Marcel van Heerden

Marcel van Heerden (1952-) South African actor on stage, television and film. Son of Stellenbosch director and actress Marie van Heerden, brother of Johann van Heerden. Started his drama studies at the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department, then moved to the University of Cape Town Drama Department, where he continued his studies under Robert Mohr and Mavis Taylor. Went on to become one of the first Afrikaans actors to work consistently in the anti-apartheid theatre such as The Space and The Market Theatre, as well as film and television.

(Short biography in Die Burger, 29 January 2016 - translated from Afrikaans): Marcel van Heerden has been working in the entertainment industry since the seventies, mainly as film actor as well as on television and on the stage. His films include Mapantsula, The Flyer, White Wedding, Durban Poison, Long Walk to Freedom, Pad na Jou Hart and currently 'n Pawpaw vir my Darling. On television Marcel is known, amongst other productions, for Konings, Onder Draai die Duiwel Rond and The Outcast. He is also a well-known voice artist and dubbing director. His short film Vryslag, which he wrote and directed, was chosen as the best short film at 2015’s Silwerskermfees (Silver Screen Festival in Cape Town). In 2013 Vryslag, as a radio drama, won the Sanlam-RSG radio playwriting competition. Marcel has a son, Vincent (23), with the singer Juliana Venter. Marcel and Juliana started the performance group Mud Ensemble in the nineties. (Murray la Vita)

Stage roles

Among his notable stage roles were Gilgamesh, Dance Is and Tooth of Crime at The Space, Stephen Gray’s adaptation of Herman Charles Bosman’s Cold Stone Jug, Maishe Maponya’s ****, *****at the Market Theatre, *** at the Baxter Theatre **. Performed in ‘n Man Met Vakansie (with PACT directed by Francois Swart), Antigone (with PACT directed by Jannie Gildenhuys), Marat Sade (at the Market directed by Barney Simon), Mother Courage and in Equus.

Monsieur Loyal in Die Huigelaar (TRUK, 1986).

He starred in Barney Simon’s production of Cincinatti – Scenes from City Life together with Vanessa Cooke, Danny Keogh, Lesley Nott, Barrie Shah, Thoko Ntshinga, Bo Petersen, Sam Williams and Robin Smith for The Company at The Market Theatre, Upstairs at the Market, the Baxter and the Brooke in 1979. Starred in the Baxter Theatre production of Seer in the Suburbs, the English translation of P.G. du Plessis’ Siener in die Suburbs together with Trudie Taljaard, Bo Petersen and Dale Cutts at the Academy in 1981.

Outers programme notes in 1985(***): 'Gained a Performers Diploma from UCT and was involved in several productions at The Space before moving moving to Johannesburg . He appeared in Twaalfde Nag, 'n Man met Vakansie and Antigone for PACT. His numerous television appearances include A Dream in a Wood of Ghosts, A Circle of Sun, The Stairway, Night Ride, The Villagers, Sebastiaan Senior, Takkie se Wêreld, Call me Kelly and Ben Brandt. He has been seen at the Market Theatre in The Company's productions of Marat/Sade, Mother Courage, Equus, East, Cold Stone Jug and Cincinatti as a member of the original cast who , with Barney Simon, created the test.'

Starred as Morris in The Blood Knot by Athol Fugard, directed by Barney Simon for PACT in 1988, opposite John Kani in the role of Zachariah.

Film and Television

His film and TV work include * **, Onder Draai die Duiwel Rond (SABC TV 2 2000-2001), Amalia (KykNet, 2005), *

Playwriting

In 2013 he won the RSG and Sanlam radio playwriting competition with his debut radio drama Vryslag.

Sources

Tucker, 1997

Outers programme notes in 1985(***).

SACD 1977/78

Correspondence with Johann van Heerden, 28 September 2013.

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