Celeste Matthews Wannenburgh Explained

Celeste Matthews
Birth Name:Celeste Mitzi Karin Matthews
Birth Place:Cape Flats, South Africa
Nationality:South African
Alma Mater:University of Cape Town, and theCape Peninsula University of Technology
Occupation:Actress, Municipal Councillor (metropolitan municipality), and Radio Personality
Years Active:1994–present
Spouse:Alf Wannenburgh(m. 1992; died 2010)
Children:1
Mother:Lorraine Ruby Gordene Mentoor
Father:Anthony Alexander
Awards:Fleur du Cap Theatre Award

Celeste Mitzi Karin Matthews (born 1961) is a South African actress, playwright, and former City of Cape Town local government official elected to the City Council[1] in 2021.[2] [3] [4] She is best known for her roles as Gertie Cupido[5] [6] in kykNET & kie's Arendsvlei (a telenovela)[7] and Auntie Hester[8] in David Kramer and Taliep Petersen's award-winning 2002[9] [10] revival of (1987).[11] [12] Vincent Colby[13] of the District Six Museum cites the musical play as the material which steered a pivotal discussion held in 1994 at the 'old church hall' in former District Six to establish a dedicated museum.[14]

Personal life and education

Matthews was born in Klavier Laan (lit. "piano lane"), Steenberg to Anthony Alexander Matthews, a public servant, and Lorraine Ruby Gordene Mentoor.[15] Her childhood home was opposite the Rahmaniyah Masjied (Steenberg Mosque). Matthews’ ethnic background is matrilineally Batswana and Khoekhoen — descending directly from the ‘controversial’[16] 18th century slave,[17] [18] [19] [20] Mento(o)r van Mozambique (1792) of Quelimane at Oudebosch.[21] [22] [23] According to the Matthews family's oral history, her father's family are of Bantu, St. Helenian, and early Afro-American extraction.[24]

She matriculated from Rosebank's Progress College in 1992, whereafter she obtained her Teaching Diploma from Hewat Teachers Training College (1996);[25] followed by an Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) with a major in Science from the University of Cape Town (2003–2004); and completed her B.Ed. Honours degree in Education Management with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (2016).[26] She is the second wife (1992–2010) and widow of the South African author and anti-apartheid activist, Alf Wannenburgh.[27] [28] [29] The couple have one son. While enrolled at Hewat, she joined the Belhar Players in 1995.[30]

Awards

In 1999, she won a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for 'Best Supporting Actress' as 'Sophie' in Heinrich Reisenhofer's Suip! (lit. "drink!") and received a First National Bank (FNB) Vita Award nomination for the same role in early 2000.[31] [32] [33] The play and cast also won an additional Fleur du Cap Award for 'Best New Indigenous Script' (1999) that same evening.[34]

Political career

Matthews participated in the 2021 South African municipal elections as a candidate[35] for Minister Patricia de Lille's Good party[36] and subsequently joined the Cape Town City Council as a proportional representative[37] (PR) municipal councillor (raadslid) on 9 November 2021.[38] [39] [40] [41] She is, therefore, one of the 115 PR members that make up the City Council's total membership of 231 councillors.[1] Between 2005 and 2021, she served as a commissioner[42] for the Western Cape Cultural Commission (WCCC),[43] at the invitation of the then minister Pallo Jordan,[44] and as a board member and adjudicator/advisor on several departmental agencies at provincial and national levels under South Africa's Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

In May 2023, Matthews' name was published in a Provincial Gazette Extraordinary for the Western Cape as one of 17 shortlisted Good party candidates for the Provincial Parliament of the Western Cape seat that became vacant following Shaun August's controversial dismissal.[45] Matthews separated from the Good party in October 2023, and was subsequently given a Certificate of Recognition civic award by the City of Cape Town for her contribution to Sub-council 16 and the wards that comprise it during her two years in Council (9 November 2021 to 6 October 2023).

