Sybil Summers

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Sybil Summers (19**-) was a dancer, performer, artist's agent and manager.


Biography

Three times a British Dancing champion and a stage performer, who performed in cabaret throughout the world.

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

She arrived in South Africa with Bill Brewer's Singing Stars in 1948. Settling in Cape Town she became well known for her appearances in pantomimes - the first being Cinderella - and other performances at the Luxurama Theatre.

She did several plays with Leonard Schach including Look Homeward Angel,

Also worked for Tobie Kushlick, inter alia playing the lead No No Nanette.

She went on to become the sourcing agent for the Quibell Brothers and their various international shows, for example bringing Norman Wisdom to South Africa (becoming his local agent and manager), followed by Cilla Black, Harry Secombe, Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers.

She eventually founded the Sybil Summers Agency, which she ran with her son, Geoff Burmeister, and became involved with Three Arts Theatre and for a time owned on a lease the Labia Theatre.

Sources

E-mail correspondence from Geoff Burmeister, 21 April, 2017.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-burmeister-780a1215/?ppe=1

Programme for the Kokusai Revue (courtesy of Geoff Burmeister)

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

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