Gerhard J. Beukes

(1913 - 1998) Academic cultural activist and prolific Afrikaans playwright and compiler of plays. Also known as Gerhard Beukes.

Biography

Born Gerhard Johannes Beukes on 21 November 1913 on the farm Biesjespoort near Upington, Northern Cape. One of seven children. Married to ** and had ** children. Died in Bloemfontein in 1998.

Training

He studied Afrikaans and Dutch at the University of Stellenbosch (BA 1935, Senior Teacher's Diploma 1936) and University of Pretoria (DLitt. 1947)

Career

After 10 years teaching at schools, he became a lecturer in Afrikaans and Dutch at the then University College of the Orange Free State (UKOVS - later to become the University of the Orange Free State and ultinately the University of the Free State) in Bloemfontein (1947 -1960), made professor in 1961 and in 1973 became Head of the Department of Afrikaans en Nederlands. Retired in 1978.

Contribution to South African theatre and performance

As playwright

While a teacher he began writing plays for children and adults, both numerous one-act plays and full length works.

As compiler

Over the years he compiled 12 anthologies of plays for use by schools, universities and amateur companies, including:

195*: Uitgesoekte eenbedrywe Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik

1965: Woord en masker (editor)Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik 1970: Vier Nederlandse eenbedrywe (editor) Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik .

List of works: 1945: Laat die kerse brand 1948: Die vrees 1950: Kerse teen die wind 1952: As ons twee eers getroud is!

1956: Verkiesing sonder politiek! 1959: Judas van Keriot 1964: Die vonkel in haar oë!

1969: Uur van die waarheid

Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik. Gerhard J. Beukes also compiled 12 anthologies of plays for use by schools, universities and amateur companies. Later began writing plays for children and adults, both numerous one-act plays and full length works. Among these are Die Swart Engel (perf 1946, pub. **), Oktobernag (Perf 1946, pub 19*), Bo-op die Berge (perf 1947, pub 19*) Langs die Steiltes (perf 1953, pub 195*), Speurhonde van die Dood, As Ons Twee Eers Getroud Is (perf. 1952, pub. 19**), Verkiesing sonder politiek! (perf 1955, pub. 1964), Die vonkel in haar oë! (perf 1960, pub. 1960), Die Braaiboud (19**), As Nefie Kom Kuier (19**) and Familieportret (19**). In 1952 he controversially shared the Hertzog Prize for Drama with W.A. de Klerk for his play **. Edited numerous collections of one-act plays for schools and amateur companies, including Nuwe Eenbedrywe ("New One-act Plays". J.L. van Schaik,1952); Kom ons speel toneel ("Come let us act", J.L van Schailk 19**), **.

As academic writer

Die moderne eenbedryf ["The Modern One-act Play"], a published verion of his 1947 doctoral thesis.

Skrywers en rigtings (co-edited with F.V. Lategan), a much used handbook on Afrikaans literature. Beukes also wrote the section on Drama.

In 1978 J.L. van Schaik published Kortgesprek, (compiled by F.V. Lategan) to celebrate the author's 65th birthday.

Cultural actitivities and contributions

Much involved in cultural work, he was a member of Volksteater in Pretoria, particularly involved in their children's theatre project (1941). Also became a member of the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns and was the co-founder of a number of organizations, including FATSSA, NTO, the National Drama Library, and DALRO. He was a founding board member of PACOFS. In 1977 was he was made a member of the committee created by the Department of National Education to studyand make recommendations regarding Amateur Theatre in South Africa.

Awards

1948: Winner of the FATSA competion for one-act-plays: Die vrees

1952: Hertzog Prize for drama and the Van Riebeeck Festival prize for drama

1959: Prize of the NG Kerk-uitgewers (on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the South African Bible Society) for Judas van Keriot

1984: Made an Honorary Member of SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns

[JH/TH]

Sources

Du Toit, 1988

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