Anthony Wilson

(1953-) Actor, director and dramatist. (Also known as "Speedo" Wilson).

Born Anthony Lewis Wilson in "Die Kas" or "Cape Township" in Marabastad outside Pretoria of a coloured woman and a Portuguese father. At school performed in a number of concerts and plays. Completing school in 1972, he married Felicity Manuel in 1973. In 1975 he joined the Eersterust Raad vir die Uitvoerende Kunste (Eersterust Council for the Performing Arts) to do odd jobs and in 1976 got his first role in Bartho Smit's Bacchus in die Boland.

For the next number of years he was a part-time actor for EPAC and PACT as well as movies and TV. In 1984 he turned fully professional, later joining the SABC as full time broadcaster. In 1997 he left the SABC to return to theatre and free-lance TV work. Much of his later work is focussed on theatre for development projects, which he both writes and directs.

Among his acting projects over the years are Kanna hy kô Hystoe ("Kanna comes home" - 1981), ****, ***, Gert Garries – ‘n baaisiekel babelas (2002). Directing projects include **, Die Van Aardes van Grootoor ("The Van Aardes of Big Ear", 2004), **. Among the theatre for development projects are Die Afspringers (Lit. "Those who jump down" - 2002), with the people of Eersterust, Marabastad "Kas"-Kenades (2003?*), Perlemoen, My Ghoen (lit. "Abalone my shooting marble"- 2003) with the people of Hawston, Bushie jy's op jou eie ("Bushie, you're on your own" - 2004). For television he was the director of Arts Unlimited for the SABC, i.a. making a documentary about the Cape Flats Players, (broadcast 30th September, 1996) and directed the Afrikaans TV drama Onder Engele in 1995.

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