Terrence Shank

(19*-) Playwright and director. ** His adaptation and direction of Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath starring Michael McCabe, Erica Rogers, Sean Taylor and James Borthwick was staged in 1986. He directed Joe Orton’s Loot starring Michael McCabe, James Borthwick, Michael Richard and Aletta Bezuidenhout for PACT in October 1986. His production of David Wiltse’s Doubles was staged at the Alhambra Theatre in December 1986. His production of Sugar and Spice starring Bess Finney was the opening production at the Little Theatre, Rosebank in February 1987. He directed PACT’s production of Mark Rozovsky’s Strider at the Alexander in 1987. He directed Sandra Prinsloo and Sean Taylor in Double Double at the André Huguenet Theatre in 1987. He directed Allan Browne’s Beirut for PACT in 1988. He directed Vladimir Gubartev’s Sarcophagus at the André Huguenet Theatre in 1988. He directed a revival of Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes in 1989. He directed Sweet Charity which formed part of NAPAC’s The Trilogy in 1989. He directed William Finn’s March of the Falsettos at the Adcock-Ingram in September 1989. He directed Persona at the Windybrow in May 1990. He directed the Moira Blumenthal-PACT production of Ghetto in 1991. He directed David Mamet’s Oleanna in 1993.

Biography

Came to South Africa in 1985.

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

He directed Edward Albee's The Lady From Dubuque for PACT, then his own adaptation of Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath starring Michael McCabe, Erica Rogers, Sean Taylor and James Borthwick was staged in 1986. He directed Joe Orton’s Loot starring Michael McCabe, James Borthwick, Michael Richard and Aletta Bezuidenhout for PACT in October 1986; Four Play, The Taming of the Shrew, Nude with Stretch Marks, The Survivalist, Social Security, He directed PACT’s production of Mark Rozovsky’s Strider at the Alexander in 1987; Above the Wind, Looking Glass, all for PACT. Other independent productions include his production of Sugar and Spice starring Bess Finney which was the opening production at the Little Theatre, Rosebank in February 1987. He directed Sandra Prinsloo and Sean Taylor in Double Double at the André Huguenet Theatre in 1987. and Berlin to Broadway. For Pieter Toerien he has directed Joe Orton’s Loot starring Michael McCabe, James Borthwick, Michael Richard and Aletta Bezuidenhout for PACT in October 1986., Tribute, The Perfect Party and Corpse. He directed Allan Browne’s Beirut for PACT in 1988. He directed Vladimir Gubartev’s Sarcophagus at the André Huguenet Theatre in 1988. He directed a revival of Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes in 1989. He directed Sweet Charity which formed part of NAPAC’s The Trilogy in 1989. He directed William Finn’s March of the Falsettos at the Adcock-Ingram in September 1989. He directed Persona at the Windybrow in May 1990. He directed the Moira Blumenthal-PACT production of Ghetto in 1991. He directed David Mamet’s Oleanna in 1993.

He presented Marius Weyers in his stage debut in Los Angeles.

He was closely involved with Education Alive, a Black education programme, and The Way to Happiness Campaign, a community organisation within local townships.

Awards, etc

Amstel Award for Four Play; Vita 1986/87 award for Excellence in Direction for Looking Glass; Breytenbeach (Dalro) award for Best Direction 1986/97; Star Tonight/AA Vita award winner for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy 1986/87 for Doubles.

Sources

Tucker 1997

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