Basil Warner

Basil Warner (19*-2004) was a businessman, writer, set designer.

Born Basil John Warner in South Africa.

He worked as an advertising executive in South Africa and married actress and director Minna Millstein Married to actress and director Minna Millsten in the 1940s. In 1960, Basil and Minna moved to the UK, where he worked for Lever Brothers. He died in Welshpool, Wales, in 2004.

His contribution to theatre, film, media, and performance

He was involved in many drama productions in Cape Town and Johannesburg over the years, as well as productions for SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation).

As a writer he produced two known texts , a one-act play called Divine Sarah and the full-length political play Try for White. The latter play was produced in 1959 by Leonard Schach’s Cockpit Players in 1959, and became a sensation, touring the country.

Try for White was broadcast in the BBC's Theatre 625 series in 1965. In 1969 the play was used as the basis for Katrina, one of the most controversial and significant films produced by Emil Noval and Jans Rautenbach.

His

As a designer, he did the sets of Millsten’s production of Gordon Daviot’s Richard of Bordeaux (Children's Theatre, 1951).

He only wrote one play, but

He left South Africa in 19** to live and work for Lever Brothers in England.

He wrote the one-act play Divine Sarah.

Sources

Tucker, 1997.

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