James Norval
(19**-1970) Afrikaans actor on stage and film.
Contents
Biography
He was married to Anna Cloete and they had a daughter, Paddy Norval. He died on 16 November 1970.
Training
Career
Worked for the Hanekom Geselskap. In 1934, when Hendrik Hanekom retired to found a theatre school in Bloemfontein, Norval founded his own group, the James Norval Geselskap. He joined the NTO in 1951 and 1952. He joined PACT in 1964.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He toured with his own company with Verlore Siel ("The Lost Soul", a reworking in Afrikaans of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde) 1933, Vadertjie Langbeen (Daddy Long-Legs) 1934, Dracula 1934 and 1937 and Gebeurtenis in die Nag ("Happening in the Night"). Incollaboration with CAPAB his company did Kind van die See in 1969 and Wie Flous die Ouvrou Nou? (1970).
Early stage roles were in Die Uur van Vergelding 1930, Spoke 1947 and Hassan (NTO 1950).
For PACT he has appeared in Die Lewe wat ek jou Gegee het (PACT 1964), as Sir Tobie Wynvat in Twaalfde Nag (1964), The Miser (PACT 1964), Die Onwillige Weduwee (PACT 1965), Die Soldate-vryers (PACT 1965), Die Koffer (PACT 1965), Dokter teen Wil en Dank (PACT 1966), Die Pluimsaad Waai Ver (PACT 1966), Die Italiaanse Strooihoed (PACT 1966), Oom Wanja (PACT 1967), Die Dans van die Reier (PACT 1968), As Ons Twee Eers Getroud Is (NTO 1952 and PACT 1968), Die Ryk Weduwee (PACT 1968), Kringloop van die Liefde (PACT 1968), Die Laaste van die Takhare (PACT 1968), Montserrat, Bruidjie Dit en Bruidjie Dot, Modes van Agter, Skuld van Voor.
Other roles include those in Cyrano de Bergerac (CAPAB 1969) and Titus Andronicus (CAPAB 1970).
He appeared in the films Die Geheim van Onderplaas with Anna Cloete in 1962, directed by Al Debbo and in Voor Sononder, Die Kaskenades van Dokter Kwak.
Awards, etc
He received an award from the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns in 1968.
Sources
Twaalfde Nag programme notes, 1964.
Teater SA, 1(1), 1968); Die Burger 11 February 1999.
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