Distinguished actor, director and playwright, Norman Coombes died last week aged 82.
Norman was my friend, mentor and father figure and will be remembered by family, friends and even by people who met him only briefly for his incredible zest for life, his deep humanity, compassion, generousity, his insightful way of looking at the world and his endless search for truth.
Norman, whose greatest work was argueably his self-penned A Snake in the Garden, loved the theatre and "the magic a few lights and an actor can create in an empty space" and always fought to promote a new South African work during his decades in the theatre.
He is deeply respected by all who worked with him.
Norman began accepting less and less work over the past five years as eyesight problems associated with glaucoma took their toll. He spent the past 18 months in The Johannesburg Society for the Blind home.
He felt uneasy leaving the home and would spend his waking hours on his bed listening to SAfm. At meal times, he would tap his way along the passageways with his white stick. "I know exactly how many steps I have to take and how many stairs I climb to reach the dining room, it is my exercise for the day!" he enthused.
I asked about the food. "Marvellous, I told them I eat everything, nothing I don't eat!"
And the staff? "Everyone here is wonderful, they treat me so well!"
Do you ever get depressed? "No I gave that up years ago, you contain your own joy. Life is about choices, I choose joy in my life!"
Do you get lonely? "No, I have spent much of my life alone. I am happy by myself. Besides you and Damon (Galgut) phone regularly from Cape Town, Ann (Curtis) visits every fortnight and Clive (Scott) pops round every few days with sweets and even washed my clothes for me the other day. How could I be lonely?"
Do you fear death?
"No, myself and Mr God understand each other, we have a good relationship."
Death was not fearful to Norman. Death was a welcomed friend who called in before breakfast on Tuesday morning, stirred him gently, and took him home.
Goodbye Norman, you will be greatly missed!
Factfile
- He directed a charming adaptation of The Diary of Iris Vaughan (PACT).
- He directed and promoted the plays of the then-unknown Damon Galgut.
- Coombes wrote, adapted and directed new SA works for the stage, including those of Henry Rootenberg.
- He played over 300 stage roles, including Roosevelt in Annie for Brickhill Burke. TV credits include appearances in Isidingo, Generations, Soul City. On film, he appeared in Never Say Die and The Mangler.