Aubrey Louw
Aubrey Louw (1933-2006). Actor, producer and company manager.
Contents
Biography
He was born on 2 February 1933 in Cape Town and spent most of his youth in Sea Point. Not long after his retirement in 2005, Louw became ill and died of emphysema in Johannesburg. He was 73 years old.
Career
After finishing high school he started working in the theatre and over years gathered expertise as a stage manager, stage director and company manager, working with Brian Brooke, Leonard Schach, The University of Cape Town Ballet and Theatre International during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1966 Louw joined the staff of Show Service, owned by Percy Tucker. This partnership led to the founding of Computicket five years later.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He had his first role as a manservant in The King's Rhapsody in 1953.
Became the Company Manager of The Cockpit Players in 195*.
He was the stage direcor for the Durban Intimate Theatre Company and played a small part in Vernon Sylvaine’s As Long As They’re Happy for their first visit to Johannesburg in 1955. It was directed by Norman Coombes.
He was general manager for Theatre International which staged Stephen Sondheim’s musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, at the Civic Theatre in 1964. Mannie Manim was production and company manager. Christopher Hewett directed this play starring Jack Harrold, Joseph Corby, William Le Messena, Fran Stevens and Emory Bass.
He took over from Pat Bray as Tucker’s personal assistant at Show Service in 1966. He assisted Anthony Farmer’s production of Around the World in 80 Days for JODS at the Civic in 1966. Wendy de la Harpe did the choreography, and music was conducted by Bob Adams. It starred John Boulter and English actor Jack Tripp.
Sources
Pat Schwartz 1988.
Tucker, 1997.
Tribute by Maurice de Jong, Cape Argus, 10 March 2006.
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