Leonora Nel

Leonora Nel (19*-) was an actress, director and translator.

Studied at the University of Pretoria. She joined the NTO in 1955 before she went on a study tour of Europe in 1958-9, where she was exposed to modern theatre practices.

On her return in 1959, she joined Jannie Gildenhuys in National Theatre Organisation's NTO Youth Theatre group. They began touring in the Cape in August 1959, with works they devised and put on as a group, continuing in the Transvaal in 1960. By 1961 two groups had been formed for the two provinces, one for the Cape and one for Transvaal. She remained with the Transvaal group, which became part of PACT.

As actress

Her debut on the professional stage was in Die Twisappel (NTO 1955).

She had roles in Ai, Die Liewe Martha!, Die Jakkalsstreke van Scapino (196*), Meneer Sleeman Kom (1963), Bruidjie Dit en Bruidjie Dot, Die Lewe wat ek jou Gegee het (1964). Die Idioot by Dostoyevsky, directed by Jo Gevers for CAPAB 1969.

Die Gebreekte Kruik, Dieselfde Pad, Moeder Hanna, Die Onwillige Weduwee, Wie de drommel is Paskwaal?, Die Skuld van Oedipus, Trap for a Lonely Man, Modes van Agter, Skuld van Voor, Die Renosters, Oupa Kanniedood, Die Lewe wat ek jou Gegee het, Vrydag (1971).

As director

She directed Agt Vroue, Hansie die Hanslam, Lappies die Lappiesmous.

Co-directed Electra,

She translated and directed Meneer Sleeman Kom.

As translator

She translated and directed Meneer Sleeman Kom, translated Dürenmatt's Die Panne as Spel.

Sources

PACT Report 1963/1964

Cape Times, 21 January 1969.

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