Difference between revisions of "Berdine Grünewald"

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=== Editing in progress ===
 
  
[[Berdine Grünewald]] (1913-1994) Actress.  
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'''Berdine Grünewald''' (b. 15/08/1914 – d. 07/08/1994) was an actress and illustrator.
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
Married to English playwright and anthropologist Robert Ardrey. Her autobiography entitled ***** published by *** in 19**, revised in 19**.
 
 
She died in Cape Town on 7 August 1994 aged 81.
 
 
 
== Career ==
 
A remarkably beautiful woman, she started her acting career with [[André Huguenet]] and was closely associated with his work in the 1940s, though working for many other companies (professional and amateur) as well over the years. She toured with the Commonwealth Theatre Company(??) (19**-19**), performed for National Theatre Organisation (19**-**) and founded the South African Actors' Equity Association in 1957 (**??). Retired from acting in 1966.
 
 
She moved abroad in the late 1950s and performed in Europe, Brittain and Australia. She returned to South Africa in 1973.
 
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
 
Tucker 14 played opposite Anré Huguenet in [[The Outsider|Die Kwaksalwer]], 1939
 
, 17-8, Pierre de Wet opposite BG in an Afrikaans translation of [[Gaslight]], 1942.
 
 
   
 
   
She acted opposite [[André Huguenet]] in ''[[Die Kwaksalwer]]'' in 1939 in the [[Empire Theatre]], Johannesburg and opposite [[Pierre de Wet]] in ''[[Gaslight|Satansloon]]'' in 1942 for André Huguenet’s [[Teatergroep]].  
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Born Anne Bernadine Groenewald, Berdine Grünewald was considered by many to have been one of the most attractive women to have appeared on the South African stage.  A classically trained actress, she started her theatrical career at the age of 21 when, in 1935, she took over the role of Esther, originally played by [[Elsa Fouché]], in ''[[Oom Paul]]'', presented by [[Hendrik]] and [[Mathilde Hanekom]]’s touring company.  She stayed with the Hanekoms for three years and then joined [[André Huguenet]] for ''[[Die Kwaksalwer]]'' in 1939 and several other productions.  She also made a number of appearances for the [[Volksteater]] and the [[National Theatre Organisation]].  She and Huguenet remained close and she played Ophelia opposite him in his Afrikaans-language version of ''[[Hamlet]]'' in 1947 and as Lady Macduff in ''[[Macbeth]]'' in 1950.  In 1951 she visited Australia with the British Commonwealth Theatre Company and in 1955 worked with [[Ruth Oppenheim]] at Johannesburg’s [[Windmill Theatre]].  Her last stage performance in South Africa was in ''[[Die Dame met die Kamelias]]'' in 1966.
  
Tucker 20 Performed in an Afrikaans translation of ''[[Ladies in Retirement]]'' with [[Lydia Lindeque]] for [[Siegfried Mynhardt]]’s company in 1942.
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In 1939 she married Barend Botha, a medical practitioner, but this marriage may have ended in divorce.  Then, in 1960 she married the American playwright, screenwriter and popular/controversial science writer Robert Ardrey and as Berdine Ardrey illustrated three of his books on the science of human origins: African Genesis (1961), The Territorial Imperative (1966) and The Social Contract (1970).  They initially settled in Rome’s Trastevere neighbourhood and 1977 came back to South Africa to live in Kalk Bay.  Robert died there in 1980 and Berdine in 1994.
  
