Leonard Rayne
Stage name of William Cowie. (6 March 1869-19 June 1925) Actor and manager who had a great influence on South African theatre. Born in ***, he trained with **. Arrived in South Africa in 1896 with Ben Wheeler’s theatre company and playing Hamlet, Richard the Third and so on. In 1899 he returned with Alfred Paumier?* and an extensive repertory of plays, including The Count of Monte Cristo?* and what was to become his most memorable role, Napoleon in A Royal Divorce. Later went into partnership with Frank de Jongh, before becoming an independent producer, one of South Africa’s leading actor-managers, affectionately known as "the Guvnor??*". For many years he ran the Standard Theatre in Johannesburg. Among his most notable productions were The Prodigal Son (in which he first appeared with the young Freda Godfrey - 1906), The Rosary (19**), A Royal Divorce (19**), ***, ****. Was married to actress Amy Grace, later he became the lover and partner of Freda Godfrey. *** RAYNE, Leonard. Actor-Manager. The Standard Theatre became the home of his company. His popular leading lady was Freda Godfrey. Pieter Toerien opened a new auditorium at the Alhambra in 1983 called the Leonard Rayne Theatre. *** RAYNE, Leonard, born as William Hannay Watts Cowie – 6 March 1869 in Blyth, Northumberland. He first came to SA in 1895 under the aegis of William J Holloway of the Lyceum Theatre. Holloway’s Othello William Haviland, Amy Coleridge (also from UK) with Rayne. The Royal Divorce, toured and performed in seven plays: King Lear, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night, The School for Scandal & Richard II. In 1898 came with his wife, Amy for East Lynne. Had lease of Port Elizabeth Opera House & Gaiety Theatre in 1902 Rob Roy. .Little Lord Fauntleroy with Freda Godfrey who became his leading lady. A White Man, Kismet. He was buried in Woltemade Cemetry In CT 21 June 1929.
Sources
Fletcher, 199*; See Du Toit, 1988; Tucker, 1997
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