| South African Old-Time Radio NEW PRODUCTIONS "A CORPORATE STAR" CREDITS |
| The Pumamouse Website Presents... |
"A CORPORATE STAR" WRITTEN BY THOMIE HOLTZHAUSEN AND CAROLINE SMART |
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| Born and brought up in Kenya before moving to South Africa with her family after she left high school, she is an actress who has worked on stage and in radio, film and television. She is also a writer, voice artiste and director and produces two arts magazines...D’ARTS, the Durban Art Association’s monthly publication, and artSMart, which is her own venture on the internet. She is married to Peter Gardner who also appears in the play. She first started working in the medium of radio in the early 70’s, appearing in countless plays, serials and series for Radio South Africa and Springbok Radio. Blessed with a versatile voice, a flair for accents and good comedy timing, she was much in demand for the many comedy shows produced by Tom Meehan production house. “Springbok Radio was very good to me,” she says. “I was able to have an independent lifestyle, buy a new car and rent my own two bedroomed flat. Among my fondest memories were the adaptations of Barbara Cartland’s novels for “The Romantic World of Barbara Cartland”. I met Dame Barbara herself...and there’s enough material there for a book in itself!” “When I was approached by Henry Diffenthal to write the first commissioned play for Vintage Radio, currently airing on Radio Today, I felt extremely honoured and very excited. Thomie Holtzhausen and I had just come back from the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown where we had reviewed John Kani’s first play “Nothing But The Truth” and were inspired by what we hoped would be a break away from political angst in the theatre and a fresh focus on ordinary people in their everyday lives. “That’s what “A Corporate Star” is all about...people, jealousy, revenge, misconceptions, ambition and forgiveness. And there’s the gentle touch of an angel to link it with Christmas.” When looking for a suitable rendering of “Silent Night” for the play, Henry came across a recording made by singer and actress Suzanne Atwill. Suzanne and Henry were married for many years. They ran Olympia Recording Studio together and Suzanne appeared in nearly all the productions. “She died after a long and courageous battle against cancer and it was wonderful to be able to use her voice again in this production,” says Caroline. “Almost brought in the touch of another angel, as it were.” |
| The following profiles were kindly written and provided for inclusion on The Pumamouse Website by Caroline Smart! |
| Mbongiseni Buthelezi, Caroline Smart, Henry Diffenthal, Peter Gardner and Thomie Holtzhausen at Olympia Recording Studio in Durban after the historic recording of the first commissioned play for Vintage Radio, currently airing on Radio Today 1485AM |
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| This was when he first discovered Springbok Radio, while staying in temporary accommodation at the then Esplanade Hotel. He remembers that after lights out, he used to listen through a crystal earpiece to the late night programmes and has strong memories of some of the advertisers such as “Kelly Tyres are tough” and “Old Buck Gin”. “I can’t remember the programmes sponsored by either but still support the sponsor of the latter!” His feelings about “A Corporate Star” are succinct. “It encompasses all the emotions and lets the audience’s imagination wander across cultural and social barriers,” he says. “At the end of the day, it works very well as a stand-alone piece which I believe could be broadcast anywhere in the world.” “There is probably no finer dramatic medium than radio available to an actor, or an audience,” he says. “Sadly - according to research statistics provided by the national broadcasters, anyway - modern audiences are bone idle and would rather tune in to their visual response mechanism which enables channel hopping on television.” “A Springbok Radio comeback? Bring on the empty horses...and the sooner the better!” Peter Gardner is married to Caroline Smart who co-wrote and acted in “A Corporate Star”. |
| He clearly remembers that Springbok Radio played a major part in his life as a youngster. Legendary broadcasters such as Esme Euvrard, Bob Courtney, Dana Niehaus, Dulcie van den Bergh, Sarel Marais and Pip Freedman were household names, and he recalls being glued to the radio, listening to popular shows such as “The Surf Show Pick-a-Box”, “No Place to Hide” and “Springbok Radio Hits of the Week”. “A Corporate Star” represents his first radio production and he finds the medium fascinating. “It’s very real and immediate,” he says. “There’s nowhere to hide and no sets, costumes or lighting to boost your performance. You’ve got to be believable.” He pays tribute to Caroline Smart for her help and support in creating the play. “I admire her experienced and professional attitude as well as her ease of performance in the radio medium. Let’s hope that Vintage Radio goes from strength to strength and we can write many more productions together.” |
| When Springbok Radio was running I didn’t listen to the station much - I really only listened to my work to hear how it was broadcasting. Occasionally, I listened to the other production houses purely to make comparisons regarding programme content and quality of recording. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the listeners will want more and put pressure on the SABC to broadcast the plays, etc nationwide. Right now, it is only on medium wave and it appears that only Johannesburg can get it clearly. Springbok Radio has been off the air since 1985 and I'd love it to come back. I'm sure the actors would also be thrilled. Radio theatre is very different to what happens on the stage. I am always showing the actors how to use the microphone regarding voice balance and not talking too loudly but in a normal tone to each other. I am not a stage performance person because I always feel the actors are talking too loud (for the back row) and to me they sound unnatural. |
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| The first time he heard about it was when listening to a local radio station and hearing a listener bemoan the closing of certain stations, including Springbok Radio. Formerly involved in dance and the recipient of a Rio Tinto scholarship to study at the London Contemporary Dance School two years ago, Mbongiseni is now focusing more on the dramatic side of theatre. He has appeared in several professional productions this year and is looking to further his career overseas as soon as he completes his degree. “A Corporate Star” is also Mbongiseni’s first foray into the radio medium. “I thought the play was brilliant,” he says. “It’s about the real South Africa, just ordinary people experiencing everyday emotions and simply getting on with life.” Mbongiseni is currently working on a radio play project with 11 other writers around the world. Hosted by BBC World, all writers meet online every week to discuss progress and chart the next scenes in the play. |
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| THOMIE HOLTZHAUSEN A newcomer to Durban, Thomie Holtzhausen is certainly no stranger to theatre as he has directed over 20 productions and written several of his own one-man plays which have been presented at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. |
| PETER GARDNER Apart from being an actor, Peter Gardner is also an engineer and a yachtsman as well as being a locally and internationally recognized casting director. He was born in Grahamstown in 1953 and grew up in various towns and cities in South Africa such as Kimberley, Pretoria and Johannesburg. This was followed by a five year spell in New Zealand before he returned to Durban with his family in 1968. |
| CAROLINE SMART A well-known theatre personality in Durban for many years, Caroline Smart maintains that she wears so many hats, you can’t even find the hat stand underneath them all! |
| MBONGISENI BUTHELEZI Currently studying at the University of Natal in the programme of drama and movement studies, Mbongiseni Buthelezi is a true child of KZN. Born and educated in Ulundi, he was a toddler when Springbok Radio closed down so he has no memories of the station. |
| HENRY DIFFENTHAL The SABC won’t admit it but Springbok Radio was the “heart” of broadcasting in this country. It ran for 35 years and I contributed half-hour/one hour plays and daily housewives’ serials for 31 years. It was an honour to produce this material. I felt the play was not the usual Santa Claus sentimental story line but the end result has come up very nicely. |
SQUEAK OF JOY!!! "A Corporate Star" will air on Thursday 19 December 2002 at 7PM as part of the VINTAGE RADIO program on Radio Today 1485AM. Special thanks and congratulations from The Pumamouse to all of those involved in this historic event! |
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