Original plays/works

Her own plays, Sandra se Erfenis (first performed by Hewat Drama Group with a student cast at the Grahamstown Festival) — was performed with a student cast at the Grahamstown Festival; and Sonne Skaamte was staged as a 'performed reading' in 2004 at the PlayGround venue at the Baxter Theatre Centre.[46] [47] [48]

Theatre productions

2023: African Gothic (Reza de Wet's Diepe Grond) at Theatre Arts, Observatory[49]

2018: Tjieng Tjang Tjerries at US Woordfees, Stellenbosch[50]

2017: Die dans van die watermeid ("The dance of the water maiden") at the Baxter Theatre, Cape Town[51] [52] [53]

2012: Saying Goodbye to Amelia as 'Nora' at the Catalina Theatre

2008: Kroes as 'Aunty Maggie'[54] (presented at the 2008 Suidoosterfees)[55] at Artscape, Cape Town and Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, Stellenbosch

2007: Shirley, Goodness and Mercy at the Baxter Theatre[56]

2006: Truth in Translation at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg (music composed by Hugh Masekela)[57]

2005: The Goodbye Kiss at Theatre on the Bay, Camps Bay

2002: District Six – The Musical as 'Auntie Hester' at the Baxter Theatre (recording released to DVD in 2007)[58]

2002: The Vagina Monologues (directed by Dawn Lindberg [April 2002]) at Caesars in Gauteng and the Baxter Theatre

1999 to 2001: Suip! as 'Sophia' (Aardklop Festival; Perth International Arts Festival [2001] and Octagon Theatre, Crawley, Western Australia [1999?];[59] Klein Karoo Festival; Baxter Theatre; Grahamstown Festival; Opera House, Port Elizabeth; International Arts Festival, Zanzibar; Knysna Theatre)

199*/200*: Moenie Try Nie at Grahamstown Festival[60]

1998: Mix Masala at Artscape[61]

1994: Sandra se Erfenis at Grahamstown Festival (Rhodes Box). Written and directed by Matthews—who also played the role of "Auntie Murie"

Filmography

!Year!Film!Role!Genre!Ref.
2021AngelienaAngeliena's mommyNetflix Movie[62] [63]
2021AtlantisTaxi passengerMovie
2021SwirlUnknownShomax Movie[64] [65]
2018–presentArendsvleiGertie CupidoAfrikaans TV Series[66]
2017/2018Sara se GeheimDebbieAfrikaans TV Series[67] [68]
2017Nama SwaanGrandmotherShowmax & Silwerskerm Film Festival[69]
2016Twee Grade van MoordNurse 2Afrikaans Movie[70]
2016Vinkel & KoljanderNeesha SolomonsAfrikaans TV Series[71] [72]
2013LenteblomVanessaAfrikaans Movie[73] [74]
2013Mad Dogs (British TV series)Kaela (in episode #3.2)British TV Series
2012Oupa en Ouma Sit op die StoepPatience DanielsAfrikaans TV Series
2009/2012MontanaMrs. De Villiers (S1) & Bonteheuwel Good Samaritan (S2)Afrikaans TV Series
2011There Are No HeroesNeighbourShort Film
2006/2010StokvelLynette Isaacs (S4) & Sister Plaatjies (S7)Afrikaans TV Series
2007Der Mann von gesternUnknownGerman TV Movie[75] [76] [77]
2007Geraldina die Tweede Matron FirestoneAfrikaans TV Series
2006Home AffairsLizzie (S2)TV series
2006OrionMrs. OttoTV series
2006The PianoUnknownSABC2 TV Movie[78]
2005Known GodsMara HoringTV series
2005Scandal!Guest star (S1)TV series
2005NellyGerman TV Movie
2005Guest starGerman TV Movie[79]
2004ForgivenessPetraMovie
2003Das Licht von AfrikaAmyGerman TV Movie
2003DissonancesGardienneFrench Movie
2002Villa RosaUnknownTV series
2002Big OakesUnknownTV series
2002SOS (Save Our Souls)UnknownTV series
2002Fishy FêshunsFlower seller (S2)TV series
2000BackstageGuest star (S1)TV series

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryWorkResultRef
1999 Best Actress in a Supporting RoleSuip![80]
2000First National Bank Vita AwardBest Actress in a Supporting RoleSuip!

