Die Rederykers

Die Rederykers refers to a well known Afrikaans amateur theatre group in the town of George on the Garden Route.

For something about the symbolic meaning of the name, see the entry on the Rederijkerskamers

The company

The group was active in the late 1970s and 1980s, when they breathed life into the local cultural scene by presenting various dramas, plays and recitals in the town.

Among their productions were:

Boerneef van Boplaas, Wimpelwerk and Skemerstories, produced by Wim Vorster in the Market Theatre in George between 1978-1983,

The venues

One of the group's preferred venues was the Market Theatre a historic building in Market Street, originally built in 1855 as the St. Paul's Mission Church. However, after the church moved to Conville as a result of the Group Areas Act, the building was utilised as a public and performance space by groups like The Rederykers from 1969. It was then referred to as the Market Theatre, after the street in which it was situated. The building was declared a provincial heritage site in 1979.

Die Rederykers later disbanded (?) and after years of vacancy, renewed attention was given to the preservation and renovation of this historic theatre space with the help of the National Arts Council and is now known as the Market Community Theatre.

See the entry on the Market Theatre.