Bobby Heaney
Bobby Heaney (1952-) is a South African television, film and stage producer and director
Contents
Biography
Bobby is married and the couple has two sons.
Youth
Training
He graduated from the University of Cape Town Drama Department in 1975.
Career
Was with CAPAB in 1976 and PACT English drama 1977-1980.
Started out as a young actor for ** and PACOFS. Then made his name as director, becoming one of the leading directors of his generation. Later moved to television in the late 1980s though still doing some theatre work.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As actor
Performed in Butley (as “Joey”, with PACT), Hamlet (as “Horatio”, with PACT), Macbeth (as “Malcolm”, with PACT), A Tribute to Lili Lamont (as “Tommy Alvarez”), Golda, Misalliance, Ross (as “Hamed”), Present Laughter (as “Roland Maule” with PACT), The School for Scandal (as “Benjamin Backbit” with PACT), Rookery Nook (as “Clive” with PACT), The Crucible (as “Reverend Hale”), Windmills of the Mind (PACT 1979).
As director
In 1980 he made his stage directorial debut with the Market Theatre Company production of The Indian Wants the Bronx.
Directed Die Onverwagte Besoeker (with PACT), Faith Healer, Saturday Night at the Palace, Talley's Folly Upstairs at the Market in 1982.
Productions to his credit include Lone Star and Pvt. Wars, two plays by American playwright James McLure [1] (1951-2011) (1982), Miss Julie (19**), (19*), **, Death of a Salesman (2001), The Dining Room, Virginia Upstairs at the Market in February 1983, My Seuns for TRUK in 1984.
His production of Strindberg’s Miss Julie starring Sandra Prinsloo and John Kani originated at the Baxter Theatre and went to the Market Theatre in February 1985.
He directed Die Trem se Naam: Begeerte, an Afrikaans translation of Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire starring Marius Weyers and Brumilda van Rensburg for TRUK in May 1985.
Glengarry Glen Ross (PACT, 1985), Translations(1985), Making Like America (1986), Wild Honey (August 1986).
His productions of Harold Pinter’s One for the Road and Samuel Beckett’s Catastrophe was staged for the Market at the Wits Theatre in 1985.
He directed The Maids for PACT at the Windybrow Theatre in 1987.
His production of Tom Stoppard’s adaptation of Largo Desolato was staged by PACT in 1988 and he directed Shakespeare’s The Winter's Tale for them later that same year.
He directed Tom Stoppard’s Hapgood at the Alexander Theatre in 1989.
He directed Paul Slabolepszy’s Pale Natives at the Market in 1994.
Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller , Baxter Theatre, 2001 Hello and Goodbye (Royal Shakespeare Company) met Antony Sher & Estelle Kohler. The Beauty Queen of Leenane, (2001, Baxter Theatre), Vatmaar (2002, Oude Libertas-amfiteater. Hansel and Gretel for Spier Summer Arts Festival (Feb/March 2003)
In 1982 made his directorial debut with Highrise Cowboy (as well as assistant producing Hamlet) for SATV.
Awards, etc
Awarded the 1980 Breytenbach Epathlon for Best Director for The Indian wants the Bronx. (was also nominated in 1981 and 1982.) Won the 1983 Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Director. Had an Artes Nomination for Best Actor for playing "Bitos" in Poor Bitos.
In 1980 he made his stage directorial debut winning the Breytenbach Epathlon Best Director award with the Market Theatre Company production of The Indian Wants the Bronx Back.
Plays directed include **, Pvt. Wars and Lone Star (1982 - Fleur du Cap Best Director), Miss Julie (19**), Saturday Night at the Palace (19*), **, Death of a Salesman (2001, Fleur du Cap Best Director),
(Epathlon nomination), The Dining Room and Memoir. Talley's Folly - best director Epathlon.
Sources
SACD 1977/78; 1978/79; 1979/80; 1980/81; 1981/82; Limelight 1983/84.
Tucker, 1997.
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