Benjy Francis

Benjy Francis. (19**-) Actor, director and arts activist.

Biography

Training

Studied at the University of Durban-Westville.

Career

One of the founding members of TECON in 1969, working with them to till the mid 1970s. Working with TECON towards the end of its existance, he also developed productions with black casts in Soweto, including a revival of Fugard’s The Blood Knot (also playing at Upstairs at the Market, 1976) and a workshopped version of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot (with James Mthoba and Sam Williams, playing in Durban, Soweto and Upstairs at the Market during 1976.) He then joined Federated Union of Black Artists (FUBA) in Johannesburg, and at one time was second in command of the organisation. Directed a number of works for them, including Mda’s Dead End and We Shall Sing for the Fatherland (1978/9?*), The Me Nobody Knows (Market Theatre, 198*), *** In 198* founded the Dhlomo Theatre and set up and headed the Afrika Cultural Centre in ***.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

The Blood Knot (1976), Waiting for Godot, Company (1977) We Shall Sing for the Fatherland directed by Benjy Francis Directed and starred in Fugard’s The Blood Knot together with Fats Bookholane at Upstairs at the Market in 1976. Francis also directed Waiting for Godot with an all black cast at the same venue in 1976. Ken Leach directed his Conspiracy, starring Patrick Mynhardt for PACT at the Alexander Theatre in 1976. He directed the show The Me Nobody Knows, with music by Gary William Friedman and lyrics by Will Holt which was staged by The Company at the Market Theatre in 1977. It starred Leonie Hofmeyr, Leslie Mongezi, Nomsa Nene, Barrie Shah and Jonathan Taylor. (See Schwartz, 1988; Tucker, 1997, Kruger, 1999**)

He directed Night of the Long Wake, the opening production of The Dhlomo Theatre on 21 March 1983.

Founded Federated Union of Black Artists in 1978 and formed the Afrika Culture Centre.

Sources

Tucker, 1997. 335, 344.

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