James Borthwick

James Borthwick (1948-) is a bilingual (Afrikaans and English) actor.

Biography

Born in Durban on 12 November, 1948

He studied studied Speech and Drama at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg( 1971 – 1973) and in 1974 joined the Performing Arts Council of the Orange Free State (PACOFS) as an assistant stage manager and starting his acting career later the same year. He spent 1976 at PACT, before returning to PACOFS until 1978, when he became freelance for a number of years, before joining PACT again in 1983.

He also turned to film and TV in the 1980s.

Married to actress Rika Sennett and father of Kate Borthwick and Hannah Borthwick.

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

As actor

Stage

He started his professional acting career with PACOFS in 1974, appearing as various characters in the Free State touring schools programme and library programme, as well as playing "Green Eyes" in Jean Genet's Deathwatch and various characters in Brecht's Die Goeie Mens van Setzuan. Then in the next few years (1975-1978) followed appearances as:

1975: "Theodore" in Chekhov's The Wood Demon, "Bottom" in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, "Tommy" in Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone?, "El Gallo" in The Fantasticks, "Mariechen", the cat in The Dragon and "Choobukov" in Chekhov's The Proposal.

1976: Jim in N. Richard Nash’s THE RAINMAKER

          Various roles in Elaine Davie’s JABBERWOCKY HOPSCOTCH
          Various roles in M. I. Murray and Poon Meyer’s WITWATER SE MENSE
          Brer Terrapin in John English’s BRER RABBIT
          Pooh in A. A. Milne’s WINNIE THE POOH

He worked for PACT for a number of years in the 1980s, appearing in numerous stage productions, including Murder by Proxy (Intimate Theatre, 1981); The Rivals (1983), Terrence Shank’s stage adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath; Chekhov in Yalta and Uncle Vanya (1986); Loot (1986), The Winter's Tale for PACT in 1988, Hapgood (1989).

He later appeared in a number of plays by Paul Slabolepszy, including Travelling Shots (which includes the monolgue Abnormal Load), Tickle to Fine Leg, Life's a Pitch (1998), Crashing the Night (2000).

Other plays include The Dead Wait (1997), Blackage (1997), Craig Freimond’s The King of Laughter (2006), Evita (2011), Sunset Boulevard (2013), Priscilla Queen of the Desert (2017).

Film/television

His TV work includes the lead role in the popular series Scoop Schoombie, Erfsondes, Gabriël, Hillside, Konsternasie Oppie Stasie, On the Couch (2008-), Van der Walt's Fault.

Film work includes roles in The Guest/Die Besoeker.

As director

He directed Aladdin (in Sjiena) in 1994.

Awards, etc.

Among many awards he was awarded a DALRO and Piers Nicholson Award 1978. Nominated for a Vita Award (national) best lead actor for his role in Blackage 1997. Won a Fleur du Cap Award as best actor for Evita (2011)

Sources

CV of James Borthwick, submitted to ESAT by Borthwick on 24 September, 2025.

Profile of James Borthwick in the 1985 programme of the Standard Bank National Arts Festival, p.29.

Limelight 1979/80.

Rapport-Tydskrif, 22 May 1988.

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

See ESAT Bibliography

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