Angelique Rockas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Chalk19 (talk | contribs) at 07:53, 12 December 2017 (rv -accurate eg at BBFC page on the "Witches" she is not even mentioned in the "Cast includes" section; http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/witches-film). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Angelique Rockas
Angelique Rockas as Medea
Angelique Rockas in the role of Medea
EducationUniversity of the Witwatersrand, University of Cape Town
Occupation(s)Actress: stage and film, founder of and theatre practitionerr Internationalist Theatre, activist
Years active1978-present
Known forMedea on stage, and as founder of Internationalist Theatre.
Rockas as Miss Julie, and Garry Cooper as Jean in Strindberg's Miss Julie, Internationalist Theatre

Angelique Rockas is a South African-Greek, London-based actress who with her company Internationalist Theatre (initially called New Internationalist Theatre)[1][2][3] "asserted " the performance of multi-racial and multi-national theatre productions in the London of the 1980s; this was first announced on 9 April 1981 on the Theatre News page (2) by the editor of The Stage, describing the company's formation "to assert a multi-racial drama policy",[4] with their performance of the revival of The Balcony by Jean Genet. Athol Fugard accepts to be a member of the company's advisory board, and is listed as such on the company's press release for their production of Mother Courage and Her Children by Brecht.[5][6] [7] Madeleine Jay in her BBC French Service (part of BBC World Service ) broadcast review of The Balcony and interview with Yves Aubert the French actor in the cast asks him "Why An International/Internationalist troupe?".[8][9]Michelene Wandor in her preview for Time Out of the performance of Griselda Gambaro's The Camp (1967 play) attests that the company is "adopting a vigorous internationalist approach to casting ".[10] Interviews with Rockas in print and online about the founding of Internationalist Theatre were published in Eleftherotypia, [11] The National Herald, [12] Vogue Mexico & Latin America,[13] Dagens Nyheter,[14] the Cape Argus,[15] and The Greek Reporter. [16]

As a stage actress, Rockas first came to public attention for her portrayal of the roles of Emma in Griselda Gambaro's The Camp, "encarna magistralmente el dificil papel de Emma", BBC Latin American Service (now BBC Mundo);[17][18] Tom Vaughan of the Morning Star described her performance as "searing" and of "great power";[19] Jenny Vaughan of Spare Rib as "stunning" and "electrifying";[20][21] as Euripides's Medea, Ned Chaillet, writing for The Times was struck by the wrath of Medea erupting in "the dangerous passions of Angelique Rockas", and Rosemary Say of The Sunday Telegraph lauded Rockas' performance as "fiercely agile";[22] Camden Scanner declares "Angelique Rockas in the central part gives us a barefoot performance of great power",;[23][24] in the title role of August Strindberg's Miss Julie her portrayal impresses not only for the "huge dimensions of the character" suggested, but also "Ms Rockas' performance adds profundity and power .. most original performance", Jo Stanley of the Morning Star.[25]

On film, Rockas has appeared in minor roles in The Witches directed by Nicolas Roeg, in Oh Babylon! directed by Costas Ferris, and in Peter Hyams's Outland.[26] In Greece she has played the lead role, Ms Ortiki in Thodoros Maragos's television series Emmones Idees[27] with Vangelis Mourikis as Socratis.

Biography

Formative years in South Africa

Rockas was educated at St Dominic's Catholic School for Girls, Boksburg,[28] where she was a contemporary with Barbara Hogan the anti-apartheid freedom fighter and Minister of Health for the first ANC government. After matriculating, she attended the University of Witwatersrand studying for majors in English Literature and Politics. Her political studies were cut short when the local Nationalist party MP, having seen a photograph of her at the picket line of a Wits University anti-apartheid protest on the front page of the Gauteng Star newspaper, made an ominous telephone call to her parents and expressed his surprise to find out that their daughter was against the country's apartheid government:see biographical details on the Hellenism.net interview,[29][30]

Her next appearance on the front page of the Star was under very different circumstances; as one of a group of debutantes raising funds for SAHETI, one of the internationally acknowledged Greek schools outside Greece.[31]

In her third year at Wits, Rockas participated in a March 25 Greek War of Independence Poetry Celebration with George Bizos the 'legendary' Greek South African lawyer who was Mandela's defence attorney,[32] and would in the future be one of the lawyers drafting South Africa's new Constitution. Bizos would serve as an inspirational role model in Angelique's future founding of Internationalist Theatre.[33] In later years, from London, Rockas would send Bizos a book on EU law for his Legal Resources Centre (vide: reference for response).[34]

