Celeste Matthews Wannenburgh
{{Short description|South African actress, playwright and politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use South African English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Celeste Matthews
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| other_names =
| birth_name = Celeste Mitzi Karin Matthews
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1961}}
| birth_place = Cape Flats, South Africa
| death_date =
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality = South African
| education =
| alma_mater = University of Cape Town, and the
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
| occupation = Actress, Municipal Councillor (metropolitan municipality), and Radio Personality
| years_active = 1994–present
| known_for =
| height =
| spouse = Alf Wannenburgh
(m. 1992; died 2010)
| children = 1
| mother = Lorraine Ruby Gordene Mentoor
| father = Anthony Alexander
| relatives =
| awards = Fleur du Cap Theatre Award
| website =
| signature =
| footnotes =
}}
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{{Cite web |title=City of Cape Town Link |url=https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Meet-the-City/City-Council/The-City-Council |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=City of Cape Town |language=en}} in 2021.{{Cite web |title=Celeste Matthews |url=https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Celeste_Matthews |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=esat.sun.ac.za}}{{Cite web |date=9 November 2021 |title=Councillor details. Celeste Wannenburgh. |url=https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/meet-the-city/city-council/find-your-councillor-ward-or-subcouncil/view-councillor?CouncillorId=8718 |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=City of Cape Town}}{{Cite web |date=2 June 2016 |title=Ontorio for a Forgotten Youth |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/cape-times/20160602/281767038479903 |access-date=2022-08-12 |via=PressReader |publisher=Cape Times |page=11}} She is best known for her roles as Gertie Cupido{{Cite web |date=2019-02-21 |title='Arendsvlei' se Gertie vertel oor rol as matriarg |url=https://maroelamedia.co.za/vermaak/televisie/arendsvlei-se-gertie-vertel-oor-rol-as-matriarg/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Maroela Media |language=af}}{{Cite web |date=12 December 2021 |title=Campaigning on a budget |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/weekend-argus-sunday-edition/20210912/281676848033024 |access-date=2022-08-13 |via=PressReader |publisher=Weekend Argus |page=2}} in kykNET & kie's Arendsvlei (a telenovela){{Cite web |title=Almal rou hierdie Desember – Arendsvlei |url=https://dstv-fe-kyknet-prod.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/kyknet/af-za/program/arendsvlei/nuus/almal-rou-hierdie-desember-arendsvlei/nuus |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Arendsvlei - Almal rou hierdie Desember – Arendsvlei |language=af}} and Auntie Hester{{Cite book |last1=Matzke |first1=Christine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3gk7EAAAQBAJ&q=hester&pg=PA40 |title=African Theatre: Opera & music theatre. 19 |last2=Hoven |first2=Lena van der |last3=Odhiambo |first3=Christopher |last4=Roos |first4=Hilde |date=2020 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-1-84701-257-9 |pages=40 |language=en}} in David Kramer and Taliep Petersen's award-winning 2002{{Cite web |title=District Six – The Musical |url=https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/District_Six_%E2%80%93_The_Musical |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=esat.sun.ac.za}}{{Cite book |last=Kruger |first=Loren |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7rW9DwAAQBAJ&dq=2002+district+six+musical&pg=PT363 |title=A Century of South African Theatre |date=2019-11-28 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-350-00802-1 |language=en}} revival of District Six: The Musical (1987).{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Hu9DwAAQBAJ&dq=fleur+du+cap+district+six+the+musical&pg=PA297 |title=Forays into Contemporary South African Theatre: Devising New Stage Idioms |date=2019-11-11 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-41446-4 |pages=297 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Harrison |first=Philip |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GjAjvthxrXUC&dq=award+district+six+musical&pg=PA37 |title=Arts & Culture |date=2005 |publisher=New Africa Books |isbn=978-0-86486-565-6 |pages=37 |language=en}} Vincent Colby{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vx-8AAAAIAAJ&q=colby+district+six+museum+musicalk |title=The Big Issue, Cape Town |date=1999 |publisher=Big Issue Cape Town |pages=6 |language=en}} 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.