The History of Production of the Works of Harold Pinter
Janet Suzman (1939)
Ms Janet Suzman (Female)
Nationality: South African
Born: 9 February 1939
Actor. Born in Johannesburg, Suzman studied English and French at the multiracial University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in the late 1950s where she was an active part of the student protests again the Extension of University Education Bill which sought to introduce Apartheid into higher education. When the Bill was passed in 1959, Suzman moved to London to pursue a career in acting, training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1963, starring as Joan of Arc in Peter Hall's production of 'The War of the Roses'. Over the following ten years, Suzman starred as many of Shakespeare's heroines. Throughout her career she has continued to perform with the RSC and other UK theatres as well as appearing in multiple roles on screen. The 1980s and 1990s saw Suzman turn to teaching and directing alongside returning to South Africa where she created South African versions of classic texts with multi-racial casts including 'Othello' (1987), Brecht's 'The Good Person of Setzuan' (renamed 'The Good Woman of Sharksville, 1996), and 'The Cherry Orchard' (1997). During the Complete Works Festival of 2006-7, Suzman returned to the RSC with her Baxter Theatre (Cape Town) production of 'Hamlet' as well as starring as Volumnia in 'Coriolanus', the final show in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre before its closure for refurbishment as part of the RSC's Transformation project. Suzman was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2011and holds multiple honorary degrees for leading UK universities. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Shakespeare Institute and was awarded the Pragnell Award for lifetime services to Shakespeare in 2012.
Training and Education
Drama school
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) (Training & Education | Est. 1861)
155 Talgarth Rd, Hammersmith, London W14 9DA, England
Undergraduate degree
University of the Witwatersrand (Training & Education | Est. 1922)
1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Braamfontein, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Other Names
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Productions
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Appears In
The Birthday Party (Aldwych) (1964)
Lulu (Age: twenties, Female)
Performer
Linked People
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Linked Awards
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Resources
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Sources
Simon Trowbridge's The Company
Simon Trowbridge, The Company: a Biographical Dictionary of the Royal Shakespeare Company, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Editions Albert Creed, 2013)
Biography
This source provides a comprehensive index and brief biographies for key actors, directors, designers and writers who have worked regularly with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Janet Suzman's entry can be found on pp. 459-460. An entry for Harold Pinter can be found on pp. 375-377.