Jo Gevers

Jo Gevers (1930-2016) was an actor, director, and lecturer of drama.

Biography
Born J.J.C.G. (Jo) Gevers in Bree, Belgium, and trained in Belgium.

Some sources have his date of birth as 1932, though IMDb[ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1018053/] has "was born on February 13, 1930 in Bree, Flanders, Belgium".

He worked as an actor and director, His film work included roles in Mira (1971), José en de cup (1981) and De wrok van Achilleus (1962).

He came to South Africa in 1962. He married the South African actress and movement lecturer Annatjie Vorster towards the end of 1965. Gevers and his wife returned to Belgium in 1971 to continue teaching and working in theatre there, inter alia at the Arkel Theater, Ghent.

Training
M. Dram. From University of Stellenbosch, 1964.

Career
Came to South Africa in 1962 to work with Fred Engelen and lecture at the University of Stellenbosch, from 1962-1964.

In 1965 he moved to Bloemfontein and became a senior lecturer and founder of the University of the Orange Free State Drama Department, remaining in this position till 1970.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Directed university plays in Bloemfontein, but also for a variety of amateur and professional companies such as the UTB, the Shakespeare Circle and PACOFS. Among his most notable productions were Jakkalsstreke van Scapino (UTB 196*), Richard III (196*, in which he and his South African born wife Annatjie Vorster starred and he directed), Maria Stuart (196*) and  Die Dubbele Adelaar (1968), Die Idioot.

As an actor he also had a role in the PACOFS production of Die Soldateminnaars, 1965.

Awards
Received the André Huguenet Award in the Free State for his role in Richard III, 1967.

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