Ron Smerczak

(****-****). Actor. Played “Hotspur” in Henry IV Part I and “Queenie” in Fortune and Men's Eyes. (SACD 1975/76) (SACD 1977/78)

(19**-) Actor for stage, film and TV. Born in **, studied drama at the University of **. Performed for *** . Roles in the 1974 fundraising production for the Market Theatre, Macbeth (PACT, 198*), Gulls (Fleur du Cap Theatre Award, Best Actor 1987), Diary of a Madman (Fleur du Cap Theatre Award, Best Actor 1988), * SMERCZAC, Ron. He starred in the Toerien-Firth Company production of Terence Rattigan’s In Praise of Love together with Robert Flemyng, Robert Beatty and Muriel Pavlow at the Intimate Theatre in 1974. He starred in John Herbert’s Fortune and Men's Eyes with Paul Slabolepszy, Bill Flynn and Danny Keogh for The Company at the Nunnery in 1975. He starred in Pleasure and Repentance, a fund-raising show for the Market Theatre on 4 January 1976. Barney Simon directed and the cast also starred Michael McCabe, Keith Blundell and Janet Suzman. He starred in Pieter Toerien’s presentation of Tom Stoppard’s Dirty Linen together with Charles Hawtrey, Peter Bowles, Naomi Buch and Richard Warwick at the Civic Theatre in 1977. He starred in a revival of A Long Day's Journey into Night with Shelagh Holliday, Danny Keogh and Joe Stewardson at the Market Theatre in 1978. He starred in PACT’s production of Macbeth with Sandra Prinsloo with direction by Leonard Schach at the Alexander Theatre in 1980. He starred in Malcolm Purkey’s production of Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers, together with Nicholas Ellenbogen and Michele Maxwell at the Market in 1980. He starred in the PACT production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, directed by William Egan, together with Sandra Prinsloo and Thoko Ntshinga in 1981. He starred in Aubrey Berg’s production of Tennessee Williams’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof together with Lena Ferugia and Victor Winding for PACT in 1982. This play opened at the State Theatre before moving to the Alexander Theatre. He starred in Pieter-Dirk Uys’s The Rise and Fall of the First Empress Bonaparte together with Jacqui Singer and Michael McCabe which was directed by William Egan and staged by PACT at the Alexander in August 1983. Starred in Bobby Heaney’s productions of Saumuel Beckett’s Catastrophe at the Wits Theatre in 1985. He starred in Robert Hewett’s Gulls which Keith Grenville directed in 1987/1988. He starred in Ibsen’s A Doll's House at Upstairs at the Market in 1990. SMERZCAK, Ron, Macbeth (PACT), 84 Charing Cross Road, The Dresser, (The Company of Four) (Market Theatre), Beecham with Michael Atkinson, Caryl Brahms, Ned Sherrin. Musical sequences: Leo Quayle, 1984.

Quoted from the programme of Decadence in 1984: 'Born and raised in Blackpool, UK, Ron's first taste of acting was with Michael Croft's National Youth Theatre. At the age of 15, Ron was treading the boards - albeit carrying a spear - of The Old Vic in Anthony and Cleopatra. In 1969, after studying at Cardiff University, where Ron read Geology, he auditioned for a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He was accepted and granted a scholarship. On graduation from RADA in 1971, Ron obtained the school's silver medal and an award as best character actor of his year. Ron then enjoyed three years work in England, first with Billingham Rep., and then with The Prospect Theatre Company. As a member of the latter he toured Britian, Europe and Australia. During his time in England he also appeared in the British SOAP series Dixon of Dock Green and Z Cars. In 1973, he appeared as co-lead in David Rudkin's award winning TV play Pendas Fen. At about this time Ron also entered the world of horror movies. Playing a small part in The House of Whipcord, now on video circuit in SA.

Sources

See Schwartz, 1988; Tucker, 1997

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