Tucker 38  She starred in ''[[The Witch]]'', staged by the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]] in 1948, together with [[Johann Nell]], [[Sam Moss]] and [[Doreen Mantle]].
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== Credits ==
  
She led [[Ruth Oppenheim]]’s company of actors at the [[Windmill Theatre]] in April 1955 during a production of Pirandello’s ''[[Six Characters in Search of an Author]]''. Starred in a stage version of André Gide’s novella, ''[[The Immoralist]]''. It was staged at the[[ Windmill Theatre]] by [[Ruth Oppenheim]] and company post 1955,  and also starred [[Stanley Coghan]] and [[Charles Stodel]].
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'''Theatre'''
  
She appeared as Marguerite Gautier in ''[[Die Dame met die Kamelias]]'' in 1966, her last appearance on stage in her professional career.
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1934 – ''[[Oom Paul]]'' (Directed by [[Hendrik Hanekom]]) (took over from [[Elsa Fouché]] in 1935),
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1936 – ''[[Erfsonde]]'' (Directed by [[Hendrik Hanekom]]),
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1937 – ''[[Die Geleende Bruid]]'' (Directed by [[Hendrik Hanekom]]),
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1937 – ''[[Generaal de Wet]]'' (Directed by [[Hendrik Hanekom]]),
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1938 – ''[[Deugniet en Korrelkop]]'' (Directed by [[Hendrik Hanekom]]),
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1938 – ''[[Nita die Danseres]]'' ([[D.K.T. Teaters]]),
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1939 – ''[[Die Kwaksalwer]]'' (Directed by [[André Huguenet]]),
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1939 – ''[[Die Tweede Grieta]]'' (Directed by [[André Huguenet]]),
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1940 – ''[[As Mure Kan Praat]]'' (Directed by [[André Huguenet]]),
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1941 – ''[[Lenie]]'' (Directed by [[Anna Neethling-Pohl]] for [[Volksteater]]),
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1941 – ''[[Maria Stuart]]'' (Directed by [[Anna Neethling-Pohl]] for [[Volksteater]]),
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1942 – ''[[Satansloon]]'' (Directed by [[Pierre de Wet]] for [[Teatergroep]]),
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1945 – ''[[Die Rooi Pruik]]'' (Produced by [[Siegfried Mynhardt]] for [[Die Maskerspelers]] and later taken to North Africa to be performed for South African troops in Cairo),
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1946 - ''[[Die Kerkmuis]]'' (Directed by [[Ossip Runitsch]]),
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1947 – ''[[Hamlet]]'' (Directed by [[Anna Neethling-Pohl]] & [[Siegfried Mynhardt]]),
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1948 – ''[[The Witch]]'' ([[Johannesburg Repertory Society]]),
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1949 – ''[[Minnaar Onder die Wapen]]'' (Directed by [[Marda Vanne]] for [[National Theatre Organisation]]),
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1949 – ''[[Die Indringer]]'' (Directed by [[Siegfried Mynhardt]] for [[National Theatre Organisation]]),
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1950 – ''[[Macbeth]]'' (Produced in Afrikaans by [[Gwen ffrangcon-Davies]] for [[National Theatre Organisation]]),
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1951 – ''[[The Devil’s Disciple]]'' (Produced by Ngaio Marsh for British Commonwealth Theatre Company in Sydney),
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1955 – ''[[Six Characters in Search of an Author]]'' (Produced by [[Ruth Oppenheim]] at [[Windmill Theatre]], Johannesburg),
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195* - ''[[The Immoralist]]'' (Produced by [[Ruth Oppenheim]] at [[Windmill Theatre]], Johannesburg),
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1956 – ''[[Gekonkel in die Nag]]'' ([[National Theatre Organisation]]),
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1958 – ''[[Skrikkeljaar]]'' (Directed by [[Robert Mohr]] for [[National Theatre Organisation]]),
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1966 - ''[[Die Dame met die Kamelias]]'' (Directed by [[René Clermont]] for [[CAPAB]]).
  
