Difference between revisions of "Marda Vanne"

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(1896-1970) Stage name for [[Margaretha van Hulsteyn]].  Actress and director. Nicknamed "Scrappy".  
 
(1896-1970) Stage name for [[Margaretha van Hulsteyn]].  Actress and director. Nicknamed "Scrappy".  
  
 +
Her name also spelled [[Margueretha van Hulsteyn]], [[Margaret van Hulsteyn]] or [[Martha van Hulsteyn]] by some sources.
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
  
 +
Born in Pretoria as [[Margaretha van Hulsteyn]], to lawyer Sir Willem and Lady van Hulsteyn on September 27, 1896.
  
Born in Pretoria as [[Margaretha van Hulsteyn]], to Sir Willem and Lady van Hulsteyn on September 27, 1896. she studied acting with [[Elsie Fogerty]] at the Central School of Dramatic Art in London.  
+
She was famously, though briefly, married to future Nationalist Prime Minister [[J.G. Strijdom]] (the "Lion of the North"), some years before he entered politics. In 1918, after a period as actress in South Africa, she left South Africa to  study acting with [[Elsie Fogerty]] at the Central School of Dramatic Art in London. She ended up working in England, only returning in 1940, now calling herself [[Marda Vanne]]. While in England her performances included the "cockney housewife" in ''[[If]]'' (Dunsany), and roles in a number of plays by Noel Coward, Somerset Maugham (e.g ''[[For Services Rendered]]''), Monckton Hoffe (''[[Many Waters]]'') and Charles Morgan's ''[[The Flashing Stream]]''.  
  
She was famously, though briefly, married to future Nationalist Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom (the "Lion of the North"), some years before he entered politics. In 1918, after a period as actress in South Africa,  she left South Africa to work in England, only returning , now calling herself [[Marda Vanne]], in 1940.
+
In London she formed a professional and personal partnership with actress [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]] that lasted until her death in 1970. She and Gwen worked in South Africa during the war years (1940-1946), after which they returned to England. She gained British Citizenship in 1965, though she continued to visit and be involved in South African theatre for many years.  
 
 
In London, she formed a professional and personal partnership with actress [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]] that lasted until her death in 1970. She and Gwen worked in South Africa during the war years (1940-1946), after which they returned to England. She gained British Citizenship in 1965, though she continued to visit and be involved in South African theatre for many years.  
 
  
 
She died 29th April 1970 in England.
 
She died 29th April 1970 in England.
  
 
== Her career and contribution to South African Theatre ==
 
== Her career and contribution to South African Theatre ==
 
  
 
=== First phase:  South Africa, 1914-1918 ===
 
=== First phase:  South Africa, 1914-1918 ===
  
She originally  joined [[Leonard Rayne]]'s company in 1914, performing at the [[Standard Theatre]], Johannesburg under her own name of [[Margaretha van Hulsteyn]]). She appeared in a number of plays, ''inter alia'' ''[[A White Man]]'', ''[[Kismet]]'', ''[[The Royal Divorce]]'', two plays by [[Stephen Black]] (''[[Helena's Hope, Ltd]]''   and ''[[Van Kalabas Does His Bit]]'') in February 1917, and ''[[Milestones]]'' in 1918. They also played at the [[Opera House]], Cape Town on occasion.
+
She fell in love with theatre as a young girl, and in spite of the opposition of her parents, became an actress, originally  performing under her childhood nickname of [[Scrappy van Hulsteyn]] for [[Stephen Black]]'s company, and making a name for herself in [[Love and the Hyphen]]. In the latter years of the war, she joined [[Leonard Rayne]]'s company for a while, performing under her baptismal name of [[Margaretha van Hulsteyn]]). She appeared in a number of plays for the [[Leonard Rayne]] company, including, ''[[A White Man]]'', ''[[Kismet]]'', ''[[A Royal Divorce]]'', ending with two more [[Stephen Black]] plays (''[[Helena's Hope, Ltd]]'' and ''[[Van Kalabas Does His Bit]]'') in February 1917, and finally an acclaimed major role in ''[[Milestones]]'' in July 1917 at the Cape Town [[Opera House]].
  
 
=== Second phase: England, 1919-1939 ===
 
=== Second phase: England, 1919-1939 ===
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=== Third phase:  South Africa, 1940-1946 ===
 
=== Third phase:  South Africa, 1940-1946 ===
  
She returned to South Africa in 1940 and became a director of the resuscitated [[Pretoria Repertory Theatre]].  In 1942 she and [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]] formed the  [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company]], which toured extensively in South Africa with classical and modern plays during the 1940s.  Among her more celebrated South African productions as actress are ''[[Watch on the Rhine]]'' (194*), ''[[Flare Path]]'' (194*), ''[[What Every Woman Knows]]'' (194*), ''[[Blithe Spirit]]'' (1944), ''[[Milestones]]'' (194*), ''[[The Wind of Heaven]]'' (194*), ''[[A Month in the Country]]'' (194*),  ''[[Twelfth Night]]'', [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]], 1940/41.   
+
She returned to South Africa in 1940 and became a director of the resuscitated [[Pretoria Repertory Theatre]].  In 1942 she and [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]] formed the  [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company]], which presented seasons of plays at the [[Standard Theatre]] and toured extensively in South Africa with classical and modern plays during the during the war years.   
 
