Lydia Lindeque
LINDEQUE, Lydia. (1912 – 1997) Stage name of Alida du Toit. Legendary Afrikaans actress. Born and raised in Bethlehem in the Orange Free State, discovered and trained by Paul de Groot (who fell in love with her when she was 16, and offered her the role of Nora in his version of The Dollhouse – but her mother objected.). She later joined his company tour till October 1930 i.a. with Rosekrans (Barclay/Bisson) and later Besigheid is Besigheid (1931), then became a member of André Huguenet’s company, the NTO company and others. Among her most notable early roles are ******, **?? In 1938 she played *** in Uys Krige’s debut play Magdalena Retief, directed by Krige himself. In 1940-41 she played in English for the first time – Viola in Gwen ffrangçon-Davies’s production of Twelfth Night. Follows this with Mademoiselle (Deval, 194*) and Servant of God by Madeleine Masson (194*) and **** (Ladies in Retirement - 1942). Also worked as a director with the Krugersdorp Municipal Dramatic and Operatic Society (KMDOS) during the war years. In 1945 she goes to Cairo and Italy with the UDF Entertainment Unit to direct entertainment for the troops, including the plays **** Die Rooi Pruik, The Proposal, Mrs Warren's Profession and a number of concerts. On her return she worked for NTO and did Lysistrata (1952) Hassan (1952), *** Medea, Her final appearance on stage was as Agrippina in the premiére of N.P. van Wyk Louw’s Germanicus (NTO, 1957).
A classically beautiful woman, she seemed to have smitten most men who worked with her, including Paul De Groot, André Huguenet and Siegfried Mynardt. Married poet and playwright Uys Krige in 1937, and had a daughter, Eulalia (1937) and son Taillefer (1944). By 1944 the marriage was in trouble. Later married John Mantel. (See Binge, 19**; Du Toit, 1988; ) LINDEQUE, Lydia. Actress. Performed in an Afrikaans translation of Ladies in retirement with Berdine Grunewald for Siegfried Mynhardt’s company in 1942. She co-starred with Leon Gluckman in Taubie Kushlick’s production of The Rope Dancer in 1958. LINDEQUE, Lydia. Actress. Performed in Shaw's Mrs Warren's profession, directed by Leontine Sagan in 1947 by the REPS. Starred in the Greek comedy Lysistrata, directed by Leon Gluckman, in 1952. Also starring Vivienne Drummond. *** (Huguenet, 195*; Binge, 19**; Du Toit, 1988; Tucker, 1997) [TH, JH] LINDEQUE, Lydia (1912 – 1997 in Andorra) (Eie naam: Alida du Toit) Die Rosekrans, Besigheid is besigheid, Paul de Groot se reisende toneelgroep. Daarna nege produksies met André Huguenet : Genoveta, Die swart hand & Ampie. Trou in 1937 met Uys Krige en speel in sy Voortrekkereeufeesstuk: Magdalena Retief, 1938/39. Mara (verwerking van Grosskopf se Oorlog is oorlog) Anna Neethling-Pohl (regie), Volksteater, Pta. Twelfth Night Gwen ffrangcon-Davies & Marda Vanne, 1940/41. Mrs Warren’s Profession (Shaw) olv. Leontine Sagan, Johannesburg Repertory Society. Lysistrata, director: Leon Gluckman. Siegfried Mynhardt & sy stig geselskap om troepe in Egipte te vermaak met Die Rooi Pruik. The Rope Dancers with Taubie Kuschlick (director) 1958, Mirandolina olv Petro Nolte (1957) vir CT Theatre Company, Medea (Euripides) Durban Lyric Theatre Company, 1962.
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