Wessel Pretorius

Wessel Pretorius (1986-*). Actor, director, playwright.

Not to be confused with the poet and novelist Wessel Pretorius, born 1949.

Youth
He grew up in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.

Training
He studied drama at the University of Pretoria and honours in drama at the Stellenbosch University Drama Department. He considers his high school drama teacher Jan Prinsloo as well as Antoinette Kellermann, Marthinus Basson and Christiaan Olwagen as his mentors.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He has performed in N vir Neurose, Vagina Dentata, Ubu en die Secrecy Bill and Balbesit. Other productions as actor include Korte mette met die versamelde werke van William Shakespeare, 'n Seder val in Waterkloof (2011), Richard III,  Wie's Bang vir Virginia Woolf? (2103/2014) and Die Monster in die Gang.

He wrote and directed Undone at the National Arts Festival, 2015. He wrote Die Dag is Bros, Die Ontelbare 48.

He has had roles in several radio dramas (e.g. Daar Leef Mense Daar RSG, 2012) and has appeared in a drama on television.

Awards, etc
Among the various prizes awarded to him are Fleur du Cap for Most Promising Student, Best actor, Aardklop festival, 2012. His solo production Ont-, written by himself, was crowned as the best drama production at the Woordfees in March 2012.

Awarded a Kanna Prize at the KKNK 2017.

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