Among her most prominent performances are in ''[[As die mure kan praat]]'' ("If the walls could talk" - 19**), *, the nurse "Esther" in [[Hendrik Hanekom]]'s production of ''[[Oom Paul]]'' (193*)  for [[Teatergroep]] (1942), the leads in [[H.A. Fagan|Fagan]]'s ''[[Lenie]]'' and  Schiller's ''[[Maria Stuart]]'' (both [[Volksteater]], 1941),  ***** (an Afrikaans translation of ''Ladies in Retirement'') for the [[Siegfried Mynhardt Company]] (1942), The  *** In 1947 she played Ophelia in the famous  Afrikaans ''[[Hamlet]]'' and in 1950 Lady Macduff in ''[[Macbeth]]'' ([[NTO]]).
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'''Film'''
  
Performed in an Afrikaans translation of ''[[Ladies in Retirement]]'' with [[Lydia Lindeque]] for [[Siegfried Mynhardt]]’s company in 1942. She starred in ''[[The Witch]]'', staged by the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]] in 1948, together with [[Johann Nell]], [[Sam Moss]] and [[Doreen Mantle]].  
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She only acted in a few films.  She played, uncredited, in [[Zoltan Korda]]’s film version of ''[[Cry, the Beloved Country]]'' (1951), acted in [[Bladon Peake]]’s ''[[Inspan]]'' (1953) and was in the now totally forgotten ''[[Die Leeu van Punda Maria]]'' (1954), made on 16mm by [[Gerrie Snyman]].  
  
Starred in a stage version of André Gide’s novella, ''[[The Immoralist]]''. It was staged at the [[Windmill Theatre]] by [[Ruth Oppenheim]] and company post 1955, and also starred [[Stanley Coghan]] and [[Charles Stodel]].
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'''Radio'''
  
''[[Skrikkeljaar]]'', ''[[Ugo Betti]]'' ([[Alewyn Lee]]) (vertaal), [[Eghard van der Hoven]], [[Gerrit Wessels]], [[Mathilde Hanekom]], [[San de Lange]], Louis/e/a Aucamp, [[Reenen van Niekerk]], [[Salie Vermaak]], [[Robert Mohr]] (regie), [[Doreen Graves]] (kostuums), [[Frank Graves]] (dekor), 1958.
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Together with the likes of [[Hendrik Hanekom]], [[Mathilde Hanekom]], [[Antonius Ferreira]], [[Jacques Lochner]] and [[Johann Lubbe]] she acted in ''[[Tamboere in die Nag]]'', the first Afrikaans radio series adapted from the detective story ''[[Die Skerpioen]]'' by [[Hendrik Brand]].
  
She had founded the first actors' trade union in South Africa which became Actors' Equity and, finally [[Performing Arts Workers' Equity|PAWE]].
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== Sources ==
 
 
== Awards, etc ==
 
  
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Binge, L.W.B. - Ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse toneel (1932 tot 1950) (1969)
  
== Sources ==
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Botha, Danie - Voetligte & applous!: die beginjare van die Afrikaanse beroepstoneel (2006)
[[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997.
 
  
''[[Die Burger]]'', 8 August 1994.
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Le Roux, André I. & Fourie, Lilla – Filmverlede: geskiedenis van die Suid-Afrikaanse speelfilm (1982)
  
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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Minnaar-Vos, Anna - Die spel gaan voort: die verhaal van Hendrik en Mathilde Hanekom (1969)
  
== Return to ==
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== Return to ==
  
Return to [[ESAT Personalities G]]  
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Return to [[ESAT Personalities G]]
  
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]

Latest revision as of 18:16, 17 April 2022

Berdine Grünewald (b. 15/08/1914 – d. 07/08/1994) was an actress and illustrator.

Biography

Born Anne Bernadine Groenewald, Berdine Grünewald was considered by many to have been one of the most attractive women to have appeared on the South African stage. A classically trained actress, she started her theatrical career at the age of 21 when, in 1935, she took over the role of Esther, originally played by Elsa Fouché, in Oom Paul, presented by Hendrik and Mathilde Hanekom’s touring company. She stayed with the Hanekoms for three years and then joined André Huguenet for Die Kwaksalwer in 1939 and several other productions. She also made a number of appearances for the Volksteater and the National Theatre Organisation. She and Huguenet remained close and she played Ophelia opposite him in his Afrikaans-language version of Hamlet in 1947 and as Lady Macduff in Macbeth in 1950. In 1951 she visited Australia with the British Commonwealth Theatre Company and in 1955 worked with Ruth Oppenheim at Johannesburg’s Windmill Theatre. Her last stage performance in South Africa was in Die Dame met die Kamelias in 1966.

