| − | (19*-199*) Actor, dramatist, innovative director and enormously influential lecturer and head of the [[UCT Drama Department]]. Born in ** he studied speech at the [[University of Stellenbosch’s Conservatoire of Music]] under **. In 19** he became speech teacher at the [[University of Stellenbosch Conservatoire of Music]], taking over from *** and heading the speech and drama course. He developed this into a fully fledged BA course, and directed a number of major plays for the University. (regie), ''[[Skrikkeljaar]]'', [[Ugo Betti]] ([[Alewyn Lee]]) (vertaal), [[Berdine Grünewald]], [[Eghard van der Hoven]], [[Gerrit Wessels]], [[Mathilde Hanekom]], [[San de Lange]], [[Louis/e/a Aucamp]], [[Reenen van Niekerk]], [[Salie Vermaak]], [[Doreen Graves]] (kostuums), [[Frank Graves]] (dekor), 1958. At the same time he worked for [[NTO]]. In 1960 he left Stellenbosch to become a lecturer at the [[Department of Speech and Drama, University of Cape Town]]. In 1971 he became head of the department there till his retirement in 198*. He died tragically in 199*. His influence as teacher has been enormous and his graduate students have made their mark in all facets of the industry. As a free-lance professional writer and director Mohr had a major influence on South African theatre as , his interest in Eastern theatre and the work of [[Chekhov]] in particular influencing many directors. He staged [[Christopher Fry]]'s ''[[Boy with a Cart]]'' as the first theatre-in-the-round production in South Africa for the [[University of Stellenbosch]] in 19**. Among his major professional works were original texts for ''[[Dracula]]'' (19**), ''[[The Trials of St Joan]]'' (19**) and the hugely popular compilations of [[Melt Brink]] works – ''[[Ons Hou Konsert]]'' ("We have a concert" - 19**) and ''[[Ons Hou Weer Konsert]]'' ("We have another concert" - 19**). Translations into Afrikaans include ''[[Charley's Aunt]]'' (19**), ''[[The Cherry Orchard]]'' (19**), ''[[The Three Sisters]]'' (19**) and [[Purcell]]'s ''[[Dido and Aeneas]]'', adaptations of plays such as the Japanese ''[[Chuchingara]]'' (19**), ****. Over the years he worked with many student, amateur, semi-professional and professioal companies, offering courses and directing. For example in June 1971 he conducted the first Drama Course for the Department of Coloured Affairs in Bellville South. His community theatre directing endeavours included work with the [[EOAN Group]] (e.g. ''[[Behind the Yellow Door]]'' by [[Flora Stohr]], at the [[Little Theatre]] in 1962?*, and in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1966), ** and ** . He did a number of productions for [[NTO]] including ** and **, while he did *** , ***, *** for the [[Performing Arts Councils]] (**, **, **) Also directed for opera, film and radio, and was guest director in Canada, the USA and Great Britain a number of times. For example Mohr was invited to direct [[Flora Stohr]]’s play, ''[[Behind the Yellow Door]]'', at The University of Shreveport in Louisiana in 1966. Due to its success he was invited back again in 1968 to direct [[Shakespeare]]’s ''[[Much Ado about Nothing]]'', for which he received a special award. Awarded a Honorary Pendant ("Erepennning") for his contribution to theatre by the [[SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns]] in 19**. He directed ''[[King Lear]]'', starring [[Joe Stewardson]] and [[Hadrian VII]] starring [[Siegfried Mynhardt]] for [[PACT]] at the [[Alexander]] in 1969. He directed [[Robin Maugham]]’s ''[[Enemy]]'' for [[PACT]] at the [[Alexander]] in 1974. He also directed ''[[Elizabeth I]]'' for [[PACT]] at the [[Alexander]] in 1974. He directed ''[[The Tempest]]'' with [[Patrick Magee]], [[Paul Slabolepszy]], [[Bill Flynn]] and [[Michael Richard]] at the [[Alexander]] for [[PACT]] in 1975. He directed [[Michael Richard]] in ''[[Hamlet]]'' for [[PACT]] in March 1978. He directed the Afrikaans translations ''[[Die Kersietuin]]'' ([[Chekhov]]’s ''[[The Cherry Orchard]]'') with [[Wilna Snyman]], [[David van der Merwe]], [[Rika Sennett]] and [[Carel Trichardt]] for [[PACT]] in 1979. His production of ''[[A Midsummer Night’s Dream]]'' with [[Etienne Puren]], [[Louise Saint Claire]], [[Michael Richard]] and [[Tobie Cronje]] was staged during the opening season of the [[Pretoria State Theatre]] in 1981.
| + | #REDIRECT [[Robert Mohr]] |
