Hortjies Dig: Die storie van digter Peter Blum
Hortjies Dig: Die storie van digter Peter Blum is a play by Francois Toerien (1973-)
Contents
The original text
In the 1950's, German born Peter Blum (1925-1990) was acclaimed as the most important poetic voice in Afrikaans of that decade, though his work was considered "decadent" by some. Out of disgust with apartheid and the cultural landscape in the country, Peter and his wife, Hetta, left South Africa for England in 1960. Not long after his arrival he quit writing, visitors became few and Hetta's mental state deteriorated. Using source material from Peter and Hetta and his poems, the stage play offers what Toerien refers to as "snapshots" from the life of this singular figure in Afrikaans literature.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
2025: Premiered at the Suidoosterfees, Cape Town. Produced by Jean Meiring, written by Francois Toerien, directed by Juanita Swanepoel with Chris van Niekerk as Blum and Joanie Combrink as Hetta, his wife. Set designed by Francois Toerien and constructed by Gaerin Hauptfleisch, costumes by Stephanie Hough, production manager Charl Faurie and stage management by Gaerin Hauptfleisch.
2026: The original production performed at the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees in Oudtshoorn, 28-30 March.
2026: The original production performed at the Toyota Woordfees in Stellenbosch, 12, 14, 15 and 17 October.
Sources
Programme for Hortjies Dig premiere at the Suidoosterfees in Cape Town.
Webtickets ad for Hortjies Dig at the KKNK, 2026. [1]
Entry on Hortjies Dig in the 2026 Woordfees programme in [2]
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