Louis Burke
Louis Burke (born circa 1936) Theatrical producer, actor, choreographer, lighting designer and director.
Contents
Biography
Born in Durban, he began his career there as an amateur. He was married to Joan Brickhill. They went on to found the successful Brickhill-Burke Company. He is Muriel Alexander’s great-nephew. When they divorced after 25 years and Burke went to New York, Joan remained in Durban to continue mounting productions.
For further information on their joint work, see the entry on the Brickhill-Burke Company.
For Joan Brickhill's biographical and career information, see the individual entry under Joan Brickhill.
Training
He studied Drama at Natal University.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As actor
As an actor he made his first stage appearance in Johannesburg in the Johannesburg REPS production of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge (1957).
He appeared as Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1964), Valere in The Miser (1964), as the Samurai in Rashomon (1965), The Sound of Music (1976).
As director
1963: Oklahoma! (with Joan Brickhill)
1964: A Midsummer Night's Dream (with Joan Brickhill)
1965: The Beggar's Opera (CAPAB)
1965: Dark of the Moon (with Joan Brickhill for PACT)
1966: The Minstrel Scandals for ACT.
1967: The Owl and the Pussycat (with Joan Brickhill)
1969: South Pacific (with Joan Brickhill for JODS)
1970: Non-Stop Minstrel Scandals (with Joan Brickhill for ACT)
1974: Meropa, the Drums of Africa (with Joan Brickhill and Clarence Wilson)
1974: Minstrel Follies (with Joan Brickhill)
1975: Gypsy (with Joan Brickhill)
1976: Follies Fantastique (with Joan Brickhill)
1976: The Sound of Music (with Joan Brickhill for PACT)
1978: I Love my Wife (with Joan Brickhill)
1980: Hello Dolly! (Brickhill-Burke Productions)
1980: They're Playing Our Song (with Joan Brickhill)
1980: Last of the Red Hot Lovers (with Joan Brickhill)
1981: Bedazzled (with Joan Brickhill, Sun City)
1982: Mame (Brickhill-Burke Productions, Johannesburg Civic Theatre Association))
1982: I Love my Wife (with Joan Brickhill)
1983: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Brickhill-Burke Productions, Johannesburg Civic Theatre Association)
1984: The King and I (PACT)
1986: The King and I (PACT)
1986: Brighton Beach Memoirs (Shirley Firth at the André Huguenet Theatre).
Awards, etc
In 1963 he was nominated Best Actor and Best male director of the year in Durban.
Louis Burke, Best Director Award for Barnum, The King and I, Oklahoma!, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Jewish Mock Wedding, Mame.
Sources
SACD 1977/78.
Tucker, 1997.
(See: De Beer, 1995; Joyce 1999).
Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography
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