Director

The term Director is found in two meanings in South Africa.

As theatre maker

Primarily it refers to the notion of the creative leader in the mounting of the production, or as Wikipedia phrases it: " In contemporary theatre, after the playwright, the director is generally the primary visionary, making decisions on the artistic concept and interpretation of the play and its staging"[1], and plays are often billed under the name of the director. The verb is to direct: the activity then referred to as direction (of a play) or directing (a play).

The term regisseur is used in Afrikaans in such cases, with the work of the individual being referred to as regie. In the

In 19th century productions, or early 20th century adverts or reviews in South Africa, one finds the older practice of the actor-manager, or the stage manager as the guiding hand. (verhoog bestuurder in Afrikaans)

In some parts of the world, notably in the case of large-scale popular entertainment, the term producer is sometimes also found in much the same meaning, though in South Africa it has a different meaning, referring to the individual who supplies the financial and administrative structure for a production.

As manager of a venue or department of a theatrical enterprise

This secondary meaning, related to the use of Director in business and other management fields, is found on occasion. In such cases the Afrikaans term would be direkteur.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_director

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

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