Biography

Born and bred in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, David's love for theatre has existed for as long as he can remember. He has worked across a wide range of theatrical art forms, as an writer, actor, singer and director, while also choreographing several high school musicals in Cape Town during the past few years. David graduated with a Master of Arts (Theatre and Performance) degree from the University of Cape Town in 2005, having previously graduated from the same university with a First Class Honours in Drama in 2002. Prior to that he completed a B.A. degree in Media, Communications and Culture at the University of Port Elizabeth as well as a certificate in performance at Stageworld Theatre School.

David has written two musicals, Over the Rainbow (with Jacqui Kowen) and House of Shadows, both of which were produced at the UCT Arena Theatre. He has also written a children's musical adaptation of Cinderella and is currently working on a series of similar projects for various companies and schools in South Africa. Many of these are revised versions of his regular children's theatre scripts for Sun International's Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment complex, which have included Jack Beanstalk's Giant Splat, The Awesome Adventures of Humpty Dumpty and Pinocchio and the Pirates.

David's work at schools includes choreography for Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, The Wave That Disappeared, Guys and Dolls and direction and choreography for Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. The latter pair are currently in rehearsal with productions respectively in March and May.

Other theatre work includes: Affirmation, Seasons of Love, several Showtime reviews (including a guest appearance in the 2005 edition Flying Colours, the 2004 Cape Town Opera Lloyd Webber and Rice Spring Bouquet, In Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors, Evita), The Runaway Presents, The Golden Masque of Agamemnon and Antigone. David has also worked as an assistant director to acclaimed directors Geoffrey Hyland on his production of the musical, The Fantasticks and Janice Honeyman on her production of the opera, Hansel and Gretel.

David also places great value on academic writing and research and won the Keswick Prize for Lucidity for his paper Homosexual Representation in the Broadway Musical: the development of homosexual identities and relationships from Patience to RENT.