Roger Dwyer

Roger Dwyer. (1941-2007) Actor on stage, radio and film, and manager.

Biography

Dwyer was educated at Fish Hoek High School, then trained at the University of Cape Town (1959-1961) and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London (1962-1963).

He died in Cape Town in April 2007.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

While a student, he starred in Robert Mohr's production of The Sport of My Mad Mother for the 1961 Student's Art Festival entitled Imagination ‘61. The production went to Loughborough Student’s Winter Festival in England, in 1962. and Dwyer remained there to study at RADA for two years. On completion of the studies he performed extensively in the UK for 5 years, returning to South Africa in 1967.

He joined CAPAB in 1968, working there for 15 years inter alia as actor, stage director, company manager, director and principal artist. He later moved on to NAPAC where he was instrumental in establishing the Loft Theatre. At the time of the opening of the Natal Playhouse he held the position of Administration Head of Drama. Dwyer then returned to Cape Town to become company manager for CAPAB English Drama Section.

As actor

He appeared as Diomedes in Antony and Cleopatra at the Little Theatre in 1960.

In 1962 he played in Flora Stohr's production of Ann Jellicoe's The Sport of my Mad Mother at the Little Theatre and to much acclaim of South African and European audiences. At a German Student Festival he was a singled out talent along with John Mitchell.

Among his best known performances are in The Beaux' Stratagem (CAPAB, 1967), Candida (CAPAB, 1968), Cape Charade or Kaatje Kekkelbek (1968), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (CAPAB, 1969), The Emperor (CAPAB, 1970), The Police (CAPAB, 1971), Annie Get Your Gun (CAPAB, 1973), The School for Wives (CAPAB, 1973), The Game of Kings (CAPAB, 1974), Antony and Cleopatra (CAPAB, 1975), Arms and the Man (CAPAB 1977), Roulette (CAPAB, 1977), Love's the Best Doctor (CAPAB, 1977), Twelfth Night in 1978 at Maynardville, Confusions (CAPAB, 1979), The Relapse (CAPAB 1979), Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Miss Julie (1973), Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Poor Murderer, Othello (1982), Richard II, as Pickering in My Fair Lady (for CAPAB, 1978). He took part in productions for the Baxter Theatre and in comedies for Pieter Toerien at Theatre on the Bay, including Shear Madness (1997).