Rodney Frankland

Rodney Frankland (1942? - 2005) was a Pietermaritzburg performer, director and theatre manager.

Biography

Born in Pietermaritzburg and educated at Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzburg College, he qualified as a medical technologist in Durban, and was in charge of medical laboratories at several hospitals over the years, including Grey's, Northdale, Greytown, Ladysmith and Addington in Durban.

He died at the age of 63 in 2005.

Contribution to South African theatre

In 1982 Frankland was appointed the first theatre manager at the Winston Churchill Theatre. In 1989 he became the first general manager of the Pietermaritzburg Philharmonic Society. After the society disbanded in 1997 Frankland was employed by the municipality as a hall manager.

A stalwart of amateur theatre, he was a chairman of the Natal Society Drama Group based at The Cygnet Theatre.

As a performer and a director productions he was involved with include Go Bang Your Tambourine, In Praise of Love, A Christmas Carol, Dry Rot, We'll Meet Again - Vera Lynn, La Serva Padronne and Sailor Beware!.