Michael Lovegrove

(1947?-2008) Theatre technician, stage manager, actor, and highly regarded theatre administrator Known either as Michael Lovegrove, or often also billed as Michael J. Lovegrove.

Biography

He was born in England but came to South Africa at a young age. He studied in stage management at the Royal Academy of Art in London.

Contribution to South African Theatre, Film, Media and Performance

Over the years he worked for commercial and tate funded companies, and with individuals such as Hazel Feldman, Anthony Farmer, Pieter Toerien and others.

Worked for PACOFS in the 1960s as stage manager and occasional actor. [Eight Beasts theatre company?* in Cape Town and Johannesburg, the directors were Robert Kirby and Michael Lovegrove. ??** (SACD 1973).

In 1973 he became one of the three directors (with Robert Kirby and Pieter Toerien) of Eight Beasts (pty)Ltd. in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Then joined PACT as manager for PACT Afrikaans Drama in 1974 and eventually became head of PACT Drama in 1981.

In 1983 he moved to the Southern Sun company to replace Peter Wilkins (who returned to England) as Executive Producer with specific responsibilities for the Extravaganza shows at Sun City and other Sun complexes. He also became the manager of the Wendywood Theatre Production Office which he and Hazel Feldman had set up in 1983.

In December 2001 he was appointed the CEO of the State Theatre, after it had been mothballed for a while by the state, a job he held till his unexpected passing at the age of 61 in 2008.

Sources

Die Soldateminnaars programme notes, 1965.

SACD 1973, 1974

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