Difference between revisions of "Graham Weir"
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Born in Scotland, Weir came to South Africa at the age of 5, when his parents settled in Benoni on the East Rand. His sister is the actress and singer [[Christine Weir]]. The Weir siblings had their initial exposure to stage performance with the musical evenings regularly held at their home and the amateur theatre company founded by his parents. His first stage role was in ''[[Oliver Twist]]'' for this group. | Born in Scotland, Weir came to South Africa at the age of 5, when his parents settled in Benoni on the East Rand. His sister is the actress and singer [[Christine Weir]]. The Weir siblings had their initial exposure to stage performance with the musical evenings regularly held at their home and the amateur theatre company founded by his parents. His first stage role was in ''[[Oliver Twist]]'' for this group. | ||
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Graham studied for a year at [[University of the Witwatersrand School of Dramatic Art|Wits Drama school]] and some time at [[Pretoria Technikon]]. Then he went to England to dodge the draft, before returning to work in theatre in a variety of capacities. | Graham studied for a year at [[University of the Witwatersrand School of Dramatic Art|Wits Drama school]] and some time at [[Pretoria Technikon]]. Then he went to England to dodge the draft, before returning to work in theatre in a variety of capacities. | ||
| − | + | Graham passed away of a stroke on 1 December, 2020. | |
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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
| − | He | + | He began his career as a performer with [[PACT]] in 1981. |
| − | + | In 1985 he and his sister founded the hugely successful a cappella group [[Not the Midnight Mass]], which also featured [[Jenny de Lenta]], [[Alan Glass]] and [[Graham Clarke]]. | |
| − | He wrote, directed and performed in a number of plays over the years, including ''[[Tales from a Dark Corner]]'', ''[[Letters from Patient Essop]]'' ([[Baxter Theatre]], 19**), ''[[Psychedelic Cowboy]]'' ([[Baxter Theatre]], 19**), ''[[Sister Nun]]'' ([[Baxter]], 19**), ''[[Jesus hopped the A-train]]'' ([[Baxter Theatre]], 19**), ''[[How Graham Weir Accidentally Managed to Stay Alive]]'' ([[Kalk Bay Theatre]], 2005), ''[[Noah]]'' (with [[Megan Choritz]]), [[Artscape]] New Writer’s Programme 2005, ''[[Songs of Hangings and Redemptions]]'' (directed by [[Megan Choritz]], [[Kalk Bay Theatre]], 2006). | + | Hus numerous stage appearances as actor include roles in ''[[The Dybbuk]]'' 1986, ''[[Macbeth]]'' (as "Ross", 1996), ''[[The Winter's Tale]]'' ([[Maynardville]]. |
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| + | Roles in musical productions include shows like ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' (Durban [[Playhouse]], 1991), ''[[Sweeney Todd]]'', | ||
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| + | ''[[The Shakespeare Revue]]''. | ||
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| + | He wrote, directed and performed in a number of his own plays over the years, including ''[[Tales from a Dark Corner]]'', ''[[Letters from Patient Essop]]'' ([[Baxter Theatre]], 19**), ''[[Psychedelic Cowboy]]'' ([[Baxter Theatre]], 19**), ''[[Sister Nun]]'' ([[Baxter]], 19**), ''[[Jesus hopped the A-train]]'' ([[Baxter Theatre]], 19**), ''[[How Graham Weir Accidentally Managed to Stay Alive]]'' ([[Kalk Bay Theatre]], 2005), ''[[Noah]]'' (with [[Megan Choritz]]), [[Artscape]] New Writer’s Programme 2005, ''[[Songs of Hangings and Redemptions]]'' (directed by [[Megan Choritz]], [[Kalk Bay Theatre]], 2006), ''[[Dead Yellow Sands]]'' (2016). | ||
== Awards, etc == | == Awards, etc == | ||
| − | The 1993-1994 National [[Vita Award]] for Best Playwright was awarded to him for ''[[Brief Descriptions]]'' II. | + | |
| + | The 1993-1994 National [[Vita Award]] for Best Playwright was awarded to him for ''[[Brief Descriptions]]'' II and he received two [[Fleur du Cap Award]]s, one for ''[[Not the Midnight Mass]]'' in 2009 and a second in 2016 for ''[[Dead Yellow Sands]]''. | ||
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== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
| − | ''The Dybbuk'' programme, 1986. | + | |
| + | |||
| + | ''[[The Dybbuk]]'' programme, 1986. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Akteur Graham Weir sterf skielik", ''[[Die Burger]]'' 2 December, 2020 (P. 3) | ||
Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]] | Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]] | ||
Revision as of 05:57, 16 December 2020
(19**-) Actor, singer, playwright.
Contents
Biography
Born in Scotland, Weir came to South Africa at the age of 5, when his parents settled in Benoni on the East Rand. His sister is the actress and singer Christine Weir. The Weir siblings had their initial exposure to stage performance with the musical evenings regularly held at their home and the amateur theatre company founded by his parents. His first stage role was in Oliver Twist for this group.
Graham studied for a year at Wits Drama school and some time at Pretoria Technikon. Then he went to England to dodge the draft, before returning to work in theatre in a variety of capacities.
Graham passed away of a stroke on 1 December, 2020.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He began his career as a performer with PACT in 1981.
In 1985 he and his sister founded the hugely successful a cappella group Not the Midnight Mass, which also featured Jenny de Lenta, Alan Glass and Graham Clarke.
Hus numerous stage appearances as actor include roles in The Dybbuk 1986, Macbeth (as "Ross", 1996), The Winter's Tale (Maynardville.
Roles in musical productions include shows like Jesus Christ Superstar (Durban Playhouse, 1991), Sweeney Todd,
He wrote, directed and performed in a number of his own plays over the years, including Tales from a Dark Corner, Letters from Patient Essop (Baxter Theatre, 19**), Psychedelic Cowboy (Baxter Theatre, 19**), Sister Nun (Baxter, 19**), Jesus hopped the A-train (Baxter Theatre, 19**), How Graham Weir Accidentally Managed to Stay Alive (Kalk Bay Theatre, 2005), Noah (with Megan Choritz), Artscape New Writer’s Programme 2005, Songs of Hangings and Redemptions (directed by Megan Choritz, Kalk Bay Theatre, 2006), Dead Yellow Sands (2016).
Awards, etc
The 1993-1994 National Vita Award for Best Playwright was awarded to him for Brief Descriptions II and he received two Fleur du Cap Awards, one for Not the Midnight Mass in 2009 and a second in 2016 for Dead Yellow Sands.
Sources
The Dybbuk programme, 1986.
"Akteur Graham Weir sterf skielik", Die Burger 2 December, 2020 (P. 3)
Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography
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Return to South African Theatre Personalities
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