Donald Monat

Donald Monat (192*-). Actor, Writer, Producer.

Biography

Donald Monat was born in London, but when he was 11 years old, the family moved to South Africa where he continued his schooling and subsequently went to university. At the age of 16, Donald had won his first acting role in Johannesburg and soon became a regular performer in radio drama. This was shortly followed by a return to England in 1949, to appear in a number of stage plays in London. There he met his future wife, June Dixon, another Londoner.

Donald and June went back to Johannesburg in 1950 to start up one of the very first independent radio production companies in South Africa. They produced about fifteen shows a week for the newly-created Springbok Radio. The couple went back to London in 1952, where they worked extensively in the theatre.

A return to South Africa in 1962 saw Donald and June soon becoming stars of radio comedy with their own weekly programmes. They worked in South African radio for a period of twenty years (1962-1982), and they played in well over two thousand radio programmes during this time. In the Seventies and early Eighties, Donald and June, while continuing their radio work, also moved into films and television in South Africa. Finally, in 1984, they moved to Los Angeles, USA, where they have settled.

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

Donald Monat directed the films Fraud! (1974), The Gift of the Magi (TV movie) (Donald Monat/1981), The Challenge of Space with Gabriel Bayman (Radio, 1969-70).

Material relating to Queen of Diamonds: an original musical comedy thriller devised and designed by Anthony Farmer; book and lyrics by Donald Monat and June Dixon; music by Brian Burke and Dennis Wilman. Late 1970s.

Sun City Extravaganza.

Sources

SACD 1973.

The Avengers Personnel File [1].

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

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