Lara Bye

Lara Bye (19*-) is a South African actress and director. Born in Durban, studied at the Lecoq Theatre School in Paris and worked in Havana, Paris and Barcelona. **** Studied at **. Won the Rosalie van der Gucht Prize for New Directors in 2000. Co-founder of the Cape Town based company Theatre Bazaar (with Gaetan Schmid) in 200*. Performances include roles in **, ** . Plays directed include **, ** A Place with the Pigs (NAF, 2006), London Road (2010), *** Mademoiselle Lullaby - the bareback horse rider in The Dream Circus.

TO BE EDITED

She started the Playground series of performed play readings with Mannie Manim at the Baxter Theatre. In 2010 she lectured at UCT in physical theatre.

Productions as director include: London Road (2010); La Scala Di Seta (2009); Sister Breyani (2009); Iagos Last Dance (2009); Yellow Man; La Serva Padrona (2008); I, Claudia (2008 & 2010); Die Vrou Wat Haar Man Gekook Het, (KKNK, 2007); Is Almal Dan Fokken Volmaak? (2007); Bafana Republic (2007); Beklash (2007); Orfeus (2006); Medeia (2005); Jesus Hopped the A-Train; The Government Inspector; Bethesda Moon; A Place with the Pigs; For Coloured Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf; The Comical Tragedy; The Lesson; The Dumb Waiter; The Vagina Monologues; The Dream Circus;

BA degree in Drama, English and Anthropology: University of Natal Honours degree in Drama: UCT 2 yr Diploma: Eqole Jacques Le Coq, Paris

Since returning to South Africa from Europe, Lara has worked continuously on all aspects of the theatre as producer, writer, actress and teacher. She has won theatre awards as an actress and director for her work in ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’, ‘The comical Tragedy’ and ‘Everybody else (is fucking perfect)’. Her most recent show ‘Jesus Hopped the A Train’ was the second most nominated production at the 2006 Fleur du Cap Awards.

She was selected by Fair Lady magazine as one of 40 South African Women who had been a source of inspiration for the year 2000 and was judged by Style magazine to be the South African ‘IT’ Actress for 2001. These last two acknowledgements were for her performance in the critically acclaimed ‘The Vagina Monologues’.

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

The Dream Circus East - Steven Berkoff Soil In My Shoes Framed Dearly Beloved Dancing at Lughnasa A worm in the Bud The Vagina Monologue Los Tres Conversations after a burial

Dir: Chris Weare

Dir: Roy Sergeant Dir: Roy Sergeant Dir: Geoff Hyland Dir: Nicole Levin

Dir: Jacqueline Domisse

Role: Bareback Horse rider

Bantam Theatre Jagged Dance

Comic Improvisation

AWARDS

Yellow Man - KKNK Best Production Award, Best Newcomer Award and Best Actress Fleur du Cap Award

2008 La Serva Padrona- nominated as Best Director & Best Musical Production KKNK

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

After Lo Coq Lara was invited to join The International Theatre Collective for a cultural exchange in Havana, Cuba. The company lived with a Cuban family for 7 months, running workshops, collaborating with Cuban artists and witnessing their work, as well as devising a new show based on their experiences. She returned to Europe to join Bantam Theatre Company in Barcelona for a year.

FILM EXPERIENCE

Texas Blood Money Laurel and Hardy Diamond Hustlers Country of my Skull

TV EXPERIENCE

Presenter for MNet Exploring Southern Africa Mark Lottering and Friends – Comedy Sketch Show

Lara has appeared in several local and International TV commercials.

Lara is a highly sought-after director and has won numerous awards for her role as director for stage.