Danie Smal

Danie Smal (1889-1976) was a famed Afrikaans elocustionist ("voordragkunstenaar"), actor, playwright and journalist.

He also used a range of pseudonyms, including Besembos, Danie en Tonnie, Optimis and Tonnie en Tonteldoos, when writing some of his plays and other publications.

Biogrpahy

Born Daniël Johannes Smal in Petrusville on 11 Februarie 1889,

He passed away on 13 September 1976.

Training

Trained in elocution under De Lauwerijs and others in Belgium, he returned to South Africa in 19**.

Became assistant-editor of Ons Vaderland and for a while also had a publishing and bookselling enterprise, known as Danie Smal Boekhandel.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

After gaining experience in the organisation of Afrikaans trade-unions, Smal became concerned with the disorganisation of the theatre-scene in the Transvaal, and from 1919 was active in trying to co-ordinate the various societies then active there. One of his efforts entailed the establishment of the Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniging en Toneelskool, with himself as director and principal and Gustav Preller as chairman. Played "Max" in Paul de Groot's production of Huis Toe in 1925. Wrote a book on his voice teaching entitled Spraakgebreke ("Speech Impediments"), published by Noordelike Drukpers Maatskappij.

He wrote the plays Moeder, published by Danie Smal Boekhandel, 1923, Nie Alles Goud Wat Blink Nie (using the pseudonym Besembos), Die Ongeslypte Diamant.