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: City of Cape Town Link . 2022-09-19 . City of Cape Town . en.
  2. Web site: Celeste Matthews . 2022-08-12 . esat.sun.ac.za.
  3. Web site: 9 November 2021 . Councillor details. Celeste Wannenburgh. . 13 August 2022 . City of Cape Town.
  4. Web site: 2 June 2016 . Ontorio for a Forgotten Youth . 2022-08-12 . PressReader . Cape Times . 11.
  5. Web site: 2019-02-21 . 'Arendsvlei' se Gertie vertel oor rol as matriarg . 2022-08-13 . Maroela Media . af.
  6. Web site: 12 December 2021 . Campaigning on a budget . 2022-08-13 . PressReader . Weekend Argus . 2.
  7. Web site: Almal rou hierdie Desember – Arendsvlei . 2022-08-13 . Arendsvlei - Almal rou hierdie Desember – Arendsvlei . af.
  8. Book: Matzke . Christine . African Theatre: Opera & music theatre. 19 . Hoven . Lena van der . Odhiambo . Christopher . Roos . Hilde . 2020 . Boydell & Brewer . 978-1-84701-257-9 . 40 . en.
  9. Web site: District Six – The Musical . 2022-09-19 . esat.sun.ac.za.
  10. Book: Kruger, Loren . A Century of South African Theatre . 2019-11-28 . Bloomsbury Publishing . 978-1-350-00802-1 . en.
  11. Book: Forays into Contemporary South African Theatre: Devising New Stage Idioms . 2019-11-11 . BRILL . 978-90-04-41446-4 . 297 . en.
  12. Book: Harrison, Philip . Arts & Culture . 2005 . New Africa Books . 978-0-86486-565-6 . 37 . en.
  13. Book: The Big Issue, Cape Town . 1999 . Big Issue Cape Town . 6 . en.
  14. Book: TDR (The Drama Review): the journal of performance studies . 2004 . MIT Press [for the] New York University/Tisch School of Arts . 140 . en.
  15. Web site: Anthony Alexander Matthews, of Punts Estate . 2022-08-13 . geni_family_tree . 3 September 1926 . en-US.
  16. Book: Anderson . Clare . Mutiny and Maritime Radicalism in the Age of Revolution . Frykman . Niklas . Voss . Lex Heerma van . Rediker . Marcus . 2013-12-19 . Cambridge University Press . 978-1-107-68932-9 . 67 . en.
  17. Book: Van Riebeeck Society Publications . 2005 . The Society . 978-0-9584522-3-6 . xii & 608 . en.
  18. Book: Worden . Nigel . Trials of Slavery: Selected Documents Concerning Slaves from the Criminal Records of the Council of Justice at the Cape of Good Hope, 1705-1794 . Groenewald . Gerald . 2005 . Van Riebeeck Society, The . 978-0-9584522-3-6 . xvi . en.
  19. Emien Wood. 2019. "’n Genealogiese analise van ’n enkele familie as verteenwoordiging van ’n kultuurgroep: ’n ondersoek na nuwe perspektiewe." PhD Thesis (Stellenbosch University). Stellenbosch: SUN MeDIA. p. 2. (available at: https://core.ac.uk/download/196259554.pdf).
  20. Book: Schoeman, Karel . Verkenning . 1996 . Human & Rousseau . 978-0-7981-3591-7 . 88 . af.
  21. Book: Du Preez, Ingram Frank . From Mission Station to Municipality . 1987 . Municipality of Pacaltsdorp . 978-0-620-12780-6 . 278 & 314 . en.
  22. Web site: Genealogy - Geni - private profile - Genealogy . 2022-09-10 . www.geni.com.
