Albert Maritz (1960-) is a stage, film, radio and television actor, television presenter, director and editor, theatre impressario, dramatist and journalist.

Biography

Born and schooled in in Belville, South Africa. Son of Dawie Maritz, he grew up in radio studios, behind stages and in his dad's dark room developing rolls of film. A member of the Bellville Amateur Toneelgroep (BAT), his first appearance on stage with his father, Dawie Maritz at the age of twelve. Studied drama at the Akademie vir Dramakuns in Cape Town (1980) and the Drama Department, University of Stellenbosch (1981-1983), then obtained an Higher Education Diploma from UNISA (1995). He became a teacher, then an actor, a director and a producer.

From its inception he has been a commentator on theatre matters for the online journal LitNet.

Stage career

On contract for PACT (1984-85), and from 1986 becomes a prominent freelance actor for stage, radio and TV, nominee for and winner of a number of awards over the years.

In 1998 he founded Impresario (trading as Allie-se-Produksies), his own theatre production company, producing musical shows (his clients include Johannes Kerkorrel, Koos Kombuis, Nataniël and The Jazz Pioneers), formal theatre projects and theatre for development programmes.

Actor

As stage actor has had roles a range of plays, including Deon Opperman's critically acclaimed Stille Nag (1991), Die Sakeman van Venesië (1991), Charles Fourie's one-man piece Stander (1999), Breyten Breytenbach's controversial Die Toneelstuk (2001), Yerma (2002), Land van Skedels, Rooikappie (Pantomime), Môre is 'n Lang Dag, Heidi (Pantomime) and Die Buite Egtelike Oupa (2023)

Producer and director

One facet of his work as producer director derived from his educational training and involved a number of educational and development programmes, including Prokara, Survivor, Stop the Tears and Lang Tentakels - all aimed at young people in the Cape.

But in later years his major contribution as producer and director has been his attempts to revive interest in earlier classic South African works - particularly Afrikaans plays. These include D.J. Opperman's Joernaal van Jorik (1987), Adam Small's Kanna hy kô hystoe (2003), Melt Brink's Maljan onder die Hoenders (2003), Nico Burger’s Botspoppe (2004), Pieter Fourie's Faan se Trein (KKNK and Aardklop - Most popular production 2005) and Faan se Stasie (KKNK, Aardklop, Innibos, Artscape and Durbanville 2006), Deon Opperman’s More is 'n Lang Dag (2008), Jeanne Goosen - Elders aan diens (2008), Chris Barnard's Taraboemdery (Innibos Best Artist 2010), 'n Seder val in Waterkloof (Innibos - Most popular production 2011), Mooi Maria (Aardklop, Best production, 2011), Die Rebellie van Lafras Verwey (Fleur du Cap Best director, 2011), Die Van Aardes van Grootoor (Innibos, KKNK and Durbanville, 2013), (Athol Fugard's Playland (The Fugard Theatre, 2014), Pa, Maak vir my 'n Vlieër Pa (2016-17), Die Nag van Legio (2017) .

Film, Radio and Television

Film

His extensive work in local and international films includes over 30 appearances, among them in:

Koffie en Sigarette, Fool's Gold, A Boere-krismis, Kantlyn, In Die Middel Van Nêrens, Griekwastad, Wesens, Liewe Lisa, Recce, Jagveld, Modder en Bloed, Die Pro, 'n Man Soos My Pa, Uitvlught, Strikdas, Die Man met die Swaar Been, Verraaiers, Black Butterflies, Skoonheid, Winnie, Invictus, To Be First, Goodbye Bafana, Light of Africa, Cape of Good Hope, Country of my Skull, Circles in a Forest, The Journey to the Centre of the Earth and Rooibos with Milk

As writer and director, he made two feature films, Lenteblom and Tussen as en Hoop (co-writer and acting director), with one more, The Boy Behind the Cupboard planned.

Radio

Besides numerous roles as radio actor, he was the producer of produce the radio drama Dirk Ligter for RSG –

Television

At various times presenter, director, editor and scriptwriter for television (SABC's TSS TV, NNTV, SABC 3), and in 1997 editor and host for Sport and Art with Punt Radio in Cape Town.

Also in a number of single TV dramas and well-known series, (e.g. Galery, Konings, Torings, the highly regarded Arende, Africa P.I., Egoli, Isidingo and The Hunt for the Man in the Moon).

Also responsible for three TV musical documentaries, Groot, groter as…, N.P. van Wyk Louw, Wyk en die Meisies and Elders aan Diens.

He become a familiar face through a number of prominent commercials, including the one of the man with the trunk of an elephant around his neck and the "man of many parts" in the amusing Met Eish ("with ice") brandy adverts.