Difference between revisions of "Benjy Francis"

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 8: Line 8:
  
 
=== Training ===
 
=== Training ===
Studied at the University of Durban-Westville.
+
Studied at the University of Durban-Westville. He stuied for two years at the Drama Centre in London.
  
  
Line 18: Line 18:
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
  
He directed ''[[The Blood Knot]]'' (1976), ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'' with an all black cast at the same venue in 1976, ''[[We Shall Sing for the Fatherland]]''. He directed the show ''[[The Me Nobody Knows]]'', with music by Gary William Friedman and lyrics by Will Holt which was staged by [[The Company]] at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1977. It starred [[Leonie Hofmeyr]], [[Leslie Mongezi]], [[Nomsa Nene]], [[Barrie Shah]] and [[Jonathan Taylor]]. He directed ''[[Night of the Long Wake]]'', the opening production of The [[Dhlomo Theatre]] on 21 March 1983.  
+
He directed and played "Morrie" in ''[[The Blood Knot]]'' (1976), ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'' with an all black cast at the same venue in 1976, ''[[We Shall Sing for the Fatherland]]''. He directed the show ''[[The Me Nobody Knows]]'', with music by Gary William Friedman and lyrics by Will Holt which was staged by [[The Company]] at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1977. It starred [[Leonie Hofmeyr]], [[Leslie Mongezi]], [[Nomsa Nene]], [[Barrie Shah]] and [[Jonathan Taylor]]. He directed ''[[Night of the Long Wake]]'', the opening production of The [[Dhlomo Theatre]] on 21 March 1983.  
  
 
Founded [[Federated Union of Black Artists]] in 1978 and formed the [[Afrika Cultural Centre]].
 
Founded [[Federated Union of Black Artists]] in 1978 and formed the [[Afrika Cultural Centre]].
  
 
== Awards, etc ==
 
== Awards, etc ==
 
+
Voted "Best actor" by Natal critics for his role as Morrie in ''[[The Blood Knot]]''.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
Line 29: Line 29:
  
 
Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue.
 
Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue.
 +
 +
''[[The Rand Daily Mail]]'', 27 January 1926.
  
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

Revision as of 17:20, 30 September 2022

Benjy Francis. (19**-) Actor, director and arts activist.

Biography

Youth

Training

Studied at the University of Durban-Westville. He stuied for two years at the Drama Centre in London.


Career

One of the founding members of TECON in 1969, working with them till the mid 1970s. Working with TECON towards the end of its existance, he also developed productions with black casts in Soweto, including a revival of Fugard’s The Blood Knot (also playing at Upstairs at the Market, 1976) and a workshopped version of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot (with James Mthoba and Sam Williams, playing in Durban, Soweto and Upstairs at the Market during 1976.) He then joined Federated Union of Black Artists (FUBA) in Johannesburg, and at one time was second in command of the organisation. Directed a number of works for them, including Mda’s Dead End and We Shall Sing for the Fatherland (1978/9?*), The Me Nobody Knows (Market Theatre, 1977.

In 1983 founded the Dhlomo Theatre and set up and headed the Afrika Cultural Centre.

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

He directed and played "Morrie" in The Blood Knot (1976), Waiting for Godot with an all black cast at the same venue in 1976, We Shall Sing for the Fatherland. He directed the show The Me Nobody Knows, with music by Gary William Friedman and lyrics by Will Holt which was staged by The Company at the Market Theatre in 1977. It starred Leonie Hofmeyr, Leslie Mongezi, Nomsa Nene, Barrie Shah and Jonathan Taylor. He directed Night of the Long Wake, the opening production of The Dhlomo Theatre on 21 March 1983.

Founded Federated Union of Black Artists in 1978 and formed the Afrika Cultural Centre.

Awards, etc

Voted "Best actor" by Natal critics for his role as Morrie in The Blood Knot.

Sources

Tucker, 1997. pp 335, 344.

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

The Rand Daily Mail, 27 January 1926.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities F

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page