 
  
Partner with  [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]] in the [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company]]. Presented seasons of plays during the war years at the [[Standard Theatre]]. Produced ''[[Watch on the Rhine]]'' by [[Lilian Hellman]] in 1943 at the [[Standard]]. Starred in ''[[Blithe Spirit]]'' in 1944 with [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]], [[Margaret Inglis]] and [[Siegfried Mynhardt]]. Staged ''[[The Merry Wives of Windsor]]'' together with [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]] in 1945, starring [[Wensley Pithey]] as Falstaff. Presented and starred in [[Emlyn Williams]]' ''[[The Wind of Heaven]]'' in 1946. Also starred [[Zoe Randall]], [[Wensley Pithey]] and [[Sid James]]. Starred in [[Turgenev]]'s ''[[A Month in the Country]]'' in 1946 together with [[Gwen Ffrangçon-Davies]], which was their last production before they went back to England.
+
Among her more celebrated South African productions as director/producer and actress are ''[[Watch on the Rhine]]'' (1943), ''[[Flare Path]]'' (194*), ''[[What Every Woman Knows]]'' (194*),  ''[[Blithe Spirit]]'' (1944), ''[[Milestones]]'' (Bennett and Knoblock, 1944), ''[[The Wind of Heaven]]'' (1946), ''[[A Month in the Country]]'' (1946), ''[[The Wind of Heaven]]'' (1946), which was their last production before she went back to England with [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]].
  
 
=== Fourth phase: England and South Africa, 1946-1970 ===
 
=== Fourth phase: England and South Africa, 1946-1970 ===
  
In this period she still did the occasional theatrical work in London, her final appearance being in ''[[Man and Superman]]'' (1965), but most of her theatrical work was done in South Africa, while her London career seems to have been more in television work and the occasional film .  
+
In this period she still did the occasional theatrical work in London, her final appearance being in [[George Bernard Shaw|Shaw]]'s ''[[Man and Superman]]'' (1965), but most of her theatrical work was done in South Africa, while her London career seems to have been more in television work and the occasional film .  
  
 
''(For more on her work in England, including her stage, film and TV profile, see http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0889219/).''
 
''(For more on her work in England, including her stage, film and TV profile, see http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0889219/).''
  
She kept close ties with theatre in South Africa and was appointed artistic advisor of the [[National Theatre]] in 1950. Both she and Gwen from time to time visited to work in the country and both became members of the [[NTO]] Board of Control in later years.
+
She kept close ties with theatre in South Africa and later returned on occasion to become involved in the establishment of the [[National Theatre Organisation]] ([[NTO]]), she and Gwen being appointed to the first Board of Control in 1948, and doing occasional plays for them. In 1950 she was appointed artistic advisor of the [[NTO]].  
  
 
'''South African productions in this period include''':  
 
'''South African productions in this period include''':  
  
As director: ''[[Die Wewenaar se Vrou]]'' [[Volksteater]], Pretoria, 1949), [[Shaw]]’s ''[[Candida]]'' for the [[National Theatre]] in 1950.
+
 
 +
 
 +
As director: ''[[Die Wewenaar se Vrou]]'' [[Volksteater]], Pretoria, 1949), [[George Bernard Shaw]]’s ''[[Candida]]'' for the [[National Theatre Organisation]] in 1950.
  
 
As actress: [[Guy Butler]]’s ''[[The Dam]]'' ([[NTO]], 1952); N.C. Hunter's ''[[Waters of the Moon]]'' ([[NTO]], 1953); and [[Eugene O'Neill]]'s ''[[A Touch of the Poet]]'' ([[NTO]], 1961), her last South African appearance.  
 
As actress: [[Guy Butler]]’s ''[[The Dam]]'' ([[NTO]], 1952); N.C. Hunter's ''[[Waters of the Moon]]'' ([[NTO]], 1953); and [[Eugene O'Neill]]'s ''[[A Touch of the Poet]]'' ([[NTO]], 1961), her last South African appearance.  
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== Sources ==  
 
== Sources ==  
  
Hartnoll, 19**;
+
[[Margot Bryant]] 1979. ''Born To Act: The Story of [[Freda Godfrey]]''. Johannesburg: [[Ad Donker]]: pp.113-115.
  
