Royston Stoffels

STOFFELS, Royston (19**-) Actor, storyteller, composer and director.

Biography

His other passion has always been music and he taught himself the piano; there having been a piano in his home. In his youth he also learned to play the guitar and always found himself playing a few chords - jamming with friends. When on tour, he would also often be responsible for the music in acting companies.

Royston also loves radio and has played in English and Afrikaans Radio plays as well as having been a presenter on national and community radio. He still loves teaching and mentoring and lectured at Stellenbosch Drama Department. He has also had a hand in writing and co-authored the Primary School Arts and Culture textbook. He is presenting a theatre mentorship programme at schools at present.

He regards his greatest production – the birth and growth of his only child, Caitlin with his wife Sharon.

Training

Studied at the University of Cape Town Drama Department,

Career

Royston has had a career in theatre and education for more than thirty years. He started his career as a teacher in the early seventies but soon realized that his real calling was in theatre. In those days any possibility of that happening seemed bleak if not impossible. He believed that by combining teaching and theatre could he could appease his theatre appetite. And he became involved in Theatre in Education and spent the eighties touring schools and communities throughout South Africa , gaining invaluable experience an actor and director. He was also Drama organizer of the Eoan Group from 1976 to 1981 teaching, directing and being in theatre management.

In the mid eighties he joined the (then) Capab Drama Company and stayed with the company until 1994. He cites this period as being as one of his most productive – performing in over fifty productions back to back. He was also the Company’s Educational Programmes Manager. Opportunities in television has given him broad national exposure and he has performed in English and Afrikaans Drama and presented children’s (Pumpkin Patch) and adult actuality programmes (Video C).

In 1998 he became the director of the Cape Town Theatre Laboratory.

Also a radio announcer for Bush Radio, Fine Music Radio and the SABC.

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

As an actor performed in Good (1990). Buckingham Palace, District Six (Artscape, 2001, District Six – The Musical (Artscape 199*), Die Tou (Artscape, 1992), The Guitar that Rocked the World (Artscape 200*), Send for Dolly (Artscape, 20**), Twaalfde Nag (Oude Libertas Theatre /Baxter Theatre, 2005), Ghoema (David Kramer and Taliep Petersen, 2007?*) . Directed ***, ** , Kanna hy kô Hystoe (Baxter, 2003), The Last Twist at the Blue Moon (Baxter, 2004?*), Die Gazoem vannie Township (Baxter Theatre 2004?*) ** ** Amadeus (Baxter, 2006), **. * Composed the music for Begeerte (Eugene O'Neill’s Desire under the Elms, Baxter Theatre and KKNK 2006), *

In 2005 participated in The Baxter Storytelling Festival at The Baxter Theatre Centre (in association with Sibikwa Community Theatre Project). while TV and film credits include Fishy Fêshuns, Backstage, Egoli, Interrogation Room, The Soul Sessions, Don’t Touch and Liriekeraai.

He starred in Esther van Ryswyk’s production of Hallo en Koebaai in 1987. Just Like Home (Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1989)

Specific Production Highlights. Stage: Hamlet – playing Polonius for The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford -upon- Avon. Vatmaar – for the Baxter Theatre in 2003, playing numerous roles including composing the music. Hallo en Koebaai – Fugard’s play which toured the country - playing Johnnie to Shaleen Surtie-Richards’ Hester Just Like Home – Pieter-Dirk Uys play which toured the country as well as The Edinburgh Festival and London Television: (recent) - Anner House; Shooting Stars; Erfsondes.

Awards, etc

In 2000 nominated for a Fleur du Cap as best actor. **

Sources

Tucker, 1997.

Cape Times 29 March 2006.

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