Theatre designer Dicky
Longhurst died in his sleep on November 16. Former Artistic Director of NAPAC
and The Playhouse Company, Murray McGibbon, pays tribute to his long time
friend and colleague.
“There’s One More
Angel In Heaven, There’s One More Star In The Sky”
Dicky Longhurst, theatre designer extraordinaire, died on
the same date he was born, November 16. He passed away in his sleep in Cape Town.
He was born in Wepener in the Orange Free State, and studied
for a BA in Fine Arts at UOFS graduating in 1970. He joined PACOFS as a graphic
artist in 1972 and became a stage manager in 1973 and then resident designer. In
1976 he joined the Little Theatre at the University of Cape Town and was
appointed to CAPAB in 1978 as a resident designer under the mentorship of Peter
Cazalet. He subsequently went on to a stellar career designing many opera,
ballet and drama productions both within South Africa and abroad.
Dicky made his debut with NAPAC in 1985 designing costumes
for The Canterbury Tales, which was
presented at the old Alhambra Theatre. He designed the costumes for the NAPAC
Dance Company’s premiere season at the Natal Playhouse as it was then called. Other
productions included costumes for Ain’t
Misbehavin’, Midnight Blues, My Fair Lady, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat, Il Mmatrimonio Segretto,
The Millionairess, Present Laughter,Gulls,
Die Joiner, Mother to Mother, Die Proponentjie, As You Like It, Cardenio, Come
Back, Little Sheba, A Flea in her Ear, The Importance of Being Earnest, On the
Razzle, Tartuffe, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Blue Iris, Kermis
op Koekenmoer, Broken Glass and countless others.
He was the recipient of numerous Fleur du Cap, Vita and Naledi
Awards.He worked with all five of the former Performing Arts Councils, the
Baxter Theatre, The Space Theatre, The Market Theatre, Ballet West (USA) and
Artscape.
With the predictable disbandment of the arts councils, he
diversified into the field of haute couture and together with colleague
Hillette Stapelberg opened a salon in Cape Town in 1988. More recently he has
worked in both Johannesburg and Cape Town in theatre and film while promoting
his own label.
I was first introduced to Dicky when I was contracted to
direct Hamlet for NAPAC in 1989. It
was my first major Shakespearean production and, frankly, I was terrified. The
production featured Frantz Dobrowsky as Hamlet and Sandra Duncan as Gertrude. What
could be more intimidating than that!
Dicky and Scenic Designer, New York-based Edward Haynes, gave
me the confidence I needed to pull a seemingly impossible assignment out of the
bag. Dicky’s costumes for Hamlet were
manufactured in Cape Town and flown to Durban. I still wear the shirt he had
manufactured for the male chorus, and which he insisted I wear on opening night.
We became firm friends and would make a point of wining and dining when I went
to Cape Town or he came to Durban. My last working experience with him was the
spectacular Romeo and Juliet for
which he designed the settings and costumes. I will never forget the ooh’s and
aah’s that were very audible in the auditorium when the curtain went up.
More recently, through Facebook, we became correspondents. In
his last email to me, he wrote: “Would
be marvellous to do a show with you again!” Sadly this was not to be.
Dicky epitomised, grace, elegance, good taste and STYLE! He
was an innovative designer, whose work embodied an energy and artistry not
often encountered. His work, while often whimsical, was solidly based upon
research and intelligent understanding of the playwright’s intention. He loved
his work and was superbly talented in designing for the performer who was to play
the role and wear his costume. He designs were real works of art and renderings
may be found in private collections all over the world. He was truly a South
African fashion and theatre design legend.
Outside of the theatre, Dicky was a great conversationalist,
a bon vivant, and a fine cook. His haddock kedgeree is very “moreish” and has
become a firm McGibbon family favourite. He was a delightful colleague to work
with and party with. Many a good bottle or two of red “grape juice” were
consumed at the innumerable meals we shared over the years. He was dedicated to
his precious Husky dogs and treated them like humans.
Dicky Longhurst was the consummate professional. South
African Theatre will indeed be the poorer for his sudden and untimely demise.
He leaves a son of whom he was immensely proud.
Murray McGibbon is the
former Artistic Director of NAPAC and The Playhouse Company. He is currently
Professor of Theatre in the Department of Theatre, Drama and Contemporary Dance
at Indiana University in the USA.
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