  23. Emien Wood. 2019. "’n Genealogiese analise van ’n enkele familie as verteenwoordiging van ’n kultuurgroep: ’n ondersoek na nuwe perspektiewe." PhD Thesis (Stellenbosch University). Stellenbosch: SUN MeDIA. pp. 364 & 403-404. (available at: https://core.ac.uk/download/196259554.pdf).
  24. Web site: Anthony Alexander Matthews, of Punts Estate . 2022-09-10 . geni_family_tree . 3 September 1926 . en-US.
  25. Web site: The Hewat Teacher Training College in Athlone is set alight in solidarity with the UWC students on a boycott South African History Online . 2022-08-13 . www.sahistory.org.za.
  26. Web site: About Us – Rosebank Progress College . 2022-08-13 . en-US.
  27. Web site: Genealogy - Geni - private profile - Genealogy . 2022-08-13 . www.geni.com.
  28. Web site: 20 December 2010 . Writer and activist Alf Wannenburgh dies . 2022-08-13 . PressReader . Cape Times . 3.
  29. Web site: Sias . Chrislynn . 15 September 2022 . Anties Neem Aksie . 2022-09-09 . PressReader . Kuier Magazine . 9.
  30. Web site: Nico Malan Theatre . 2022-08-13 . esat.sun.ac.za.
  31. Web site: Celeste Matthews . 2022-08-12 . www.tvsa.co.za.
  32. Web site: Celebrating Celeste Matthews Wannenburgh – National Arts Council . 2022-08-12 . en-US.
  33. Book: Graan . Mike Van . The South African Handbook on Arts and Culture 2002/2003 . Ballantyne . Tammy . 2002 . David Philip . 978-0-86486-506-9 . 277 . en.
  34. Web site: Suip! . 2022-08-13 . esat.sun.ac.za.
  35. Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). 2021 Municipal Elections Candidate List (Western Cape [WC]). https://www.elections.org.za/pw/Documents/CandidateLists/WC.pdf
  36. Web site: Good – Political Party . 2022-08-13 . For Good . en-ZA.
  37. Web site: Electoral Commission : How to contest municipal elections . 2022-09-19 . www.elections.org.za.
  38. Web site: 3 October 2021 . Good joins hot metro contest . 2022-08-13 . Weekend Argus . 2.
  39. Web site: Felix . Jason . Good adds lawyers, business owners and an actor to its election arsenal . 2022-08-13 . News24 . en-US.
  40. Web site: 10 August 2022 . Aunty Pat's GBVF campaign says don't shut up, speak up . 2022-08-13 . PressReader . Cape Argus . 4.
  41. Web site: Sias . Chrislynn . 15 September 2022 . Anties Neem Aksie . 2022-09-09 . Press Reader . Kuier Magazine . 8.
  42. Web site: New Western Cape Cultural Commission . 2022-08-13 . Western Cape Government . en.
  43. Web site: Payi . Bulelwa . Good adds flames to hotly-contested metro . 2022-09-19 . www.iol.co.za . en.
  44. Web site: Sias . Chrislynn . 15 September 2022 . Anties Neem Aksie . 2022-09-10 . Press Reader . Kuier Magazine . 10.
  45. Web site: May 2023 . Provincial Gazette Extraordinary . Western Cape, RSA . 3.
  46. Web site: APM . 2022-08-13 . Artistes Personal Management.
  47. Web site: Celeste Matthews . 2022-08-13 . esat.sun.ac.za.
  48. Web site: Sandra se Erfenis . 2022-08-13 . esat.sun.ac.za.
  49. Web site: Cohen . Robyn . 22 November 2023. 22/11/2023 . THEATRE NEWS: AFRICAN GOTHIC BY REZA DE WET, DIRECTED BY AMEE LEKAS, WINNER OF THEATRE ARTS EMERGING THEATRE DIRECTORS BURSARY 2023 . The Cape Robyn.
