Petrus du Preez

Petrus du Preez (1978-) Actor, puppeteer, playwright, director, lecturer and academic.

Biography
He was born in Bloemfontein.

Training
Petrus studied drama and communication studies at the University of the Orange Free State, then did post-graduate (M.Dram, D.Phil - 2007) in drama at the University of Stellenbosch.

Career
He was appointed research assistant and tutor, then lecturer at the Stellenbosch University Drama Department and in 2011 became a full-time Senior Lecturer, responsible for the Post-graduate programme.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
His academic research has included studies of Afrikaans theatre, dramatic theory, puppetry  and masks. He became the Technical Editor of South African Theatre Journal (SATJ) in 2003, in 2004 became an Assistant editor (alongside Yvette Hutchison and Edwin Hees) and in 2010 became the executive Co-editor of with founding editor Temple Hauptfleisch.

As an actor has performed in a variety of professional shows, including adverts and fills for television. He specializes in comic roles.

Besides appearing in the annual Maynardville Shakespeare productions, he has had roles in Slaghuis (Willem Anker, 2006), Maria de Buenos Aires, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo en Julia (Studie van 'n Verdrinkende Liggaam) (Aardklop), As Mure kon praat, Die Storm,  Lawwe Geluide, Derde Party and Diensmeisies. As co-director did Moeders en Dogters, Toorberg and Want kyk, die Bruidegom is hier.

He has written a number of plays, specialising in children's theatre and puppetry.

Awards, etc
His play Die Slapende Skoonheid, won the Kanna Prize for children's theatre at the KKNK in 2008.

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