Difference between revisions of "Jana Cilliers"
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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
| − | + | She has worked for a wide range of theatre companies over the years. When began to establish a major reputation for her superb one-woman performances in the 1990s, she co-founded [[Opdrag Productions]] with [[Mark Graham]], after the immense success of ''[[Opdrag: Ingrid Jonker]]'' (1998-9). | |
| − | Among her many stage performances | + | Among her many stage performances over the course of her career have been roles in: |
1975: ''[[Don Juan]]'' (in [[Afrikaans]], [[CAPAB]]), | 1975: ''[[Don Juan]]'' (in [[Afrikaans]], [[CAPAB]]), | ||
| Line 56: | Line 56: | ||
2005: ''[[Romeo en Julia (Studie van 'n Verdrinkende Liggaam)|Romeo en Julia]]'' ([[Vleis, Rys en Aartappels]]), | 2005: ''[[Romeo en Julia (Studie van 'n Verdrinkende Liggaam)|Romeo en Julia]]'' ([[Vleis, Rys en Aartappels]]), | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
2014: ''[[Macbeth|macbeth.slapeloos]]'' (2014). | 2014: ''[[Macbeth|macbeth.slapeloos]]'' (2014). | ||
| − | + | ''[[Master Class]]'' (where she played Maria Callas) | |
| + | |||
| + | ''[[Die Groot Wit Roos]]'', ''[[Luilummel en Flenterpiet]]'', ''[[Play@Risk]]'', ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'', ''[[Yelena]]'', ''[[Kanna hy kô Hystoe]]'', ''[[The Dance of Death]]'', ''[[Twelfth Night, or What You Will]]'', , ''[[Rain]]'' for [[CAPAB]], , ''[[Die Amerikanische Päpstin|Pous Johanna II]]'' which originally premiered as one of the productions at the [[Market Theatre]]'s Women's Festival, , ''[[In Praise of Love]]'', | ||
| − | Her television work | + | Her television work has included ''[[Salome]]'', ''[[Waiting]]'' and the series ''[[City People]]''. She has also appeared in feature films for producers [[Jans Rautenbach]] and [[Regardt van den Bergh]], e.g. among them ''[[Boetie Gaan Border Toe!]]''. |
== Awards, etc == | == Awards, etc == | ||
Revision as of 08:56, 21 January 2022
Jana Cilliers (1950-) is a bilingual (Afrikaans-English) actress.
Contents
Biography
Jana was born in Pretoria as the daughter of Bags Cilliers and renowned artist Betty-Cilliers Barnard (1914-2010)[1].
She involved herself in ballet, music and drama while still at school, and completed a BA degree at the University of Pretoria with majors in English, French and Theatre History. During this busy time she acted for the student theatre society called Persona, which she had helped found (playing "Lady Macbeth" for it at the age of 18 for example) and went on several tours with the Exploratio-vereniging ("Exploratio Society" - nowadays known as "TUKS-Exploratio"[2]).
Wanting to continue with a drama career, she auditioned for and was accepted by London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)[3]. On her return she would become part of the new generation of bilingual performers working for the various Performing Arts Councils, as well as the independent companies such as The Space in Cape Town () and The Market Theatre in Johannesburg) and Pieter Toerien Productions (**), as well as the radio, film and TV industries.
She was married actor/film director Regardt van den Bergh and the couple have two daughters, of which one - Lika van den Bergh - also turned to acting. After their divorce she married actor Bill Flynn.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
She has worked for a wide range of theatre companies over the years. When began to establish a major reputation for her superb one-woman performances in the 1990s, she co-founded Opdrag Productions with Mark Graham, after the immense success of Opdrag: Ingrid Jonker (1998-9).
Among her many stage performances over the course of her career have been roles in:
1975: Don Juan (in Afrikaans, CAPAB),
1976:
1977: Die Vroue van Troje (Market Theatre), My Husband’s wild desires almost drove me mad (The Space),
1978:
1979: Sly Fox (), The Norman Conquests (Brickhill-Burke production, His Majesty's Theatre),
1980:
1981:
1982:
1986: Wild Honey 1986, Snake Beneath the Rose performed in 1986,
1988: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (as "Frankie", 1988),
1990: The Maintenance Man 1990
1991: Love Letters at the Richard Haines Theatre in September,
1994: The Glass Menagerie (Williams),
1998: Opdrag: Ingrid Jonker (1998-9),
1999: Antony and Cleopatra, (as Cleopatra, 1999),
2001: The American Popess, 2001
2004: 1975 (Botha), The Breath of Life (2004),
2005: Romeo en Julia (Vleis, Rys en Aartappels),
2014: macbeth.slapeloos (2014).
Master Class (where she played Maria Callas)
Die Groot Wit Roos, Luilummel en Flenterpiet, Play@Risk, The Taming of the Shrew, Yelena, Kanna hy kô Hystoe, The Dance of Death, Twelfth Night, or What You Will, , Rain for CAPAB, , Pous Johanna II which originally premiered as one of the productions at the Market Theatre's Women's Festival, , In Praise of Love,
Her television work has included Salome, Waiting and the series City People. She has also appeared in feature films for producers Jans Rautenbach and Regardt van den Bergh, e.g. among them Boetie Gaan Border Toe!.
Awards, etc
Nominated for Best Actress for Fleur du Cap 1978.
Nominated Fleur du Cap Cilliers, Jana for In Praise of Love [best actress], 1995.
Master Class (where she played Maria Callas, winning a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award, Best Actress, 1996), a Edinburgh Crystal Award and a national and several regional Vita Awards.
Vita Award (Cape Town region) Cilliers, Jana; Bezuidenhout, Aletta : [joint winners - best lead actress, award year 1997.
Vita award (Cape Town region) Jana Cilliers: The American popess; Best actress, 2002.
Sources
SACD 1977/78; 1979/80.
Programme of Snake Beneath the Rose in 1986.
Various entries in the NELM catalogue.
Tucker, 1997.
Die Tukkie, November 2000.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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