maynardville.
Awards, etc
She won the Cape Times Theatre Award as best director of a play for See How They Run, award year 2005.
Sources
Various entries in the NELM catalogue.
Theatre programme for the Rene Aherenson and Cecilia Sonnenberg production of The Tempest, directed by Helen Houghton, staged at the Maynardville Theatre, year unknown. (NELM: [Collection: KORT, Maurice]: 2012. 379. 36. 46.)
Cape Argus, 27 February 2004.
Inskip, 1972. p.137.
Astbury 1979.
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