The Anthony Farmer Oakfields College Trust
English born Anthony Farmer arrived in South Africa in 1953 with the production of Ivor Novello`s `King`s Rhapsody` as a dancer and stage manager, which marked the beginning of an illustrious career as a theatre practitioner.
He was a dancer, a stage manager, an actor, producer, designer, director… but most importantly contributed to the growing theatre industry in South Africa.
This stalwart of the performing arts passed away in 2006, but since the inception of The Anthony Farmer Trust, his legacy continues and his contribution to the performing arts is still very apparent.
In 2016 Oakfields College was granted the right to use the Anthony Farmer Trust as a bursary programme for underprivileged students wishing to enter the performing arts field. With this news, the Pretoria Campus of Oakfields College renamed their library in his honour.
After more than twelve years of successfully providing tertiary education in the creative arts, Oakfields College has established its dance and musical theatre faculty as one that can boast some exceptional talent currently working across the world.
With the assistance of the trust, this department can continue prepping and nurturing the talent in our country. This is highly beneficial to the industry as it ensures formal training to the future performers of our country and is a major investment for all producers, directors and agents.
Former trustee and industry icon Percy Tucker stated, when handing the trust to Oakfields College,
“This will help you and your students to achieve great things for the future of South African theatre.”
To date there have been eight recipients of this bursary, who have all benefitted tremendously from this gift.
Recipient of the bursary, Hizel Riffel feels blessed to have received this bursary:
”I truly believe that in a country where students are fighting for an education I am privileged enough to get the opportunity to study. And thank you for supporting my journey.”
The opportunity to study a musical theatre qualification, not only enhances talent but it provides great social skills and tools for the youth. Neo Seoketsa has expressed the confidence and relationship building she has gained through receiving this bursary:
“Being at Oakfields College has really changed me for the good. I'm also much closer to my mom than ever before. I am able to call her when I'm having a bad day. Before Oakfields College that didn't happen. I see how hard she works so that I'm able to live out my dream. Before that I didn't really pay attention to the effort she put in to see me happy. I'm just in a happy place. I'm ready to take on the world. With help from the trustees, lecturers, friends and family anything and everything is possible.”
If you as a theatre lover, supporter or Industry maker would like to contribute towards growing this dynamic industry, you may wish to donate to this trust.
Bank Details:
Nedbank
Account name: The Anthony Farmer Oakfields College Trust
Branch code 198765
Account number 9019954155
Account type – Savings
Please send proof of payment to: jackier@oakfieldscollege.co.za
Oakfields College are proud to be hosting their annual musical to showcase the talent of their students but also to remind all supporters of the entertainment and theatre industries of the importance of supporting the arts.
This year they will be staging A Chorus Line which will run at The Fringe, Joburg Theatre from 9 to 19 August in the evenings (excluding Mondays) at 20h00 with additional Saturday and Sunday matinee performances at 15h00.
Tickets cost R75 per person. Students and scholars pay only R65 per person.
Online bookings can be made on the theatre website at www.joburgtheatre.co.za
or call 0861 670 670.
Who was Anthony Farmer? by Percy Tucker
Anthony Farmer, who contributed so much to the South African Theatre from 1953 to 2006, passed away on Saturday 20th May, 2006, aged 86.
As I have known and worked with Anthony Farmer, since he first came to South Africa in 1953, I thought it would be fitting to write about his career and pay a tribute to an extraordinary theatre genius.
Anthony Farmer was born in Leamington Spa in England, Tony, from an early age, had a show business gene in his make up, and had done a lot of acting in his early youth.
After school, he trained as a draughtsman and engineer. During the 2nd World War, he worked on aircraft engine manufacturing, which enabled him to apply his aptitude for designing and creating. After the war ended, Anthony worked in the British Film Industry, where his talents were used in the set construction department at the Rank Organisation studios. He later studied acting and production, during which time his enormous talent for stage design came to the fore. He never had any formal training but his talents were recognised and he was asked to work on the set design for the film of `Great Expectations` which starred John Mills, Martita Hunt and Jean Simmons.
Later when he went to work in the West End where he stage managed the hit show `Fifty Glorious Years` starring Anna Neagle as Queen Victoria.
In 1953 Anthony was brought out to South Africa with a production of Ivor Novello`s `King`s Rhapsody` as a dancer and stage manager. Whilst he was here, he was interviewed by the Johannesburg Repertory Company to take the position of Resident Director. They staged their plays at the Reps Theatre in Braamfontein (later called the Alexander).
He returned in January 1954 to work with the Reps. During that time he staged some of their biggest successes notably `Figure of Fun`, `My Three Angels` in which a newcomer to this country John Boulter starred, `The Wooden Dish`, `The Spider`s Web`, `Dear Charles`,`Bus Stop`, `Dead on Nine`, `The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker` and `Larger than Life` which starred the West-End musical comedy star Jessie Matthews. His biggest success was the second play he staged` Witness for the Prosecution` which ran to 100% capacity. Like all his productions he designed the sets and directed the plays.
In 1955, when the YMCA Theatre opened he was asked to design the opening production `I Capture the Castle`.
