P.W.S. Schumann
Peter Willems Sterrenberg Schumann (1893-1981) [1]. Playwright.
Contents
Biography
He was born Peter Willems Sterrenberg Schumann on 29 March 1893 in Carnarvon, Northern Cape, South Africa and he died in Johannesburg on 4 November 1981. One of his grandsons is the publisher and writer Kerneels Breytenbach.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
His 1932 award-winning play Hantie kom Huistoe played an important role both in the founding of the Kaapstadse Afrikaanse Toneelvereniging and in the fledgling Volksteater (then still known as Ons Teatertjie).
Schumann's other plays include Elkeen sy eie, a farce in one act (1932), Katrina (1937), Virtue Rewarded, Kromhoutsap, Of Unsound Mind, Bly by jou Lees, Die Ewige Straf (1938), Local Colour, Die Verlore Seun (1950), Om Lettie se Ontwil, Skyn Bedrieg.
Also co-writer, with J.H. van Dyk and J.A. Vogel of Paardekraal-Krugersdorp (1937) for KMDOS.
Awards, etc.
He won the inaugural Krugersdorp Municipal Dramatic and Operatic Society (KMDOS) Playwrighting competition in 1932 with Hantie kom Huistoe.
Schumann continued to dominate the of KMDOS playwriting initiative (now called the Buster Harrison Play Writing Competition) He won every year in both the Afrikaans and English sections till 1939. In view of this KMDOS changed the rules for the award in 1940, so that it would to go to the best performer of the year.
Sources
SACat, a union catalogue of items held by Southern African libraries.
Stellenbosch University Library catalogue.
Binge, 1969.
Du Toit, Petrus Jacobus, 1988. [JH, FdV]
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities S
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to Main Page