After graduating from Wits with a BA honours degree in English literature and a major in philosophy, Rockas went on to do an acting course at the Drama School of the University of Cape Town, under the direction of Prof. Robert Mohr,[35][36] with Reza de Wet as a contemporary. After obtaining her Equity card and armed with a reference letter from South Africa's great Afrikaans actor Cobus Rossouw[37](vide: Afrikaans language Wikipedia) she decided to leave South Africa for the United Kingdom .[38]

London and Theatro Technis

In London Rockas began acting under the direction of George Eugeniou at Theatro Technis[39]. [40][41], where apart from participating in Greek classical productions like Medea (play)(translated by Philip Vellacott) and which according to Tom Vaughan of The Morning Star was a " production fit to stand beside the National's (The National Theatre) Oresteia"[42] and playing Io in a politically charged production of Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus, described by Jim Hilley of Time Out as "an indictment of the Greek Junta ... made to harrowing effect ",[43][44][Aristophanes]] 's Lysistrata and a modern adaptation The Knights, (Oh Democracy!), she also performed under the name of Angeliki ( her Greek baptismal name) Rockas, in dual language productions (Greek/English) based on improvisations about issues that touched the Greek Cypriot community, and the tragedy of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Attilas '74.[45] The plays included Dowry with Two White Doves, Afrodite Unbound, A Revolutionary Nicknamed Roosevelt, Ethnikos Aravonas,[46] [47] and Greek language only performance of Kato apo tis Keratsies, and Don Kamillo.[48] Rockas' first UK press interview about her work with George Eugeniou and Theatro Technis was with Parikiaki Haravgi(now Parikiaki) in August 1980.[49]

In between her work with Theatro Technis Rockas performed Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's Macbeth.[50]

New Theatre

Rockas' first venture into theatre production was setting up New Theatre [51] in November 1980 to stage a performance of 'Tis Pity She's a Whore by John Ford, and in which she played the lead part of Annabella. She financed the production herself and enlisted the then unknown Declan Donnellan[52]to direct the play, without a sub-plot and in modern dress, to be performed at London's Half Moon Theatre and Theatre Space. The production was designed by Nick Ormerod.[53]

Internationalist Theatre

In April 1981, Rockas founds Internationalist Theatre to create a multi-racial and multi-national theatre company for actors living in London of any racial or national background, of any accent, performing drama classics as well as contemporary works not especially written for multi-racial and multi-national casts, and described by Ann Morey the BBC Latin American (now BBC Mundo) broadcaster as a theatre company "transcending racial and cultural barriers".[54][55]

Apart from pioneering multi-racial and multi-national drama productions in London, Internationalist Theatre can, as Nicholas de Jongh in his Guardian review of the company's performance of Pirandello 's 'Liola' points out, be given credit for staging dramatists like Pirandello, Genet, Tennessee Williams who belong to "the continental, non-realistic, symbolically orientated drama of this century (20th) and..proved most uncongenial to the tunnel visioned repertoire builders" of British theatre of that period.[56]

Rockas as Miriam, In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel

Rockas' acting work as an actress-manageress[57] with Internationalist Theatre, apart from the roles of Emma in The Camp and Miss Julie already mentioned, include: Carmen (in Genet's The Balcony);[58] Yvette (in Brecht's Mother Courage);[59] Miriam (Tennessee Williams's In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel);[60][61][62] and Tatiana in Maxim Gorky's Enemies.[63]

Contemptus Mundi films/ activist / polemicist

Rockas has worked on film projects with her company Contemptus Mundi for some time now, and has in the past tried to get funding for various directors [1]. She has also resumed her activism, campaigning for Greece to be treated with respect by the European Union;[64][65][66] for women's educational and financial rights; a polemicist against war,[67][68] and administering her Free Online University: Philosophy, Literature, Art, Science and Technology internet site, via the groups she has created and curates on social media.[69]

Personal

Rockas is an Orthodox Christian, in her Hellenism.net interview she refers to "the laic side of my great Orthodox religion". She has two sisters, Dimitra Eftychis,[70] a Greek language academic and researcher in Orthodox Christian iconography, and Georgina Rockas, an artist/craftswoman and designer.[71]

To commemorate the death of her mother Stavroula Kotsaki Rockas, she commissioned an Orthodox mural of the Theotokos and the Christ Child, located above the Iconostasis in the village church of Kalamara (Messinia Greece), the birthplace of her mother.[72][73]

