There appear to have been three theatre personalities by the name of Chris Vorster

Chris Vorster (19**-) amateur actor (fl. circa 1970s)

Biography

He is mentioned as a member of the cast of Uys Krige's Die Ongeskrewe Stuk (’n Impromptu) when it was presented by the Klerksdorpse Amateurtoneelvereniging at the ATKV Nasionale Toneelfees ("ATKV Amateur Play Competion") in the Bloemfontein Civic Theatre, November 1972, directed by Pats Labuschagne, and also featuring Manie van Vuuren, Jan van Rooyen, Janie Alberts, Hestertjie de Klerk, Attie Botha and Anton Fritz.

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

Sources

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Chris Vorster (197*-). Actor for stage, film and TV, director, dramatist, drama and film lecturer

Biography

He was born on the mission station Maklala near Marble Hall, South Africa, where his parents were missionaries. Having moved to Bellville (Cape Town) in 1980, he matriculated in 1987 (D.F Malan High School). After school he completed two years of compulsory military service as a lieutenant at the Infantry School in Oudtshoorn and in 1990 commenced his drama studies at the University of Stellenbosch, completing a four-year B.Dram. degree at the Drama Department, folowed by an M.Dram in Directing at the same University (1994). He also taught acting at the University of Stellenbosch for a few years (1995-1999).

During the course of his studies he also began writing, directing, and acting in plays, a career he has pursued professionally since 1991, ultimately founding Blond Produksies ("Blond productions") to produce work at the various festivals.

In 1994, he married to Liza (Le Roux) and the couple has two sons, Eben and Leroux.

In 2000 he also began working in television, initially as an actor on the SABC 2 soap opera, 7de Laan, so they moved from Bellville to Centurion in Gauteng with their family, where he continued to worked as an playwright, actor and director, but also started training as a multi-camera director and consequently worked in both disciplines from 2000 to the end of 2014.

In 2015 he joined the staff of the University of the Free State Drama Department as a senior lecturer in film, and went on to complete his doctoral studies, being awarded a PhD in Creative Writing by the University of the Free State for a thesis called 'n Praktykbeheerde perspektief op Franz Marx as die sentrale figuur in die ontstaan van die eerste Afrikaanse TV-dagvervolgverhaal ("A practice-driven perspective on Franz Marx as the central figure in the creation of the first Afrikaans daily serial").

In 2015 he was appointed as a lecturer in film and television at the University of the Free State (UFS).

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

As a performer

Chris has had roles in such varied works over the years, working for the Stellenbosch Drama Department, CAPAB, Quantum and Blond Productions. Among the pieces have been productions of Cabaret, Battle of the Black and the Dogs, Christine, Die Jogger, Die Nag van Legio, The Life and Times of Johnny Cockroach, Die Ongeskrewe Stuk (’n Impromptu), The Tempest, The Car Cemetery, Dikker as Water, Die Vampier, Fiela's Child - The Musical, Ipekonders.

As a playwright

His playwriting career emerged during the course of his drama studies, with works he wrote, directed and often performed in with his fellow studets. Among his works have been Parradox (199*), Jeims Blond - Afrika Avontuur ** (1997) Jeims Blond 2 - Die Reuk van Vrees** (1998) and Jeims Blond 3 - Bottle Blond - ** (1998), Why't Burp. 'n Afrikaanse Western, Hiert Jou Bliksem! (1998), Weyers (2000), Kwaggapolitiek (2000), Bal en Klou (2001), Mario Lanza (2003), Gehang (KKNK, 2005), Haaks (KKNK, 2005, Buurtwag (2011), Aaptwak (Inniebos, 2019)..

He also adapted a number of works for the stage, such as Christoffel Coetzee’s novel Op soek na Generaal Mannetjies Mentz in collaboration with Ilse van Hemert, Aardklop, 1999).

As a director

He directed most of his own plays, often performing in them as well (see above), as well as plays by other authors. Other the directing credits have been Met die Holm Gebore, Baal, Siener in die Suburbs, Die Geval van die Mal Huisvrou, Die Kaal Generaals, Manne, Siener in die Suburbs (P.G. du Plessis, , regie Chris Vorster, KKNK,such as Parradox (199*), Jeims Blond - Afrika Avontuur ** (1997) Jeims Blond 2 - Die Reuk van Vrees** (1998) and Jeims Blond 3 - Bottle Blond - ** (1998), Why't Burp. 'n Afrikaanse Western, Hiert Jou Bliksem! (1998), Weyers (2000), Kwaggapolitiek (2000), Bal en Klou (2001), Mario Lanza (2003), Gehang (KKNK, 2005), Haaks (KKNK, 2005, Buurtwag in 2011.

Work in TV and film

He later became a television writer, writing the series Plek van die Vleisvreters ("Place of the Meat Eaters", KykNet, 2004) and a episodes for Sewende Laan (SABC 2, 2004-5), Lui maar op, Belinda (2019) to his credit.

He also had a debut in Dirk & Lindie, (a operetta) with Diaan Lawrenson and Louis van Rensburg a co director. He also wrote Aaptwak for Inniebos Laeveld Nasionale Kunstefees in 2019.

His film debut was as Craig in Pure Blood. He was also seen in Die Spreeus on Television in 2019.

As an academic

In 1922 he emerged as a serious theatre researcher/biographer when he used the material gathered for the doctoral studies and interviews with people in the industry to write Franz Marx. Uit die perd se bek ("Franz Marx. From the horse's mouth", published by Protea Boekhuis in 2022). This was followed by Marius Weyers, a second biographical study, this time on the popular actor Marius Weyers (simply called Marius Weyers, published by Protea Boekhuis in 2023).

Awards, etc

Vorster has been hailed, by Insig magazine, as one of South Africa's entertainers for the new millennium and according to De Kat he's one of the country's top four comedy dramatists.

He's been honoured with various theatre and television nominations and awards for acting, directing and writing.

Winner of a Nagtegaalprys)

He won a Vita Award (National) Die Jogger, best supporting actor, 1997.

He was nominated for a Fleur du Cap most promising student, award year 1995.