Mees Xteen
Mees Xteen was a South African actor (1944-2003).
Also listed as Mees Xsteen or Mees Exsteen in some sources.
Contents
Biography
Born Machiel Eksteen in Boshof in the Orange Free State he completed his schooling at Grey College, Bloemfontein, before studying drama at the at the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department at the st6art of the 1960s, working under Fred Engelen, Tine Balder, Jocelyn de Bruyn and Ben Dehaeck. His first role as a student actor at the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department was that of "Mees" in Op Hoop van Seën by Herman Heyermans in 1964. He adopted the name "Mees" as a lifelong stage name and changed the spelling of his surname to "Xteen".
Died at the age of 58 of cirrhosis of the liver in Senekal in the Orange Free State.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As an administrator
Was head of drama at SWAPAC in Windhoek, Namibia from 19** to 19**.
As a stage actor
His many roles include:
1974 and 1976: Etienne Roux in Die Ryk Weduwee, CAPAB.
1983: Vyand! (Afrikaans translation of Enemy! by Robin Maugham) for SWAPAC, directed by Johann van Heerden, with Dawid Minnaar in the other role in the two-hander drama.
1987: Die Vlindervanger (Afrikaans translation of The Collector by John Fowles/David Parker) for SWAPAC, directed by Johann van Heerden.
1989: "Petkoff" in Soldate Vryers (Shaw) for SWAPAC
1998: Tonight Neither Hamlet by German playwright Rainer Lewandowski during German Cultural Week in Cape Town Oct 1998.
1999: Onder die Brug with Jan Ellis, Anthea Thompson in Momentum Theatre, 14-24 April 1999 and Oude Libertas. Directed by Shirley Ellis.
Film and Television
Film roles include: Vlug van die Seemeeu (1972); Eendag op 'n Reëndag (1975); Yankee Zulu (1993); Lipstiek Dipstiek (1994).
A role in the TV series Arende.
Awards, etc
Awarded the SWAPAC Prize and the Namibian National Theatre's Nederburg Prize for stage acting and directing.
Sources
Cape Argus, 27 August 1998.
Beeld, 2 March 1999.
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