In 1939 she married Barend Botha, a medical practitioner, but this marriage may have ended in divorce. Then, in 1960 she married the American playwright, screenwriter and popular/controversial science writer Robert Ardrey and as Berdine Ardrey illustrated three of his books on the science of human origins: African Genesis (1961), The Territorial Imperative (1966) and The Social Contract (1970). They initially settled in Rome’s Trastevere neighbourhood and 1977 came back to South Africa to live in Kalk Bay. Robert died there in 1980 and Berdine in 1994.

Credits

Theatre

1934 – Oom Paul (Directed by Hendrik Hanekom) (took over from Elsa Fouché in 1935), 1936 – Erfsonde (Directed by Hendrik Hanekom), 1937 – Die Geleende Bruid (Directed by Hendrik Hanekom), 1937 – Generaal de Wet (Directed by Hendrik Hanekom), 1938 – Deugniet en Korrelkop (Directed by Hendrik Hanekom), 1938 – Nita die Danseres (D.K.T. Teaters), 1939 – Die Kwaksalwer (Directed by André Huguenet), 1939 – Die Tweede Grieta (Directed by André Huguenet), 1940 – As Mure Kan Praat (Directed by André Huguenet), 1941 – Lenie (Directed by Anna Neethling-Pohl for Volksteater), 1941 – Maria Stuart (Directed by Anna Neethling-Pohl for Volksteater), 1942 – Satansloon (Directed by Pierre de Wet for Teatergroep), 1945 – Die Rooi Pruik (Produced by Siegfried Mynhardt for Die Maskerspelers and later taken to North Africa to be performed for South African troops in Cairo), 1946 - Die Kerkmuis (Directed by Ossip Runitsch), 1947 – Hamlet (Directed by Anna Neethling-Pohl & Siegfried Mynhardt), 1948 – The Witch (Johannesburg Repertory Society), 1949 – Minnaar Onder die Wapen (Directed by Marda Vanne for National Theatre Organisation), 1949 – Die Indringer (Directed by Siegfried Mynhardt for National Theatre Organisation), 1950 – Macbeth (Produced in Afrikaans by Gwen ffrangcon-Davies for National Theatre Organisation), 1951 – The Devil’s Disciple (Produced by Ngaio Marsh for British Commonwealth Theatre Company in Sydney), 1955 – Six Characters in Search of an Author (Produced by Ruth Oppenheim at Windmill Theatre, Johannesburg), 195* - The Immoralist (Produced by Ruth Oppenheim at Windmill Theatre, Johannesburg), 1956 – Gekonkel in die Nag (National Theatre Organisation), 1958 – Skrikkeljaar (Directed by Robert Mohr for National Theatre Organisation), 1966 - Die Dame met die Kamelias (Directed by René Clermont for CAPAB).

Film

She only acted in a few films. She played, uncredited, in Zoltan Korda’s film version of Cry, the Beloved Country (1951), acted in Bladon Peake’s Inspan (1953) and was in the now totally forgotten Die Leeu van Punda Maria (1954), made on 16mm by Gerrie Snyman.

Radio

Together with the likes of Hendrik Hanekom, Mathilde Hanekom, Antonius Ferreira, Jacques Lochner and Johann Lubbe she acted in Tamboere in die Nag, the first Afrikaans radio series adapted from the detective story Die Skerpioen by Hendrik Brand.

Sources

Binge, L.W.B. - Ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse toneel (1932 tot 1950) (1969)

Botha, Danie - Voetligte & applous!: die beginjare van die Afrikaanse beroepstoneel (2006)

Le Roux, André I. & Fourie, Lilla – Filmverlede: geskiedenis van die Suid-Afrikaanse speelfilm (1982)

Minnaar-Vos, Anna - Die spel gaan voort: die verhaal van Hendrik en Mathilde Hanekom (1969)

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Return to ESAT Personalities G

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

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