Ramolao Makhene
(1 February/December 29?*, 1947-13 July 2003) Actor on stage, screen and TV.
Contents
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
Career
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He joined Theatre Workshop '71 in 1972 and soon quit his day job to become a full-time actor. In 1976/8?* he became a founding member of Junction Avenue Theatre (JATC). He later became involved in the Market Theatre Laboratory as educator and was a founder member of the Performing Arts Workers' Equity (PAWE) and served two terms as Vice President and one as President.
Among his major stage performances were in Randlords and Rotgut, Tooth and Nail, Marabi (as "Mabongo"), Love, Crime and Johannesburg and the documentary drama about the Truth and Reconcilliation Commission, The Story I Am About To Tell (1997), which he helped workshop. 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.
Became a nationally known face for his work on television, notably in the series Soul City, The Line and Isidingo.
His film work consisted of five films and included Place of Weeping (1986) and Cry the Beloved Country (1995). He starred in Athol Fugard’s Master Harold … and the boys together with John Kani and Duart Sylwain with direction by Athol Fugard who was assisted by Suzanne Shepherd at the Market Theatre in March 1983. He starred in Ariel Dorfman’s Death and the Maiden at Upstairs at the Market in 1992. He starred in Charles Fourie’s Don Gxubane Onner die Boere at the Arena at the State Theatre in 1994.
Awards, etc
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.
(as "Bones Shibambo" in Love, Crime and Johannesburg - winner of Gauteng regional FNB 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
Sources
Tucker, 1997
http://markettheatre.co.za/shows/watch/21st-annual-community-theatre-festival
Don Gxubane Onner die Boere programme, 1994.
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