  50. Web site: Jolyn Phillips Wins 2018 Humanities and Social Sciences Award for Tjieng Tjang Tjerries . Pen South Africa.
  51. Web site: Powerful story of simplicity . 2022-08-13 . News24 . en-US.
  52. Web site: Mayne . Jane . 2017-11-07 . Review: 'Die Dans van Watermeid' . 2022-08-13 . WeekendSpecial . en-ZA.
  53. Web site: Enchanting Afrikaans drama at the Baxter . 2022-09-09 . www.news.uct.ac.za . en.
  54. Web site: 2008-03-06 . Aangrypende Kroes by Oude Libertas op die planke . 2022-08-13 . www.argief.litnet.co.za.
  55. Web site: Kroes . 2022-08-13 . esat.sun.ac.za.
  56. Web site: Lategan . Herman . 2007-01-24 . New play at Baxter takes you into the nostalgic heart of South Africa . 2022-08-13 . www.argief.litnet.co.za . LitNet-argief.
  57. Web site: Truth in Translation . 2022-08-13 . esat.sun.ac.za.
  58. University of Wisconsin–Madison Library. 2007. David Kramer & Taliep Petersen's District Six (Videos, Slides, Films). https://search.library.wisc.edu/catalog/9911222555702121
  59. Web site: Issue 42 (Apr-May 2001) . 2022-08-13 . Trove . RealTime . 24 . en.
  60. Web site: Moenie Try Nie . 2022-08-13 . esat.sun.ac.za.
  61. Web site: Mix Masala . 2022-08-13 . esat.sun.ac.za.
  62. Web site: Celeste Matthews . 2022-08-13 . www.tvsa.co.za.
  63. Web site: Spotlight New Venom movie; DC Fandome global event; & local film 'Angeliena' on Netflix . 2022-08-13 . SowetanLIVE . en-ZA.
  64. Web site: Landie . Candice . 2021-03-31 . A Love Letter To Hair On The Cape Flats . 2022-08-13 . Koesister . en.
  65. Web site: Cohen . Robyn . 2021-03-25 . Film review: SWIRL, directed and written by Quanita Adams . 2022-09-09 . The Cape Robyn . en-ZA.
  66. Web site: Sias . Chrislynn . Theresa Sedras en Celeste Matthews Wannenburgh woeker op TV . 2022-09-09 . Netwerk24 . af-ZA.
  67. Web site: Tremeer . Amanda . 2021-01-14 . Getting schooled in Arendsvlei . 2022-09-09 . Showmax Stories . en.
  68. Web site: Sara se Geheim Full Cast Season 1 . 2022-09-09 . www.tvsa.co.za.
  69. Web site: Nama Swaan . Shomax.
  70. Web site: Twee Grade van Moord (2016) movie posters . 2022-09-09 . MoviePosterDB.com . en.
  71. Web site: Hill . Saskia . Vinkel en Koljander: Die splinternuwe sitkom op kykNET . 2022-09-09 . Huisgenoot . af-ZA.
  72. Web site: kykNET Uitgawe 2 - 2016 . 2022-09-09 . Joomag . en.
  73. Web site: Grundling . Mauritz . 2013-08-27 . Lenteblom by die kykNET Silwerskerm-fees 2013 . 2022-09-09 . LitNet.
  74. Web site: Lenteblom . 2022-09-09 . esat.sun.ac.za.
  75. Web site: Celeste Matthews . 2022-08-12 . csfd.cz . cs-CZ.
  76. Web site: Der Mann von gestern (2007) pełna obsada . 2022-08-12 . Filmweb . pl.
  77. Web site: Celeste Matthews - Serien, Sendungen auf TV Wunschliste . 2022-08-12 . TV Wunschliste . de.
  78. Web site: 2006 . Heartlines .
  79. Web site: Kein Himmel über Afrika: Folgen mit Celeste Matthews . 2022-09-09 . TV Wunschliste . de.
  80. Web site: 28 January 2019 . Suip! . 20 August 2023 . Encyclopaedia of South African Theatre, Film, Media and Performance (ESAT).

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