Rika Sennett

Rika Sennett (1952-). Actress. (Sometimes credited as Rika Sennet).

Biography

Rika is married to the actor James Borthwick and they have two daughters, Kate and Hannah Borthwick.

Training

Studied at the University of Stellenbosch.

Career

She has been acting professionally for many years, appearing in over 65 theatre productions in all the genres.

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

Among her other highly regarded performances were roles in Shaw’s Arms and the Man (CAPAB 1977 and in two productions of Strike Up The Banned (Labia Theatre 1976, Market Theatre 1978), The Misanthrope (CAPAB 1977), How Now, Sacred Cow? (1977), Love's the Best Doctor (as Aminte, CAPAB 1977), two PACT productions of Die Wonderwerk in 1978 and 1979, as Dora Strang in a production in Afrikaans of Equus (1978), Die Kersietuin (Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard (PACT, 1979), Die Drie Van Der Walts (as Sophie Myburgh, (PACT 1979), 'n Maand op die Platteland (Jelizawjeta, PACT 1979).

She appeared in a PACT production in Afrikaans of Rashomon (Vrou, 1980), Al Om Die Ander…? (as Hermance, (PACT 1980), Die Onverwagte Besoeker (Laura Weyers, PACT 1980), After the Fall (PACT 1981), Germanicus (Plancina, PACT 1981), The Royal Hunt of the Sun (as Oello, 1981), Hond se Gedagte (Lucienne, PACT 1981), Twaalfde Nag (Olivia (PACT 1981).

She starred as Portia in an Afrikaans translation of the setwork piece The Merchant of Venice called Die Koopman van Venesië, directed by Louis van Niekerk, together with Don Lamprecht in 1981.

Roles followed in Mooi Maria (PACT 1982), 'n Stryd met Engele (PACT 1982), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (PACT 1982), A Month in the Country (Turgenev), two productions of a As die Turksvy Blom (PACT 1982, PACOFS 1983), As die Kat Weg Is (Pierre van Pletzen), Houd-den-Bek (PACT 1990), Die Aand van die Fynproewer (PACT 1992), Nerina Ferreira’s Sneeuwitjie en die Sewe Dwergies (Pact 1993), Conjugal Rites (as Gen, 1995), The Choice (The Civic 1995)'

Rika also appeared in Gesplete Tong written and directed by Schalk Schoombie (KKNK, 2003); Is die Muis Baas? (2006), Love, Loss and What I Wore (2010), Fiela se Kind (2008), The Sound of Music (as Frau Schmidt 2014).

With James Borthwick she assisted Paul Slabolepszy in translating Abnormal Load into Afrikaans.

She is a co-writer of Tot Die Dood Ons Skei, first performed in 1999.

In 1974 she played in Manie van Rensburg’s film Die Square and in 2011 she portrayed Ma Ada in Roepman.

She's been in several other feature films, inter alia as Helen Joseph in Mrs Mandela for the BBC and in 22 television series as an actress or presenter: highlights as an actress include her roles in Agter Elke Man (Franz Marx) and Feast of the Uninvited (Katinka Heyns).

Awards, etc

She won the Computicket Award at the DALRO Awards for her portrayal of Warja.

Sources

Tucker, 1997.

Turner, B. 1977.

Material relating to various productions held by NELM.

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