Tim Plewman
Tim Plewman has a diverse and distinguished career as actor, dancer, humourist, director, writer and producer. Tim’s career began in 1978 when Pieter Toerien gave him the opportunity of taking over the leading role in the comedy, happy birthday, on condition he was on in 48 hours. This feat accomplished, Tim has become one of the most sought after actors in South Africa. He has proven himself as both a comedy and dramatic actor, starring in such diverse productions as THE UNEXPECTED GUEST, THE REAL THING, PAJAMA TOPS, WHO GOES BARE?, HELLO I’M 8, TWO INTO ONE (Fleur du Cap Best Actor of the Year Award), DOUBLES (Vita Comedy Award for Best Actor), SEXTET, NOT NOW DARLING, UPROAR IN THE HOUSE and PALE NATIVES.
Tim has become one of the most sought after actors in South Africa, equally at home in drama or comedy. He is a dancer, humourist, director, writer and producer. From his first leading role in 1978 in the comedy, Happy Birthday, Tim has remained at the very top of the acting world for over 30 years with numerous awards and unique achievements that set him apart from the rest.
Never one to sit on his laurels, Tim has written a new play and a book this past year.
The play, “Designer Genes XXL – The Return of the Caveman”, is a tongue in cheek look at relationships, helping to unravel the twists and turns of the double helix in men’s complex ‘dance’ with women.
Tim was the first actor in SA to win a Best Actor award for the farce genre of theatre.
He has also starred in stage musicals such JOSEPH, archy and mehitabel, SNOOPY!!!, TOM FOOLERY and SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN. Tim has written and produced the comedies GRIN AND BARE IT, EDDIE ECKSTEIN EXTRAVAGANZA and HISTORICALLY FUNNY and directed many plays, including Tom Foolery (TV), Heel Against the Head (Best Comedy Production 1995), My Brilliant Divorce, Doubles and Certified Male.
Tim is a proficient voice-over artist and has taken leading roles in six TV series, including Golden City Dreams (Best Actor nomination), and recently with the late Bill Flynn in The Carruthers Brothers.
Most recently Tim wrote and performed in Breakfast with Dad, a play that honoured his old chum Rex Garner.
In 1998 Tim won the Vita Award for Best Comedy Actor for his one-man show, DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN, made it to No 7 in the Arts Category of the Top 100 People for 1999 in SA and re-wrote SA theatre history by breaking all SA show records. Tim finally decided to close the show after 9 years and 1544 sold-out performances. Not prepared to take it easy, Tim and his old pal Bill Flynn, wrote, produced and performed in the musical hit FANGS and finished writing the book DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN – it was on the bookshelves for Christmas, 2007.
His comedy play, written in conjunction with Jonathan Rands, called The Insatiables won Best Comedy Play for 2008 at the South Africa Comedy Awards. This one-hour corporate and two-hour commercial play is a comic thriller about fraud and corruption in the corporate world. It runs at the Montecasino from March 20 – April 27, 2009, then will hit the Cape from May-June 2009.
Jon and Tim have just come back from a very successful run of the commercial theatre version at the Grahamstown Festival.