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Biografie

Amanda Strydom is een van Suid-Afrika se mees gevierde kunstenaars.

Amanda is nie alleen 'n sanger en kabaret kunstenaar soos die meeste mense haar ken nie, sy skryf ook haar eie lirieke en toneelstukke en is 'n bekroonde aktrise.

Sy is op 23 Julie 1956 in Port Elizabeth gebore en matrikuleer aan die Framesby Hoërskool in 1974. As kind studeer sy drama by Mari Mocke en Marlene Pieterse se "Kinderteater" en vaar uitstekend in die plaaslike Eistedfodds. Na haar skoolopleiding gaan studeer sy drama en gradueer met 'n BA Drama graad aan die Universiteit van Pretoria.

Behalwe vir haar deelname aan skoolkore, kerksang en die eggo in die badkamer van haar ouerhuis, het Amanda geen formele sangopleiding nie en kan sy ook nie 'n noot musiek lees nie.

Ná haar universiteitsopleiding word Amanda aangestel as aktrise in die hoof teatergroep van die Kaapse Provinsiale Raad vir die Uitvoerende Kunste (KRUIK) waar sy hoofrolle vertolk in "Kinkels innie Kabel" en "Die Wonderwerk". Haar vertolking van die hoofrol in die Franz Marx film, "Pasgetroud" in 1979 beland haar in die vryskut vermaaklikheidswêreld waar sy werk in teater, film, televisie, kabaret en ook as TV aanbieder, radio platejoggie en skrywer.

In 1986 veroorsaak Amanda 'n "skandaal" toe sy met gebalde vuis die swart magsteken gee tydens 'n kabaret opvoering by die Oude Libertas in Stellebosch. Sedertdien is sy dikwels in die pers aangehaal as "Amandla" Strydom.

Kort na hierdie insident is sy amper emosioneel kreupel gelaat met bipolêre depressie waaroor sy later 'n toneelstuk, "In Full Flight", skryf. Dié toneelstuk is deur kritici begroet as 'n "openbaring".

Ná 'n afwesigheid van drie jaar van die vermaaklikheidsberoep tree Amanda in 1992 terug na die verhoog. Hierdie keer met haar eie produksies wat sy met groot sukses self skryf en opvoer, en wat wyd deur resensente aangeprys word. Haar versamelalbum, "Ek loop die pad, 20 jaar", word in 2000 vrygestel ter viering van Amanda se sangloopbaan wat toe reeds al oor 'n 20 jaar tydperk strek.

Die bogenoemde kom van haar webwerf www.amandastrydom.com

Biography

Amanda Strydom is one of South Africa's most celebrated artists. Not only a singer and cabaret performer, as most people know her, she also writes most of her own lyrics and plays, and is an acclaimed actress.

Born in Port Elizabeth on July 23, 1956, she matriculated from Framesby High School in 1974. She also studied drama at Mari Mocke and Marlene Pieterse's "Kinderteater" (Children's Theatre) and excelled at local Eistedfodds. She can't read a note of music, has no formal singing training, except for school choirs, church and the great echo in the bathroom of her parents' home. She studied drama at the University of Pretoria and graduated with a BA Drama degree in 1978.

She was appointed to the Cape Provincial Arts Board's (Capab) main company and starred in "Kinkels innie kabel" and "Die Wonderwerk". The lead in a Franz Marx movie "Pasgetroud", whisked her into the freelance world in 1979, which took her from theatre to film, television, cabaret, TV presenter, radio disc jockey and writer.

Her cabaret at the Oude Libertas in Stellenbosch in 1986 caused outrage when she gave the black power salute after singing about the cruelty of the passlaws. Since then, she has often been called "Amandla" Strydom in the press.

Soon after this incident she was almost emotionally crippled with bipolar depression, about which she later wrote a play, "In Full Flight". The play has been hailed by critics as a "revelation".

After an abscence of three years from her entertainment career, Amanda returned to the stage in 1992 by writing and staging her own shows with great success and to wide critical acclaim.

Her compilation album, "Ek loop die pad, 20 jaar", was released in 2000 and celebrates 20 years of Amanda's life in songs.