Danie Olivier
Danie Olivier (18*-19*). Critically acclaimed actor and fine singer.
Contents
Biography
Grew up in Graaff-Reinet, where he became one of Pieter Pohl's actors in that town.
Acted with him for the Graaff-Reinet Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society as a highly rated juvenile lead and theatrical singer in their operettas. When the split came he too joined the Graaff-Reinetse Letterkundige en Toneel Vereniging in 1915, though he still acted in English musicals as well. In 1922 he left to settle in Middelburg, and contributed significantly to musical life and theatre there through the Kultuurvereniging (Cultural Society).
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He produced many plays in Afrikaans for them, such as Faro, Die Silwere Rand, Piet se Tante, Die Watersaak, Die Bad-Gaste, 'n Ondankbare Kind and Van Riet van Rietfontein. After the society closed down in 1927 he continued working with the Middelburg High School. Over the years he produced numerous Afrikaans plays as well as English musicals with the society and trained other actors and directors in the process.
Sources
Binge, 1969.
Henning, 197*.
Du Toit, P.J., 1988. [TH, JH]
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