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RQlCAQAAIAAJ&q=colby+district+six+museum+musicalk |title=TDR (The Drama Review): the journal of performance studies |date=2004 |publisher=MIT Press [for the] New York University/Tisch School of Arts |pages=140 |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Anthony Alexander Matthews, of Punts Estate |url=https://www.geni.com/people/Anthony-Matthews-of-Punts-Estate/6000000181634398840 |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=geni_family_tree |date=3 September 1926 |language=en-US}} Her childhood home was opposite the Rahmaniyah Masjied (Steenberg Mosque). Matthews’ ethnic background is matrilineally Batswana and Khoekhoen — descending directly from the ‘controversial’{{Cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=Clare |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-F1kAgAAQBAJ&dq=Mentoor+van+Mozambiek&pg=PA67 |title=Mutiny and Maritime Radicalism in the Age of Revolution |last2=Frykman |first2=Niklas |last3=Voss |first3=Lex Heerma van |last4=Rediker |first4=Marcus |date=2013-12-19 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-68932-9 |pages=67 |language=en}} 18th century slave,{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XelRAQAAIAAJ&q=Mentoor+van+Mozambiek |title=Van Riebeeck Society Publications |date=2005 |publisher=The Society |isbn=978-0-9584522-3-6 |pages=xii & 608 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Worden |first1=Nigel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t7anCLn2p0cC&dq=Mintor+van+Mozambique&pg=PR16 |title=Trials of Slavery: Selected Documents Concerning Slaves from the Criminal Records of the Council of Justice at the Cape of Good Hope, 1705-1794 |last2=Groenewald |first2=Gerald |date=2005 |publisher=Van Riebeeck Society, The |isbn=978-0-9584522-3-6 |pages=xvi |language=en}}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).{{Cite book |last=Schoeman |first=Karel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_0swAQAAIAAJ&q=Mentor+ |title=Verkenning |date=1996 |publisher=Human & Rousseau |isbn=978-0-7981-3591-7 |pages=88 |language=af}} Mento(o)r van Mozambique (1792) of Quelimane at Oudebosch.{{Cite book |last=Du Preez |first=Ingram Frank |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QsxBAAAAYAAJ&q=fortuin |title=From Mission Station to Municipality |date=1987 |publisher=Municipality of Pacaltsdorp |isbn=978-0-620-12780-6 |pages=278 & 314 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Genealogy - Geni - private profile - Genealogy |url=https://www.geni.com/people/private/6000000181634028859 |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=www.geni.com}}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). According to the Matthews family's oral history, her father's family are of Bantu, St. Helenian, and early Afro-American extraction.{{Cite web |title=Anthony Alexander Matthews, of Punts Estate |url=https://www.geni.com/people/Anthony-Matthews-of-Punts-Estate/6000000181634398840 |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=geni_family_tree |date=3 September 1926 |language=en-US}}
She matriculated from Rosebank's Progress College in 1992, whereafter she obtained her Teaching Diploma from Hewat Teachers Training College (1996);{{Cite web |title=The Hewat Teacher Training College in Athlone is set alight in solidarity with the UWC students on a boycott {{!}} South African History Online |url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/hewat-teacher-training-college-athlone-set-alight-solidarity-uwc-students-boycott |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=www.sahistory.org.za}} 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).{{Cite web |title=About Us – Rosebank Progress College |url=https://www.rosebankprogresscollege.co.za/aboutus/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |language=en-US}} She is the second wife (1992–2010) and widow of the South African author and anti-apartheid activist, Alf Wannenburgh.{{Cite web |title=Genealogy - Geni - private profile - Genealogy |url=https://www.geni.com/people/private/6000000030142601607?through=6000000030128190310 |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=www.geni.com}}{{Cite web |date=20 December 2010 |title=Writer and activist Alf Wannenburgh dies |url=https://www.pressreader.com/search?query=celeste%20wannenburgh&hideSimilar=0&type=2&state=2 |access-date=2022-08-13 |via=PressReader |publisher=Cape Times |page=3}}{{Cite web |last=Sias |first=Chrislynn |date=15 September 2022 |title=Anties Neem Aksie |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/kuier/20220915/page/11 |access-date=2022-09-09 |via=PressReader |publisher=Kuier Magazine |page=9}} The couple have one son. While enrolled at Hewat, she joined the Belhar Players in 1995.