Difference between revisions of "Ramolao Makhene"

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Ramolao Makhene (1 February/December 29?*, 1947-13 July 2003) Actor on stage, screen and TV.   
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Ramolao Makhene (1 February 1947-13 July 2003) Actor on stage, screen and TV.   
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
Line 7: Line 7:
  
 
== Training ==
 
== Training ==
It was while working at the Wits library that he became involved in the theatre company [[Workshop 71]] and it was here that he developed his skills. When Workshop 71 closed, with most of its members in exile, he became a founding member of [[Junction Avenue Theatre Company]].
+
It was while working at the Wits library that he became involved in the theatre company [[Theatre Workshop 71]] and it was here that he developed his skills. When Workshop 71 closed, with most of its members in exile, he became a founding member of [[Junction Avenue Theatre Company]].
  
 
The politics of the country plunged him into organisation and union work. He travelled to the Botswana Culture and Resistance Conference and Festival in 1987. His involvement with political initiatives led to the formation of the [[Performing Arts Workers Equity]] of which he was chairperson for three consecutive terms.
 
The politics of the country plunged him into organisation and union work. He travelled to the Botswana Culture and Resistance Conference and Festival in 1987. His involvement with political initiatives led to the formation of the [[Performing Arts Workers Equity]] of which he was chairperson for three consecutive terms.
  
In 1994 hw became a teacher and fieldworker at the [[Mrker Theatre Laboratory]]. He presented teacher-training classes in Botswana which included storytelling workshops.
+
In 1994 he became a teacher and fieldworker at the [[Market Theatre Laboratory]]. He presented teacher-training classes in Botswana which included storytelling workshops.
  
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
During his time with [[Workshop 71]] he performed in [[Zzipp]], [[Unosilimela]] and the revival of [[Crossroads]].
+
During his time with [[Theatre Workshop 71]] he performed in ''[[Zzipp]]'', ''[[Unosilimela]]'' and the revival of ''[[Crossroads]]''.
  
Among his major stage performances were in ''[[Randlords and Rotgut]]'', ''[[Master Harold … and the Boys]]'' ([[Market Theatre]] March 1983), ''[[Death and the Maiden]]'' at [[Upstairs at the Market]] in 1992, ''[[Don Gxubane Onner die Boere]]'' at the [[Arena at the State Theatre]] in 1994, ''[[The Good Woman of Sharkville]]'', ''[[Love, Crime and Johannesburg]]'', [[Rainshark]], [[A Streetcar Named Desire]], ''[[Tooth and Nail]]'', Weed Killers, .Black Age, Mrs Kaplan and the Witchdoctor, [[Marabi (the play)]] (as "Mabongo"), Sauer Street and the documentary drama about the [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission]], (1997), which he helped workshop, ''[[The Story I am about to Tell]]''. He also created the original “Mr Fahfee” in the hugely successful ''[[Sophiatown]]'' by [[Junction Avenue Theatre Company|JATC]].
+
Among his major stage performances were in ''[[Randlords and Rotgut]]'', ''[[Master Harold … and the Boys]]'' ([[Market Theatre]] March 1983), ''[[Death and the Maiden]]'' at [[Upstairs at the Market]] in 1992, ''[[Don Gxubane Onner die Boere]]'' at the [[Arena at the State Theatre]] in 1994, ''[[The Good Woman of Sharkville]]'', ''[[Love, Crime and Johannesburg]]'', ''[[Rainshark]]'', ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire]]'', ''[[Tooth and Nail]]'', ''[[Weed Killers]]'', ''[[Black Age]]'', ''[[Mrs Kaplan and the Witchdoctor]]'', ''[[[[Marabi (the play)]]'' (as "Mabongo"), ''[[Sauer Street]]'' and the documentary drama about the [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission]], (1997), which he helped workshop, ''[[The Story I am about to Tell]]''. He also created the original “Mr Fahfee” in the hugely successful ''[[Sophiatown]]'' by [[Junction Avenue Theatre Company|JATC]].  
 
• He toured the world with a number of the above plays.
 
Ramolao became a nationally known face for his work on television, notably in the series ''Soul City'', ''The Line'' and ''Isidingo''. He also had roles in Torings and Konings.
 
  
His film work consisted of five films and included ''Place of Weeping'' (1986), ''Cry, the Beloved Country'' (1995) and Taxi to Soweto.
+
He toured the world with a number of the above plays.
 +
 
 +
Ramolao became a nationally known face for his work on television, notably in the series ''Soul City'', ''The Line'' and ''Isidingo''. He also had roles in ''Torings'' and ''Konings''.
 +
 
 +
His film work consisted of five films and included ''Place of Weeping'' (1986), ''Cry, the Beloved Country'' (1995) and ''Taxi to Soweto''.
  
