Michael Atkinson

(1927-) Actor and director. Perhaps the most respected and versatile English actor of his generation in the country. Born in England on 25 March 1927, where he was also educated. He attended the full-time acting course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) from 1944 to 1946 and went on to work with numerous repertory companies throughout the UK, delivering groundbreaking performances on stage, including the West End, as well as radio, television and film. He worked with the Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare Company playing various small roles and later he toured with Peter Brook's production of Measure for Measure, went to Canada with the London Theatre Company and became leading actor at the Swansea Repertory Company. Starred in a number of West End plays. For television he worked with the BBC, ABC and Thames TV. His film credits include Room at the Top with Simone Signoret and Laurence Harvey. In 1966 he came to South Africa for the title role in Macbeth at Maynardville. Many other attractive offers, both as an actor and a director, followed, keeping him in continuous work in theatre and on radio in South Africa until 1972. He briefly returned to England but was again invited back in 1974 for London Assurance (PACT?*). He obtained permanent residency and settled in Cape Town. From here on he worked for a range of companies across the country for 40 years. In this time he won a large number of awards, including the Fleur du Cap Theatre Award as Best Leading Actor in 1979, 1984, 1995, 1997. On Sunday, 25 March 2007 a gala event, aptly entitled Atkinson at 80: The Importance of Being Michael, was offered at the Baxter Theatre Centre (directed by Ralph Lawson and starring numerous of Michael's friends from the theatre) to celebrate his 80th birthday as well as 60 glorious years in theatre and show business and 40 years on South African stages.

His South African performances over the 40 years include Macbeth, (Maynardville, 1966) Hostile Witness (Johannesburg REPS, 1967), The Lion in Winter (196*), Macbeth, (Maynardville,1973,The Lady’s not for Burning (Langford-Inglis and NAPAC, 196/7*), Double Edge (Toerien-Firth, 1976), My Fair Lady (PACT, 1977), . Death of a Salesman (1979), The Relapse (1979), The Dresser (Ronald Harwood, 1980), Amadeus (1981), The Rivals (PACT, 1983), The Business of Murder (Pieter Toerien,1986), The Madness of King George (1995), Taking Sides (1997),

His directing credits include London Assurance (PACT, 1977), The Lady’s Not for Burning (PACT, 1982), The Rivals (PACT, 1983), The Entertainer (PACT, 1983), William Luce’s Zelda (1987), My Astonishing Self (NAPAC, 1987), Sleuth (Pieter Toerien, 1988), A Walk in the Woods (Market Theatre, 1989), My Fair Lady (CAPAB, 1989/90), The Best of Friends (1993), Yours Anne (1994), and Travels With My Aunt (Pieter Toerien, 1994).

He has also done many one-man shows, notably hugely success ful versions of The Importance of Being Oscar (Baxter, 1984) and Beecham (Company of Four, 1984). He last performed at the Baxter Theatre in 2000 in Talk of the Devil, after which he retired.

Film and TV work includes Known Gods (Mnet, 2005).

Sources

Tucker, 1997

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