Du Toit1988;
+
[[P.J. du Toit]] 1988. ''Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika''. Pretoria: [[Academica]]
  
Tucker, 1997
+
[[Percy Tucker]] 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: [[Witwatersrand University Press]]. 
 +
 
 +
"S. African actress dies", ''[[Pretoria News]]'' 28 April, 1970.
  
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marda_Vanne
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marda_Vanne
  
 
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0889219/
 
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0889219/
 +
 +
Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==

Latest revision as of 12:51, 25 January 2024

(1896-1970) Stage name for Margaretha van Hulsteyn. Actress and director. Nicknamed "Scrappy".

Her name also spelled Margueretha van Hulsteyn, Margaret van Hulsteyn or Martha van Hulsteyn by some sources.

Biography

Born in Pretoria as Margaretha van Hulsteyn, to lawyer Sir Willem and Lady van Hulsteyn on September 27, 1896.

She was famously, though briefly, married to future Nationalist Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom (the "Lion of the North"), some years before he entered politics. In 1918, after a period as actress in South Africa, she left South Africa to study acting with Elsie Fogerty at the Central School of Dramatic Art in London. She ended up working in England, only returning in 1940, now calling herself Marda Vanne. While in England her performances included the "cockney housewife" in If (Dunsany), and roles in a number of plays by Noel Coward, Somerset Maugham (e.g For Services Rendered), Monckton Hoffe (Many Waters) and Charles Morgan's The Flashing Stream.

In London she formed a professional and personal partnership with actress Gwen ffrangçon-Davies that lasted until her death in 1970. She and Gwen worked in South Africa during the war years (1940-1946), after which they returned to England. She gained British Citizenship in 1965, though she continued to visit and be involved in South African theatre for many years.

She died 29th April 1970 in England.

Her career and contribution to South African Theatre

First phase: South Africa, 1914-1918

She fell in love with theatre as a young girl, and in spite of the opposition of her parents, became an actress, originally performing under her childhood nickname of Scrappy van Hulsteyn for Stephen Black's company, and making a name for herself in Love and the Hyphen. In the latter years of the war, she joined Leonard Rayne's company for a while, performing under her baptismal name of Margaretha van Hulsteyn). She appeared in a number of plays for the Leonard Rayne company, including, A White Man, Kismet, A Royal Divorce, ending with two more Stephen Black plays (Helena's Hope, Ltd and Van Kalabas Does His Bit) in February 1917, and finally an acclaimed major role in Milestones in July 1917 at the Cape Town Opera House.

Second phase: England, 1919-1939

In 1918 she left South Africa for England, where she adopted the stage name of Marda Vanne and went on to attain success in London.

Her first appearance was in If at the Ambassador's Theatre on 30 May 1921. She also appeared in New York's Empire Theatre in Easy Virtue.

(For more on her work in England, including her stage, film and TV profile, see http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0889219/).

Third phase: South Africa, 1940-1946

She returned to South Africa in 1940 and became a director of the resuscitated Pretoria Repertory Theatre. In 1942 she and Gwen ffrangçon-Davies formed the Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company, which presented seasons of plays at the Standard Theatre and toured extensively in South Africa with classical and modern plays during the during the war years.

Among her more celebrated South African productions as director/producer and actress are Watch on the Rhine (1943), Flare Path (194*), What Every Woman Knows (194*), Blithe Spirit (1944), Milestones (Bennett and Knoblock, 1944), The Wind of Heaven (1946), A Month in the Country (1946), The Wind of Heaven (1946), which was their last production before she went back to England with Gwen ffrangçon-Davies.

Fourth phase: England and South Africa, 1946-1970

In this period she still did the occasional theatrical work in London, her final appearance being in Shaw's Man and Superman (1965), but most of her theatrical work was done in South Africa, while her London career seems to have been more in television work and the occasional film .

(For more on her work in England, including her stage, film and TV profile, see http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0889219/).

She kept close ties with theatre in South Africa and later returned on occasion to become involved in the establishment of the National Theatre Organisation (NTO), she and Gwen being appointed to the first Board of Control in 1948, and doing occasional plays for them. In 1950 she was appointed artistic advisor of the NTO.

South African productions in this period include:


As director: Die Wewenaar se Vrou Volksteater, Pretoria, 1949), George Bernard Shaw’s Candida for the National Theatre Organisation in 1950.

As actress: Guy Butler’s The Dam (NTO, 1952); N.C. Hunter's Waters of the Moon (NTO, 1953); and Eugene O'Neill's A Touch of the Poet (NTO, 1961), her last South African appearance.

[TH, JH]

Sources

Margot Bryant 1979. Born To Act: The Story of Freda Godfrey. Johannesburg: Ad Donker: pp.113-115.

P.J. du Toit 1988. Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika. Pretoria: Academica

Percy Tucker 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

"S. African actress dies", Pretoria News 28 April, 1970.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marda_Vanne

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0889219/

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

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