Terry Lester

(****-****). Actor. Played “Pharaoh” in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and “Max Detwieler” in The Sound of Music.

LESTER, Terry. (19*-) Actor. ** He starred in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which was directed by John Hussey and choreographed by Geoffrey Sutherland post 1974. He starred in Robert Kirby’s The Dot-Dash Show together with Robert at the Little Theatre in 1975. He starred in the Brickhill-Burke and PACT revival of The Sound of Music at His Majesty's Theatrein June 1976. Direction and choreography were taken care of by Joan Brickhill and Louis Burke, the latter of which also starred in this production together with Jarmilla Tellinger, Diane Todd and Judy Page. He starred in Robert Kirby’s Separate Development, directed by and co-starring Kirby at the Laager in 1980. Together with Robert Kirby he presented Academy Rewards at the Academy Theatre in 1981. He starred in the Johannesburg Civic Theatre Association and Brickhill-Burke Productions co-production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum together with Wilson Dunster in June 1983. ***(Tucker, 1997) LESTER, Terry, a Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Andrew Botha (sets), 1983.

Quoted from the programme of Pieter Toerien's Isn't It Romantic in 1985: 'Terry is one of the country's most versatile entertainers, a favourite cabaret star who never follows formulas and squashes hecklers with razor-sharp wit. Born in Weymouth in Dorset, Terry appeared in three major film before he was six and then attended the Italia Conti School of Music and Dance. Soon he was in the chorus at the famous London Palladium and a year later was head boy and dance captain, appearing with Judy Garland, Jack Benny and Marlene Dietrich. Then came legitimate theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company where he performed with Olivier, Gielgud, Dame Edith Evans and Peggy Ashcroft.

Return to ESAT Personalities L

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to Main Page