Archives

References

  1. ^ "Angelique Rockas Brave Theatre Pioneer". 2011-08-10 – via thesouthafrican.com.
  2. ^ British Theatre Directory editor (1990). "British Theatre directory Internationalist Theatre Entry". British Theatre Directory page 336 – via books.google.co.uk. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ "Internationalist Theatre (originally called New Internationalist Theatre )". February 2012 [April 1981] – via theatricalia.com.
  4. ^ "The Stage, Theatre News Multiracial Casting Policy". 9 April 1981. p. 2 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ Internationalist Theatre (April 1982). "Mother Courage press release" – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ Evangelos Kordakis (2011). "Section on Internationalist Theatre". hellenism.net.
  7. ^ "Athol Fugard Endorses Internationalist Theatre, Accepts to be Member of Advisory Board". April 1981 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ "Why An International Theatre page2". BBC French. 30 June 1981 – via Internet Archive.
  9. ^ "Why An International Theatre page 1". BBC French. 30 June 1981 – via Internet Archive.
  10. ^ Micheline Wandor (19 October 1981). "internationalist casting". Time Out – via Internet Archive.
  11. ^ Dimitris Gionis (August 1992). "Interview ' Eleutherotipia' Greece Angelique Rockas" – via Internet Archive.
  12. ^ Ari Papadopoulos (July 1993). "Angelique Rockas 1005". National Herald USA – via Internet Archive.
  13. ^ Luis Carlos Emmerich (July 1992). "Vogue Mexico Interview Angelique Rockas Multi Faceted Actress Spanish and English". Vogue Mexico – via Internet Archive.
  14. ^ Dagens Nyheter (26 Jan 1984). "Dagens_Nyheter_review Miss_Julie_Internationalist_Theatre" (in Swedish) – via Internet Archive.
  15. ^ Dirk de Villers (31 May 1983). "S.A.actress earns acccolade". Cape Argus – via Internet Archive.
  16. ^ Stella Tsolakidou (21 May 2012). "Angelique Rockas: Strong, Bold and Unafraid". greekreporter.com.
  17. ^ Ann Morey (26 October 1981). "Angelique as Emma in The Camp by Gambaro". BBC Latin American Service review of The Camp page 2 – via Internet Archive.
  18. ^ Ann Morey (26 October 1981). "Angelique as Emma in The Camp by Gambaro". BBC Latin American Service review of The Camp page 1 – via Internet Archive.
  19. ^ "The Camp :Searing and of great power". Morning Star. October 1981 – via Internet Archive.
  20. ^ Jenny Vaughan (February 1982). "El Campo (The Camp)". Spare Rib. pp. 46–47 – via Internet Archive.
  21. ^ Jenny Vaughan (February 1982). "Review of The Camp (El Campo)". Spare Rib (115): 46–47 – via British Library.
  22. ^ Ned Chaillet; Rosemary Say (January 1982). "Reviews Angelique Rockas Medea". The Times and The Sunday Telegraph – via Internet Archive.
  23. ^ "Medea at Theatro Technis". Camden SCanner. 28 February 1982 – via Internet Archive.
  24. ^ "Live performance of Angelique Rockas as Medea". Medea. 1982 – via Internet Archive.
  25. ^ Jo Stanley (January 1984). "Profound Conflict – Miss Julie". The Morning Star – via Internet Archive.
  26. ^ "Angelique Rockas film roles". BFI – via bfi.org.uk.
  27. ^ "Greek TV debut for Angelique". Greek Review. September 1989 – via Internet Archive.
  28. ^ Heather Walker, ed. (10 August 2011). "Angelique Rockas: bold theatre pioneer". The South African.
  29. ^ Evangelos Kordakis. "Angelique Rockas". hellenism.net.
  30. ^ "Visual Biography and Theatre History". Scottish Theatre Archive refers to Flickr site. 2011 – via flickr.com.
  31. ^ "Debutantes for SAHETI". The Star. 5 June 1970 – via Internet Archive.
  32. ^ "BBC World Service Interview Archive:George Bizos". 29 July 2003 – via BBC World Service.
  33. ^ Evangelos Kordakis. "Angelique Rockas". hellenism.net.
  34. ^ George Bizos (November 2002). "Letter to Angelique from George Bizos" – via Internet Archive.
  35. ^ ESAT. "Robert Mohr". University of Stellenbosch – via esat.sun.ac.za.
  36. ^ Little Theatre, Univ of Cape Town (1976). "Programme of Die Effek van Gamma Strale directed by Robert Mohr, Reza De Wet in cast". Die Effek van Gamma Strale – via Internet Archive.
  37. ^ Cobus Rossouw (June 1978). "Reference Letter from Cobus Rossouw" – via Internet Archive.
  38. ^ video auto-generated by ai.pictures (January 2017). "Angelique Rockas – Formative years in South Africa". -Text from Wikipedia – via youtube.com.
