Bess Finney
FINNEY, Bess. (19*-1995) Actress, director
Contents
Biography
She died on 31 October 1995 (The Citizen 1 Nov 1995).
Training
Career
Also worked in England and in Hong Kong.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
She starred in Jimmy Edwards’s London hit Big Bad Mouse together with Cardew Robinson, Toerien-Rubin Company brought it to South Africa circa 1969. She continued touring with the show abroad. She starred in the Langford-Inglis Company and Hymie Udwin production of Old Ladies together with Zoë Randall and Margaret Inglis at the Alexander Theatre in 1971. Performed in Manners and Morals, Aanslag op Kariba, Catch me a Dream, Murder in Mind, Kennedy's Children, Pippin, Big Bad Mouse, The Seagull, A Murder is Announced, Sugar and Spice, The Gin Game (in Johannesburg and Durban in 1979), Joe Egg (at the Market Theatre in 1980), Harum Scarum Girl (in 1980), Cold Stone Jug (at the Market Theatre), Nellie and Cabman (??at the?? Alhambra Theatre), Pray Don't, Sir George!, 1983, Sugar and Spice, 1987, and as Sara Herman in Above the Wind in the same year. She starred in The Harum-Scarum Girl at the Rosebank Theatre
She directed The Sleeping Beauty (for PACOFS in 1979) and Die Wildeman (in Pretoria and Johannesburg in 1980). She directed Our Gracie at the Little Theatre in 1991.
Awards, etc
She was nominated Actress of the year: in 1963 for “Mrs. Solness” in The Master Builder; in 1970 for “May Beringer” in The Old Ladies and in 1972 for “Bananas” in House of Blue Leaves.
Sources
SACD 1973; 1974; 1975/76; 1977/78; 1978/79; 1980/81; 1981/82.
Tucker, 1997. Page 515.
The Citizen 1 Nov 1995
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