In 1956 he had to return to England due to the illness of his father. On his return, he decided to form his own production company Anthony Farmer Productions. Their first production was `Sextet` a revue designed and directed by Anthony with music by Ralph Trewhela and additional material by Adam Leslie. This was staged at the Library and was a huge success. The point number created by Adam and Anthony, `Ladies from Rosebank`, became a classic. In 1957, he worked for the first time with JODS (Johannesburg Operatic and Dramatic Society), directing the musical `Bless the Bride`.
In 1958, he wrote an all South African musical `Ever Since Eve` which played at the YMCA (now the Intimate Theatre).It received rave notices and was acclaimed as sparkling, witty and tuneful. Anthony then joined forces again with Ralph Trewhela and Adam Leslie to create another satirical revue called `I Spy`.
1960 saw 2 productions for JODS, a very lavish `The Merry Widow` and later in the year `Spring Quartet`.
1961, saw Anthony work for the first time with Taubie Kushlick, designing the sets for her production of `The Women`.
In June of 1961, Anthony designed and directed Ivor Novello`s `The Dancing Years` and then in November `Naughty Marietta` both JODS productions.
He at this time worked for Children`s Theatre designing the sets for `Beauty & the Beast`.
!962, saw a highlight of Tony`s career, when he was commissioned by Leon Gluckman to design the sets for `Wait a Minim`, which after touring South Africa for many months, was also staged in London, New York and Australasia.
In November, the newly opened Johannesburg Civic Theatre asked JODS to stage the first musical at the new theatre. Anthony was commissioned to design, stage and direct Frank Loesser`s `The Most Happy Fella` which starred Edwin Steffe, from New York.
Better was still to come with the triumphant staging of `Show Boat` in October 1963. This was such a success that it was restaged in February 1964 and then taken to Cape Town for another sold out season.
In 1964, Anthony, now Managing Director of `International Advertising`, was asked to co-ordinate the visit of Paris couturier, Pierre Balmain in association with Derber Furs.
He also had time to undertake the staging for African Consolidated Theatres of another Paris show the famous `Moulin Rouge` In November , he ended a busy year by designing and directing another production of `The Merry Widow` for JODS.
After this production, Percy Baneshik, writing in his theatrical column coined the phrase `Farmerama` which stuck with Tony until the end, as it summarised the lavish spectacles which he staged.
In 1965 Anthony directed and designed the massive Frank Loesser hit `Guys & Dolls` , which returned for another season in 1966.
Anthony and I had seen a production of `Around the World in 80 Days` at Jones Beach New York, and Anthony was determined to stage it in a theatre, which he did in October 1966.He said, I will make this show to be the most magnificent spectacle ever and it was, even letting Fogg and Passepartout traverse the auditorium ceiling in a balloon above the head of the audience. The show sold out every performance. It was a show the likes of which Johannesburg theatregoers had never seen before.
1967, saw Anthony involved in another new theatre, the Adam Leslie when it opened with `Music Hall Revue` with sets and direction by Anthony.
1968 saw the opening at the Civic of `Eureka` a musical with book and lyrics by Percy Baneshik and music by Bertha Egnos.
The show was not a success. However Anthony designed the sets for a PACT production of the opera `La Traviata` which had as guest artists Richard Tucker, the famous Metropolitan Opera star singing opposite Elizabeth Vaughan from Covent Garden.
Anthony worked for Taubie once again in her production of `Cabaret` at the Brooke Theatre, but it was a hideous disaster.
1970 saw him design sets for the first SA production of `West Side Story`.
His final work for JODS, was designing the sets for `Man of La Mancha` and `Applause at the Civic in 1971.
During this time JODS gave him the opportunity for his extraordinary talent to flower.
When PACT Musical productions took over after JODS stopped productions, Anthony was asked to stage `Kismet` and then in 1975 came one of his biggest triumphs with the staging and set design of `The Great Waltz`.
For the Market Theatre Tony designed `The Comedians` in 1976 and `Absurd Person Singular` in 1977.
In 1977 he directed the first show staged by JODS at their new theatre, the Alhambra called `A Night to Remember`.
The peak of his career was in 1979, when Sol Kerzner asked him to help design the new theatre at Sun City which was due to open in December of that year. During the next few years with shows like `Sun City Extravaganza`, `Flight of Fantasy`, `Voila` amongst many others, he achieved world recognition for his creative talent.
!981 saw another masterpiece with the opening production at the State Theatre, Pretoria of `Applause`. The spectacle of the scene Act 2, scene 2 of `Aida` with a cast of hundreds, brought the house down.
Anthony designed an array of opera`s and ballet`s for PACT as well as being involved with virtually every theatre building in Johannesburg and Pretoria. He recently converted the Globe Theatre at Gold Reef City into a supper club venue and in earlier days designed the `La Parisienne` in Braamfontein. He redesigned the Alhambra for Pieter Toerien in 1991 and was instrumental for the set design for the First` Miss World` to be staged at the Sun City Superbowl. He also did an enormous amount of work for Richard Loring and his design for `African Footprint` has been acclaimed all over the world.
He was greatly admired by all his colleagues and will never be forgotten for his temper tantrums.
Anthony, my friend, rest in peace. Your work which created magic in the theatre of South Africa will never be forgotten. You truly fulfilled your potential and lifted South African theatre to new heights.
