Difference between revisions of "David Nissen"

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(4 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
(1951-) Guitarist and vocalist, actor, composer, playwright and musical arranger.   
+
[[David Nissen]] (1951-). Guitarist and vocalist, actor, composer, playwright and musical arranger.   
  
  
Line 12: Line 12:
 
=== Concert career ===
 
=== Concert career ===
  
His South African career as professional concert musician included over 60 shows, starting with a 1971 national tour with Mandy Cohen and Nicholas Pike and ending with the Credence Clearwater Revival Show (1997-2004) and Lonely Stranger (an Eric Clapton Show, 1999-2004) and concerts in the [[Dorpstraat Teater|Dorp Street Theatre]], Stellenbosch (2000-2004). He then moved to Ireland, where he still does the occasional concert or session.
+
His South African career as professional concert musician included over 60 theatrical shows, starting with a 1971 national tour with Mandy Cohen and Nicholas Pike and ending with the Credence Clearwater Revival Show (1997-2004) and Lonely Stranger (an Eric Clapton Show, 1999-2004) and concerts in the [[Dorpstraat Teater|Dorp Street Theatre]], Stellenbosch (2000-2004). He then moved to Ireland, where he still does the occasional concert or session.
  
 
===Theatrical career===  
 
===Theatrical career===  
Line 20: Line 20:
 
In 1972 he went to work for the [[Space Theatre]], where he performed, among others, in plays ''[[Animal Fair]]'' (devised and presented by [[Phillip Boucher]], 1972),  and composed the music for and sang in ''[[Stories, Folk and Film]]'' (1972), ''[[Othello Slegs Blankes]]'' ([[Donald Howarth]], 1972)*, He later also did musical work on ''[[Alice]]'' (1980) and ''[[Godspell]]'' for the [[People's Space]] (1981).  
 
In 1972 he went to work for the [[Space Theatre]], where he performed, among others, in plays ''[[Animal Fair]]'' (devised and presented by [[Phillip Boucher]], 1972),  and composed the music for and sang in ''[[Stories, Folk and Film]]'' (1972), ''[[Othello Slegs Blankes]]'' ([[Donald Howarth]], 1972)*, He later also did musical work on ''[[Alice]]'' (1980) and ''[[Godspell]]'' for the [[People's Space]] (1981).  
  
In 1984 he joined [[CAPAB]], where his musical work included ''[[Bremen Coffee]]'' (1985), ''[[The Woods]]'' (1985), ''[[Celebration II]]'' (1985), ''[[The Wizard of Oz]]'' (1986), ''[[Elizabeth I]]'' (1988), ''[[The Road to Mecca]]'' (1989),  ''[[How Table Mountain Got Its Cloud]]'' (1989), ''[[Lavender Hill Blues]]'' (1989), [[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'', ''[[Hair]]'' (for which he was musical director)''[[Mr Mojo Risin - A Tribute to Jim Morrison]]'', *** .  
+
In 1984 he joined [[CAPAB]], where his musical work included ''[[Bremen Coffee]]'' (1985), ''[[The Woods]]'' (1985), ''[[Celebrations II]]'' (1987), ''[[The Wizard of Oz]]'' (1986), ''[[Elizabeth I]]'' (1988), ''[[The Road to Mecca]]'' (1989),  ''[[How Table Mountain Got Its Cloud]]'' (1989), ''[[Mr Mojo Risin - A Tribute to Jim Morrison]]'' (1990), ''[[Much Ado about Nothing]]'' ([[Maynardville]], 1990), ''[[Merry Wives of Windsor]]'' (1991), ''[[Beatlemania]]'' (1991), ''[[Working Class Hero]]'' (1991), ''[[The Two Gentlemen of Verona]]'' ([[Maynardville]] and [[Oude Libertas Theatre]], 1993).
 +
''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' (1993), ''[[Hair]]'' (1993) and ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' (1994). 
 +
 
 +
From 1989 he also did work for the [[Baxter Theatre]], doing ''inter alia'' ''[[Lavender Hill Blues]]'' (1989) and ''[[Juno and the Paycock]]'' (1990).
  
His other theatre credits include two [[Maynardville]] productions, ''[[Much Ado about Nothing]]'' and ''[[The Two Gentlemen of Verona]]''.
 
  
 
'''As playwright/director'''
 
'''As playwright/director'''
  
Wrote, and often directed and performed in, a number of musical productions, including  ''[[The Prince and the Sphinx]]'' (Cape Town Festival for Captour, 1987), which he considers a career highlight. Also ''[[How Table Mountain Got Its Cloud]]'' (1989),
+
Wrote, and often directed and performed in, a number of musical productions, including  ''[[The Prince and the Sphinx]]'' (Cape Town Festival for Captour, 1987), which he considers a career highlight. Also ''[[How Table Mountain Got Its Cloud]]'' ([[Nico Malan Theatre]], 1989), ''[[Working Class Hero]]'' ([[Nico Arena]], 1991).
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==

Revision as of 10:47, 14 January 2019

David Nissen (1951-). Guitarist and vocalist, actor, composer, playwright and musical arranger.


Biography

Born in 1951, **

Contribution to South African theatre, film, media and performance

He began his dual professional career in music and theatre in 1971, and for much of his life he was split between a straight concert career and a career in theatre. These facets of his life are at times difficult to separate, as some of the musical presentations were theatrically conceived and based, and conversely, many theatrical activities were in a sense musical events as well. This entry naturally focusses more on the theatrical work.

Concert career

His South African career as professional concert musician included over 60 theatrical shows, starting with a 1971 national tour with Mandy Cohen and Nicholas Pike and ending with the Credence Clearwater Revival Show (1997-2004) and Lonely Stranger (an Eric Clapton Show, 1999-2004) and concerts in the Dorp Street Theatre, Stellenbosch (2000-2004). He then moved to Ireland, where he still does the occasional concert or session.

Theatrical career

As arranger/composer/recorder/performer and/or musical director

In 1972 he went to work for the Space Theatre, where he performed, among others, in plays Animal Fair (devised and presented by Phillip Boucher, 1972), and composed the music for and sang in Stories, Folk and Film (1972), Othello Slegs Blankes (Donald Howarth, 1972)*, He later also did musical work on Alice (1980) and Godspell for the People's Space (1981).

In 1984 he joined CAPAB, where his musical work included Bremen Coffee (1985), The Woods (1985), Celebrations II (1987), The Wizard of Oz (1986), Elizabeth I (1988), The Road to Mecca (1989), How Table Mountain Got Its Cloud (1989), Mr Mojo Risin - A Tribute to Jim Morrison (1990), Much Ado about Nothing (Maynardville, 1990), Merry Wives of Windsor (1991), Beatlemania (1991), Working Class Hero (1991), The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Maynardville and Oude Libertas Theatre, 1993). Jesus Christ Superstar (1993), Hair (1993) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (1994).

From 1989 he also did work for the Baxter Theatre, doing inter alia Lavender Hill Blues (1989) and Juno and the Paycock (1990).


As playwright/director

Wrote, and often directed and performed in, a number of musical productions, including The Prince and the Sphinx (Cape Town Festival for Captour, 1987), which he considers a career highlight. Also How Table Mountain Got Its Cloud (Nico Malan Theatre, 1989), Working Class Hero (Nico Arena, 1991).

Sources

A Midsummer Night's Dream programme notes in 1995 at Maynardville.

http://adrianbekker.blogspot.com/

CV supplied by David Nissen (July 2015)

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities N

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page