 
== Awards, etc ==
 
== Awards, etc ==
He received the Olive Schreiner award for Drama in 1984 for [[Randlords and Rotgut]].
+
He received the Olive Schreiner award for Drama in 1984 for ''[[Randlords and Rotgut]]''.
  
 
He was awarded the FNB Vita National Theatre award in 1994 for his role as Mr Fahfee in ''[[Sophiatown]]'' (performance of the year by an actor in a supporting role).
 
He was awarded the FNB Vita National Theatre award in 1994 for his role as Mr Fahfee in ''[[Sophiatown]]'' (performance of the year by an actor in a supporting role).
  
For his role as "Bones Shibambo"  in ''Love, Crime and Johannesburg'' - winner of Gauteng regional [[FNB Vita Award]] for Best Male Performance)
+
For his role as "Bones Shibambo"  in ''Love, Crime and Johannesburg'' - winner of Gauteng regional [[Vita Award]] for Best Male Performance).
  
 
He received a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for best supporting actor, Britain, in ''[[Master Harold … and the Boys]]''.
 
He received a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for best supporting actor, Britain, in ''[[Master Harold … and the Boys]]''.
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National Arts Festival programme, 2005. 35.
 
National Arts Festival programme, 2005. 35.
 +
 +
Obituary written by Chris Barron, ''Sunday Times'', 20 July 2003.
  
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

Revision as of 17:17, 24 November 2016

Ramolao Makhene (1 February 1947-13 July 2003) Actor on stage, screen and TV.

Biography

Born Daniel Ramolao Makhene in Western Native Township near Sophiatown. He moved to Rockyville in 1962 where he studied at the Morris Isaacson School. After he left school in 1968 he worked at the Anglo American Research Laboratory and as librarian at Wits, while doing some acting on the side.

He was rehearsing the role of "Father Kumalo" in a stage version of Cry, The Beloved Country (dir. Roy Sergeant) in 2003 when he had to withdraw because of liver cancer. He died later the year at the age of 56. Married twice (to Mpo Twalla in 1971-1978, Rebecca Mogagabe 19?* -19?*), he had a long relationship with Mathakga Botha (1995-2003). He had four children.

Training

It was while working at the Wits library that he became involved in the theatre company Theatre Workshop 71 and it was here that he developed his skills. When Workshop 71 closed, with most of its members in exile, he became a founding member of Junction Avenue Theatre Company.

The politics of the country plunged him into organisation and union work. He travelled to the Botswana Culture and Resistance Conference and Festival in 1987. His involvement with political initiatives led to the formation of the Performing Arts Workers Equity of which he was chairperson for three consecutive terms.

In 1994 he became a teacher and fieldworker at the Market Theatre Laboratory. He presented teacher-training classes in Botswana which included storytelling workshops.

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

During his time with Theatre Workshop 71 he performed in Zzipp, Unosilimela and the revival of Crossroads.

Among his major stage performances were in Randlords and Rotgut, Master Harold … and the Boys (Market Theatre March 1983), Death and the Maiden at Upstairs at the Market in 1992, Don Gxubane Onner die Boere at the Arena at the State Theatre in 1994, The Good Woman of Sharkville, Love, Crime and Johannesburg, Rainshark, A Streetcar Named Desire, Tooth and Nail, Weed Killers, Black Age, Mrs Kaplan and the Witchdoctor, [[Marabi (the play) (as "Mabongo"), Sauer Street and the documentary drama about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, (1997), which he helped workshop, The Story I am about to Tell. He also created the original “Mr Fahfee” in the hugely successful Sophiatown by JATC.

He toured the world with a number of the above plays.

Ramolao became a nationally known face for his work on television, notably in the series Soul City, The Line and Isidingo. He also had roles in Torings and Konings.

His film work consisted of five films and included Place of Weeping (1986), Cry, the Beloved Country (1995) and Taxi to Soweto.

Awards, etc

He received the Olive Schreiner award for Drama in 1984 for Randlords and Rotgut.

He was awarded the FNB Vita National Theatre award in 1994 for his role as Mr Fahfee in Sophiatown (performance of the year by an actor in a supporting role).

For his role as "Bones Shibambo" in Love, Crime and Johannesburg - winner of Gauteng regional Vita Award for Best Male Performance).

He received a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for best supporting actor, Britain, in Master Harold … and the Boys.

A special award sponsored by Standard Bank was posthumously presented to him in 2005 by the National Arts Festival in recognition of his invaluable contribution to and significant achievement in South African theatre. This award takes the form of a bursary for the Market Theatre Laboratory.

Awarded a Naledi Award for Lifetime Achievement psothumously in 2004 and in 2012 a new theatre at the Bus Factory was named the Ramolao Makhene Theatre in his memory.

Sources

Tucker, 1997.

http://markettheatre.co.za/shows/watch/21st-annual-community-theatre-festival

Don Gxubane Onner die Boere programme, 1994.

National Arts Festival programme, 2005. 35.

Obituary written by Chris Barron, Sunday Times, 20 July 2003.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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