David Horner

David Horner (1934-1985). Actor (stage and radio), director, lecturer.

Biography

Training

Studied at the University of Natal’s Department of Drama in Durban.

Career

Became lecturer in Department of Drama in Durban, then the founding head of the Drama Department at the University of Durban-Westville . From here he was appointed as first head of the School of Speech and Drama, University of the Witwatersrand in 1975.

A consummate performer, he performed for **, ** NTO, and PACT.

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

The Children's Theatre presented an evening of readings by Horner in 1958.

Performed in The King and I (as “The King”), Pygmalion (as “Higgins”), King Lear (as “Gloucester”), Twelfth Night (as “Aguecheek”), The Prisoner (as “Cardinal”), Royal Hunt of the Sun (as “de Soto” with PACT, 1981).

He was also a renowned exponent of the one-man show, his repertoire including Paul Gallico's The Snow Goose, Frank O'Hagen's Satin and Tweed, Churchill, Man of Destiny (1974).

For many years he played the role of Christ in the Durban Passion Play until the role was taken over by Jonathan Berwick in 1978.

He also performed in productions of Late Harvest, Ghosts, The Sound of Music (1964), In the Bag (1968), Satin and Tweed, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, The Snow Goose, The Hollow Crown.

Directed Reynard the Fox (1982), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1984).

Was also the Durban representative for SAFTU.

Sources

SACD 1974; 1975/76; 1981/82.

The Natal Witness, 28 February 1978.

Tucker, 1997.

Material held by NELM re. Churchill: Man of Destiny: [Collection: TURNER, Sophie]: 2001. 30. 2. 15 and [Collection: KORT, Maurice]: 2012. 379. 9. 21.

Greyvenstein, Walter 1988. The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.

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