{{Cite web |title=Nico Malan Theatre |url=https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Nico_Malan_Theatre |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=esat.sun.ac.za}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Celeste Matthews |url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=616 |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=www.tvsa.co.za}}{{Cite web |title=Celebrating Celeste Matthews Wannenburgh – National Arts Council |url=https://www.nac.org.za/latest-news/celebrating-celeste-matthews-wannenburgh/ |access-date=2022-08-12 |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |last1=Graan |first1=Mike Van |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YDLV7JfBTWoC&dq=celeste+matthews+actor&pg=PA277 |title=The South African Handbook on Arts and Culture 2002/2003 |last2=Ballantyne |first2=Tammy |date=2002 |publisher=David Philip |isbn=978-0-86486-506-9 |pages=277 |language=en}} The play and cast also won an additional Fleur du Cap Award for 'Best New Indigenous Script' (1999) that same evening.{{Cite web |title=Suip! |url=https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Suip! |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=esat.sun.ac.za}}
Political career
File:Logo of Cape Town, South Africa.svg
Matthews participated in the 2021 South African municipal elections as a candidateIndependent Electoral Commission (IEC). 2021 Municipal Elections Candidate List (Western Cape [WC]). https://www.elections.org.za/pw/Documents/CandidateLists/WC.pdf for Minister Patricia de Lille's Good party{{Cite web |title=Good – Political Party |url=https://forgood.org.za/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=For Good |language=en-ZA}} and subsequently joined the Cape Town City Council as a proportional representative{{Cite web |title=Electoral Commission : How to contest municipal elections |url=https://www.elections.org.za/content/Dynamic.aspx?id=1649&name=Pa.. |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=www.elections.org.za}} (PR) municipal councillor (raadslid) on 9 November 2021.{{Cite web |date=3 October 2021 |title=Good joins hot metro contest |url=https://www.pressreader.com/search?query=celeste%20wannenburgh |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Weekend Argus |page=2}}{{Cite web |last=Felix |first=Jason |title=Good adds lawyers, business owners and an actor to its election arsenal |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/good-adds-lawyers-business-owners-and-an-actor-to-its-election-arsenal-20211004 |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=10 August 2022 |title=Aunty Pat's GBVF campaign says don't shut up, speak up |url=https://www.pressreader.com/search?query=Celeste%20Wannenburgh |access-date=2022-08-13 |via=PressReader |publisher=Cape Argus |page=4}}{{Cite web |last=Sias |first=Chrislynn |date=15 September 2022 |title=Anties Neem Aksie |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/kuier/20220915/page/11 |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=Press Reader |publisher=Kuier Magazine |page=8}} She is, therefore, one of the 115 PR members that make up the City Council's total membership of 231 councillors. Between 2005 and 2021, she served as a commissioner{{Cite web |title=New Western Cape Cultural Commission |url=https://www.westerncape.gov.za/news/new-western-cape-cultural-commission |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Western Cape Government |language=en}} for the Western Cape Cultural Commission (WCCC),{{Cite web |last=Payi |first=Bulelwa |title=Good adds flames to hotly-contested metro |url=https://www.iol.co.za/weekend-argus/news/good-adds-flames-to-hotly-contested-metro-2e2c0ddb-6d4d-41f2-8b86-0f0dade6150e |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=www.iol.co.za |language=en}} at the invitation of the then minister Pallo Jordan,{{Cite web |last=Sias |first=Chrislynn |date=15 September 2022 |title=Anties Neem Aksie |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/kuier/20220915/page/14 |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=Press Reader |publisher=Kuier Magazine |page=10}} 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.{{Cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Provincial Gazette Extraordinary |url=https://archive.gazettes.africa/archive/za-wc/2023/za-wc-provincial-gazette-dated-2023-05-22-no-8761.pdf |place=Western Cape, RSA |page=3}} 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).{{citation needed|date=December 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.{{Cite web |title=APM |url=https://www.apm.co.za/artiste/celeste-matthews-306/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Artistes Personal Management}}{{Cite web |title=Celeste Matthews |url=https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Celeste_Matthews |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=esat.sun.ac.za}}{{Cite web |title=Sandra se Erfenis |url=https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Sandra_se_Erfenis |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=esat.sun.ac.za}}
