W.H. van der Merwe

(18*-19*) Actor, stage manager and director. * Studied at the University of Stellenbosch and a member of the university's Unie-Debatsvereniging (later the US Dramatic Society) and in the 1920s he acted alongside Anna Pohl in some pieces. These include Lentewolken by Herman Roelvink (1925) and  Master Builder by Henrik Ibsen (1927), translated into Arikaans by C.G.S. de Villiers. ** Was the stage manager ("toneelbestuurder") for Leonie Pienaar & Company with for Die Veroweraar (Simons-Mees, 1933/4). Became and active participant in the formation of Ons Teatertjie (later the Volksteater) in Pretoria in 1935, an active member of their management and a performer. He acted 11 plays between 1935 and 1942, including Boumeester Solness (Ibsen, 1935), In die Wagkamer (J.F.W. Grosskopf, 1936), Ousus (H.A. Fagan,1936), Die Laaste van die Takhare (C.J. Langenhoven, 1939) *. As director, he made his debut co-directing Ousus (1936), **