Cobus Venter
Gauteng
Cobus Venter, an award-winning actor, singer, and director, earned his B.A. in Drama from the University of Pretoria in 1999 and studied vocal with soprano Mauri Mostert. Cobus has established himself as a sought-after tenor in the musical theatre genre over the last twelve years, with leading roles in My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, Dis hoe dit was, Opera Mania, Man of La Mancha, Ons vir jou, Shaka Zulu, Jock Of The Bushveld, Tree Aan, Ester-Die Musical, and Cinderella.
Cobus was nominated for a Mercury Durban Theatre Award in 2010 for his performance as Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha. Cobus earned the Durban Theatre Award for best supporting lead in a musical for his performance as Freddy Einsford Hill in the well-known My Fair Lady. In 2011, he was nominated for a Durban Theatre Award for his hilarious depiction of King Maximillion in Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.
Cobus also made his impact on the drama stage with roles in Siener in die Suburbs (KKNK 2002), Swaelduif (KKNK 2003), and Full Circle (Market Theatre 2006). Cobus, an artist who enjoys making people laugh, has distinguished himself as a comedy actor in two farces directed by the well-known Pierre van Pletzen: Knypie op die kant and Knypie 2: 'n Dubbeldosis.
Cobus's talent is not limited to the theatre; he has been on television as Jak-Man in Paul C. Venter's Een Skoenlapper, Brut Weiers in Haak en Steek with Casper de Vries, and Kobus Welters in Dryfsand. Cobus is most recognised for his role as Allan Bland, the lawyer on Rhythm City. Cobus has also appeared in Stander, Hoof of Africa, Skin (starring Sam Neill and Sophie Okonedo), and, most recently, Born To Win as Henco.
One of the most exciting aspects of his career was performing the character of his personal idol and role model, Mario Lanza, in the 2010 stage production "Mario Lanza - The Lost Legacy of the Next Caruso." Cobus's greatest recent achievement as a classical soloist was his performance in Janine Neethling and Deon Opperman's original Oratorio, Die Skepping, which was played at the StateTheatre.