Theatre productions
2023: African Gothic (Reza de Wet's Diepe Grond) at Theatre Arts, Observatory{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Robyn |date= 22 November 2023|orig-date=22/11/2023 |title=THEATRE NEWS: AFRICAN GOTHIC BY REZA DE WET, DIRECTED BY AMEE LEKAS, WINNER OF THEATRE ARTS EMERGING THEATRE DIRECTORS BURSARY 2023 |url=https://thecaperobyn.co.za/theatre-news-african-gothic-by-reza-de-wet-directed-by-amee-lekas-winner-of-theatre-arts-emerging-theatre-directors-bursary-2023/ |website=The Cape Robyn}}
2018: Tjieng Tjang Tjerries at US Woordfees, Stellenbosch{{Cite web |title=Jolyn Phillips Wins 2018 Humanities and Social Sciences Award for Tjieng Tjang Tjerries |url=https://pensouthafrica.co.za/jolyn-phillips-wins-2018-humanities-and-social-sciences-award-for-tjieng-tjang-tjerries/ |website=Pen South Africa}}
2017: Die dans van die watermeid ("The dance of the water maiden") at the Baxter Theatre, Cape Town{{Cite web |title=Powerful story of simplicity |url=https://www.news24.com/News24/powerful-story-of-simplicity-20171113 |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Mayne |first=Jane |date=2017-11-07 |title=Review: 'Die Dans van Watermeid' |url=https://weekendspecial.co.za/die-dans-van-die-watermeid-review/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=WeekendSpecial |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |title=Enchanting Afrikaans drama at the Baxter |url=http://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2017-11-01-enchanting-afrikaans-drama-at-the-baxter |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=www.news.uct.ac.za |language=en}}
2012: Saying Goodbye to Amelia as 'Nora' at the Catalina Theatre
2008: Kroes as 'Aunty Maggie'{{Cite web |date=2008-03-06 |title=Aangrypende Kroes by Oude Libertas op die planke |url=https://www.argief.litnet.co.za/article.php?news_id=34071 |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=www.argief.litnet.co.za}} (presented at the 2008 Suidoosterfees){{Cite web |title=Kroes |url=https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Kroes |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=esat.sun.ac.za}} at Artscape, Cape Town and Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, Stellenbosch
2007: Shirley, Goodness and Mercy at the Baxter Theatre{{Cite web |last=Lategan |first=Herman |date=2007-01-24 |title=New play at Baxter takes you into the nostalgic heart of South Africa |url=https://www.argief.litnet.co.za/article.php?news_id=8941 |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=www.argief.litnet.co.za |publisher=LitNet-argief}}
2006: Truth in Translation at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg (music composed by Hugh Masekela){{Cite web |title=Truth in Translation |url=https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Truth_in_Translation |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=esat.sun.ac.za}}
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)University of Wisconsin–Madison Library. 2007. David Kramer & Taliep Petersen's District Six (Videos, Slides, Films). https://search.library.wisc.edu/catalog/9911222555702121
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?];{{Cite web |title=Issue 42 (Apr-May 2001) |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-766762890 |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Trove |publisher=RealTime |page=24 |language=en}} 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{{Cite web |title=Moenie Try Nie |url=https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Moenie_Try_Nie |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=esat.sun.ac.za}}
1998: Mix Masala at Artscape{{Cite web |title=Mix Masala |url=https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Mix_Masala |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=esat.sun.ac.za}}
1994: Sandra se Erfenis at Grahamstown Festival (Rhodes Box). Written and directed by Matthews—who also played the role of "Auntie Murie"
Filmography
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Association ! Category ! Work ! Result ! Ref |
| 1999
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role |Suip! | {{win}} |
| 2000
| First National Bank Vita Award | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Suip! | {{nominated}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1690230
- https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/kuier/20220915/page/11
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews Wannenburgh, Celeste}}
Category:21st-century South African actresses
Category:21st-century South African women politicians
Category:21st-century South African politicians
Category:21st-century South African women writers
Category:20th-century South African women writers
Category:20th-century South African actresses
Category:University of Cape Town alumni
Category:Cape Peninsula University of Technology alumni