Kita Redelinghuys

Kita Redelinghuys (19**-1994) was an actress.

Her name also written Kita Redelinghuijs at times.

Biography

Like her husband, she was also a translator. Publications in this regard include Vyf Luister Na Mamma Stories, a book by Jean Sutcliffe,

She received her training at the University of Pretoria, and, having married dramatist Bartho Smit and accompanying her husband to Paris in 1952, took courses at the drama schools of Charles Antonetti and Raymonde Lombardin in Paris and the Webber Douglas School of Dramatic Art in London. They returned to South Africa in 1957, where she began her career on stage and film.

She translated five stories from Jean Sutcliffe's book Listen with Mother Birthday Gift Book (London, 1955) into Afrikaans as Vyf Luister Na Mamma Stories.

She later developed an alcohol problem and disappeared from the scene. Many believe Bartho Smit's finest play, Christine, is in part based on his complex relationship with Kita. She died in 1994.

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

She originally started out as an amateur actress with Volksteater and began her professional career on her return from Paris, when she joined NTO in 1957 and from 1963 onwards worked for PACT. She also acted for a number of independent companies, including .

Played the “coloured” mother “Bertha” to great acclaim in Lewis Sowden’s The Kimberley Train (1958), Die Jakkalsstreke van Scapino (1958), “Joan” in Shaw’s Saint Joan (NTO, 1959), Meneer Sleeman Kom (1963).

Other productions include Hannah Sennesh, Lokval vir 'n Man Alleen, Montserrat, Agt Vroue, Die Gebreekte Kruik, Soldate-vryers (1965), Pa, Maak vir my 'n Vlieër Pa, Die Koning Sterf, Oom Wanja (PACT 1967), Die Skuld van Oedipus, Modes van Agter, Skuld van Voor, Die Renosters, Die Lewe wat ek jou Gegee het, Monserrat, Bruidjie Dit en Bruidjie Dot, Modes van Agter, Skuld van Voor, Sagmoedige Neelsie, Dodedans.

Film work included roles in The Second Sin (1966), Majuba: Heuwel van Duiwe (1968), Erfgenaam (1971), Die Voortrekkers (1973) and Springbok (1976)

TV work: Moeder Hanna (TV Movie, 1976), Seepsteen-bataljon (1978), Galery (1985)

Sources

Tucker, 1997. [TH, JH]

Du Toit, P.J., 1988.

Modes van Agter, Skuld van Voor programme notes, 1964.

PACT Report 1963/1964.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5321883/

Tribute to Bartho Smit written by Erika Terblanche, LitNet [1].

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