Herbert Kretzmer

Herbert Kretzmer (1925-2020) Actor, lyricist and theatre critic.

Biography

Born in Kroonstad, on 5 October, 1925, the son of William and Tilly Kretzmer, who ran a furniture store.He matriculated at Kroonstad High School and then went to Rhodes University.

Journalist Kretzmer began his professional career writing documentary films and the commentary for a weekly cinema newsreel.[3][7] However, he soon moved on to print journalism, initially as a reporter and feature writer for the Johannesburg Sunday Express.[3] He subsequently relocated to London in 1954,[3] and pursued twin careers as journalist and lyric writer.[8]

He began his professional career writing documentary films and the commentary for a weekly cinema newsreel, but then moved on to print journalism, initially as a reporter and feature writer for the Johannesburg Sunday Express. Inter alia he was the Drama critic (writing under the name of Herbert Kentish). He also wrote occasional lyrics for musicals.

He moved to London in 1954 to pursue his twin careers as journalist and lyric writer, working for various publications. There he also went on to reach fame as a lyricist, most notably as author of the English libretto for the musical Les Misérables for Cameron Mackintosh in 1985.

He passed away on 14 October 2020.

Twice married, he had one son.

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

While living in Johannesburg, he was a member of the Johannesburg REPS, appearing in plays such as Romeo and Juliet (Pretoria Opera House and the Wits Great Hall, 1949). He also composed five songs for the Leon Gluckman staged revue Xmas Box (1949).