  39. ^ "Angelique Rockas/Angeliki Rockas". Theatro Technis.
  40. ^ Petsalas,Anastassios (2008). "Angelique Rockas a Theatreo Technis Prometheus". Etudes Helleniques Vol 16 Issue 2 page 107.
  41. ^ "Angelique Rockas/Angeliki Rockas a Theatro Technis". APGRD CLassics Centre Univ Of Oxford.
  42. ^ Tom Vaughan (28 Jan 1982). "Medea's Revenge fit to stand beside the National's "Oresteia"". The Morning Star – via Internet Archive.
  43. ^ "Theatro, Technis, London, Prometheus, Bound, Aeschyllus, Time, Out" – via Internet Archive.
  44. ^ "Angelique Rockas/Angeliki Rockas a Theatro Technis". APGRD CLassics Centre Univ Of Oxford.
  45. ^ Michael Caccoyiannis. "Michael Caccoyiannis documentary Attilas '74: The Rape of Cyprus". Documentary about the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus and subsequent illegal occupation of Northern Cyprus – via vimeo.com.
  46. ^ "Brochure Celebrating 25th Anniversary of Theatro Technis". Theatro Technis. 1982 – via Internet Archive.
  47. ^ "Songs sung at Ethnikos Aravonas, Theatro, Technis" – via Youtube.com.
  48. ^ "Angelique Rockas/Angeliki Rockas". Theatro Technis – via theatricalia.com.
  49. ^ Christina Aresti (21 August 1980). "Angeliki Rockas: Anagnorisi tou Polipleurou Talentou tis". Parakiaki Haravgi – via Internet Archive.
  50. ^ "Macbeth". Lady Macbeth – via Internet Archive.
  51. ^ John Ford (November 1980). "'Tis Pity She's a Whore". New Theatre – via theatricalia.com.
  52. ^ "Evening Standard refrence to `Tis Pity". `Tis Pity She`s a Whore. March 2012 – via flickr.com.
  53. ^ "Reviews of `Tis Pity". New Theatre `Tis Pity She`s a Whore. November 1980 – via Internet Archive.
  54. ^ Ann Morey (1981). "BBC Latin American The Camp Multi Racial And Multi National". Griselda Gambaro The Camp – via Internet Archive.
  55. ^ Ann Morey (26 October 1981). "BBC Latin American The Camp Multi Racial And Multi National". BBC Latin American Service page 2 – via Internet Archive.
  56. ^ Nicolas de Jongh (28 July 1982). "LIOLA". The Guardian – via Internet Archive.
  57. ^ London Theatre Directory (1993). "London Theatre Directory 1993". London Theatre Directory – via Internet Archive. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  58. ^ Where to Go (July 1981). "Review Balcony" – via Internet Archive.
  59. ^ Julia Pascal (May 1982). "Review Mother Courage". City Limits – via Internet Archive.
  60. ^ Dirk de Villiers (May 1983). "Review of In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel". The Star – via Internet Archive.
  61. ^ Dirk De Villiers (17 May 1983). "Review Im the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel: Dynamic Rockas Hailed'". Pretoria News – via Internet Archive.
  62. ^ South African Digest (1983). "SA Actress praised page 66". South African Digest – via books.google.co.uk.
  63. ^ What's On (March 1985). "Review Enemies" – via Internet Archive.
  64. ^ Sue Reid (February 2017). "Greece: A Nation dying on its Feet – economic collapse under weight of German diktats & never ending tide of migrants" – via dailymail.com.
  65. ^ handlesblatt team (7 July 2017). "Germany Profits From Greek Debt Crisis" – via global.handelsblatt.com.
  66. ^ Angelique Rockas (2017). "Kissinger's Nazi Policy Against the Greeks" – via linkedin.com.
  67. ^ Glen Greenwald (February 2017). "The Increasingly Unhinged Russia Rhetoric Comes From a Long-Standing U.S. Playbook" – via intercept.com.
  68. ^ Prof Stephen Cohen (February 2017). "The Russia-connected allegations have created an atmosphere of hysteria amounting to McCarthyism" – via thenation.com.
  69. ^ "Angelique Rockas Linkedin Groups". 4 November 2016 – via Linkedin.com.
  70. ^ "Dimitra Eftychis with George Bizos" (PDF). Hellenic Times, SA. August 2001 – via Internet Archive.
  71. ^ "Georgian Rockas: Treasure Trove". Georgina Rockas. 2014 – via flickr.com.
  72. ^ Kalamara Iconographer (2009). "Orthodox Christian Mural to commemorate Stavroula Kotsaki Roka". Theotokos and Christ Child – via Internet Archive.
  73. ^ Kalamara Iconographer (2009). "Orthodox Christian Mural to commemorate Stavroula Kotsaki Roka". Stavroula Kotsaki Rokka – via Internet Archive.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Angelique Rockas.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Angelique Rockas.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Angelique_Rockas&oldid=815022041"