Christopher Consani [1] Born 1944, Cape town, SA

Christopher Consani

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J.CHRISTOPHER CONSANI aka MAX was (born in 1944) is a South African actor, writer and director.

EDUCATION

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EDUCATION (1) Foundation

He attended school in Cape Town at Laerskool Groote Schuur, Bishops, and St Aidan's College in Grahamstown where he became Senior Student and Ist XV fly-half. In 1961 he passed the Joint Matriculation Board with distinctions in History and was awarded the Queen Victoria Prize for the best English essay written in that year's matriculation exam.

In 1966 at the Univerșity of Cape Town he was awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Economics and Roman Law[2], with distinctions in Constitutional History. Although he was always a maverick in the intense political climate of the university, he was three times elected to the Student's Representative Council, eventually serving as Vice-President. He won both the UCT Best Speaker's Debate and the NUSAS[3] national speaker's debate.

?photo? with x Cups

EDUCATION (2) Diversification

After graduating at UCT he changed direction: instead of continuing with law studies, he went to the University of Stellenbosch and studied English for two years and studied Philosophy for two years with Dr.Johan Degenaar.

The following year he completed English III at the University of Natal.

In 1971 he returned to UCT to obtain its Senior Teaching Diploma, followed by a year teaching English at Milnerton High School under Acting Principal Allan Powell.

EDUCATION (3) Fulfillment

One of his many activities at Milnerton High was to produce (and act in} a school play. This brief experience of the stage led to his attending in 1973 the One-Year Course for Actors at UCT Drama School under Robert Mohr[4]. A highlight of the year was his portrayal of King Henry VIII with each of his six wives.

In the following year he was contracted as actor to PACOFS (Performing Arts Council of the Free State[5]) in Bloemfontein. Here he played Zepo[6] in Arrabal's “Picnic on the Battlefield[6]" and the supporting role in Genet's "Deathwatch".

EDUCATION (4) Completed

After a year with PACOFS[5], and while freelancing in Johannesburg, he studied with the University of South Africa and was awarded the postgraduate degree (HONOURS) BA in English.

Freelance Actor

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In 1975 he produced and acted the lead in "The Collector" which played Johannesburg and toured four other SA cities.

WRITING and RECORDING

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While in NY Consani finished writing, with Mitchell Sugarman, “Razumov," his adaptation of Joseph Conrad's novel, "Under Western Eyes." In June 1984 the play was directed in Cape Town by Johan Esterhuizen of the Cape Performing Arts Board and opened to favourable reviews at the Nico Malan's Arena Theatre in Cape Town. Cape Town's daily The Argus: “..this play succeeds surprisingly- it has been honed down with sensitivity to the essentials." In NY Consani also taught Voice Production and Vocal Interpretation. In addition to recordings for The Trailer Shop and Recorded Books Inc., he recorded the voice-over for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company's presentation of its major collection, "N. C. Wyeth: The Met Life Murals". The presentation received countrywide television exposure.

References

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  1. ^ "Christopher Consani - ESAT". esat.sun.ac.za. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  2. ^ "Roman-Dutch law". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  3. ^ "National Union of South African Students", Wikipedia, 2021-03-16, retrieved 2021-07-04
  4. ^ "Robert Mohr - ESAT". esat.sun.ac.za. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  5. ^ a b "| Department of Sport, Arts and Culture". www.dac.gov.za. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  6. ^ a b ""A Picnic on the Battlefield" by Fernando Arrabal (Troupe norvégienne R Y K T E)". Ceci n’est pas un blog. 2018-05-17. Retrieved 2021-07-04.