Nigel Vermaas

Nigel Vermaas (19**-). Actor, director, radio personality.

Biography

Nigel Vermaas studied at Rhodes University (BA U.ED.), and after teaching for four years, entered the theatrical profession -- acting, directing and writing. In 1987, Vermaas joined Radio South Africa as senior radio drama producer, became organiser of drama, and then as Manager of Programmes headed the transition of Radio South Africa to SAfm. Since retiring from SABC, he has continued to write and direct radio drama and documentaries.

He has been involved with theatre since about 1970. He has directed for PACT, PACOFS, The Company as well as other managements. Worked with the Arena Theatre.

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

Performed in The Nuns, Enemy!, Shadow of Heroes, Fortune and Men's Eyes, Falstaff, Damon Runyon Show, Die Verminktes, Die Dagboek van Anne Frank, Mother Courage, Hamlet, Twaalfde Nag (as “Egan”), Die Drie Van der Walts, Ross, Fando and Lis (1974) and Twigs (1982).

Acted in The Voyage of the Santiago, Tug o' War, (1974), Toiings (as “Oompie Sampie”), Fando et Lis, Echoes of Anger, Enemy! March 2000 as (Decker), Investigation into the Death of a Greek, Troilus and Cressida, The Front Page, Falstaff, Twigs, The Nuns (PACT 1972), Kinkels innie Kabel, Oedipus by Ted Hughes, Black Comedy, Filumena Marturano, Der aufhaltsame Aufstieg des Arturo Ui, Die Verminktes, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Die Drie Van Der Walts, The Crucible (Reverend Parris), Oedipus Rex, Hamlet, The Birds, Die Dagboek van Anne Frank (as “Mnr Frank”, PACT 1977), Die Nag van Legio, Antigone (by Sophocles), Mother Courage

Directed Alice's Adventures Underground, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (for PACT), The Bedsitting Room (at the Market Theatre) and El Grande de Coca Cola (for PACOFS). He directed Muzeeka and Home Fires (1973) and the PACT production of The State Theatre Overflow Show (1981).

He adapted The Metamorphosis to a South African setting, entitled Sis!.

He wrote Do You Know Billie Holiday?: a play with music which was performed at the Grahamstown Festival in 2009.

He wrote the radio drama Ballad of Hamilton Dane

Directed Ghosts in the Mirror (PACT 1981), Carmilla (PACT), Alice's Adventures Underground ([[PACT]), Produced and directed The Bedsitting Room (Market Theatre 1978),

Shadow of Heroes (PACT 1980),

Television roles: As “Dr Chris de Villiers” in the television series The Villagers in the early 1970s; Vyfster (1982).

Awards

Artes (1990) for Best radio drama director (Hamlet)

SABC Prize for English Radio Drama, 1989 for The Day of the Trolleys.

Sources

SACD 1973; 1978/79; 1979/80.

Tucker, 1997.

Material held by NELM in various locations.

IMDb [1].

Infecting the City 2021 [2].

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