David Nissen

(19**-) Guitarist and vocalist, actor, composer and musical arranger.

Biography

Contribution to South African theatre, film, media and performance

He began his dual professional career in music and theatre in 1971, and for much of his life he was split between a straight concert career and a career in theatre. These facets of his life are at times difficult to separate, as some of the musical presentations were theatrically conceived and based, and conversely, many theatrical activities were in a sense musical events as well. This entry naturally focusses more on the theatrical work.

Concert career

His South African career as professional concert musician started with the 1971 national tour with Mandy Cohen and Nicholas Pike and ended with the Credence Clearwater Revival Show (1997-2004) and Lonely Stranger (an Eric Clapton Show, 1999-2004). (

Theatrical career

In 1972 he went to work for the Space Theatre, where he performed, among others, in Animal Fair (devised and presented by Phillip Boucher, and composed the music for and sang in Stories, Folk and Film, *.

In 1984 he joined CAPAB, where his work included Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair (for which he was musical director), and Mr Mojo Risin - A Tribute to Jim Morrison in the NICO Arena. His other theatre credits include two Maynardville productions, Much Ado About Nothing and The Two Gentleman of Verona.

As playwright/director

Wrote and performed a number of musical productions, including in The Prince and the Sphinx (Cape Town Festival, 198*), which he considers a career highlight.