William Mitcheson Timlin
William Mitcheson Timlin (1892-1943) was an architect and illustrator, who designed some of South Africa's most famous atmospheric theatres.
Also referred to as William M. Timlin in some sources.
Biography
Born William Mitcheson Timlin in 1892 in Ashington, Northumberland, the son of a colliery fireman, he attended Morpeth Grammar School. Showing a talent for drawing, he received a scholarship to the Armstrong College of Art in Newcastle. In 1910 he joined his parents in Kimberley, South Africa, where he began to work for the architectural firm of D.W. Greatbach, later becoming a partner in the firm Greatbach and Timlin. He remained in Kimberley for the rest of his life. A multi-talented man, he produced numerous art works, exhibiting works in watercolour, oil, pastel, and producing etchings and periodical illustrations. He also wrote stories and composed music.
His impact on theatre design
Besides his designs for a number of important buildings in Kimberley, including Kimberly Boys' High School, Timlin also designed or helped on the interior design of, many performance venues, buildings that included the Plaza Kinema in Kimberley (for Kinemas Limited, 1928). He notably supplied the architect P. Rogers Cooke with the interior designs for two highly regarded atmospheric theatres, namely The Alhambra (Cape Town, 1931) and The Collisseum (Johannesburg, 1933). Possibly also the Playhouse in Durban.
In addition, Timlin designed many theatre programmes and posters for productions put on in Kimberley.
Sources
(See Marilyn Martin, 1995) & Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_M._Timlin
Return to ESAT Personalities T
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to Main Page
