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[[Gerhard J. Beukes]] (1913 - 1998) was a South African academic, cultural activist and prolific [[Afrikaans]] playwright and compiler of plays. 

Also known as '''[[Gerhard Beukes]]''',  '''[[G.J. Beukes]]''' or '''[[Gerhard Johannes Beukes]]'''. 

== Biography ==

Born [[Gerhard Johannes Beukes]] on 21 November 1913 on the farm Biesjespoort near Upington, Northern Cape. One of seven children, he only began school at eleven years of age in a farms chool, then and continued his schooling at Keimoes en in 1932 matriculated from the high school at Upington. He studied [[Afrikaans]] and [[Dutch]] at the [[University of Stellenbosch]] (BA 1935, Senior Teacher's Diploma 1936), then completed an MA on [[Afrikaans]] poetry at the [[University of South Africa]] (1939) and in 1946 a doctorate (D.Litt) at the [[University of Pretoria]] with a thesis on the modern one-act play. This led him to theatre and drama as a creative field. In 1956 he obtained a Carnegie-burasry to spend 3 months in the USA to study cuyrrent trends in theatre. 

Married Isabella Pretorius in 1940, and had two sons: Johann and Gerhard. His wife passed away in 1992 and in 1994 he married Marie Lategan. 

Beukes passed away in Bloemfontein in 1998.

His sister, [[Lalie Beukes]] (1916-2009),a well known primary school teacher, also wrote some plays.

== Academic career ==

After 10 years teaching at schools, beginning at Michaelhouse in Natal in 1937, and ending at Pretoria Boys’ High School, he became a lecturer in [[Afrikaans]] and [[Dutch]] at the then [[University College of the Orange Free State]] ([[UKOVS]] in 1947. He remained a lecturer at what later became the [[University of the Orange Free State]] (and ultinately the [[University of the Free State]]) till his retirement in 1978. He was made a professor in 1961 and in 1973 became Head of the Department of [[Afrikaans en Nederlands]] ("[[Afrikaans]] and [[Dutch]]"). 

Beukes retired from academia in 1978

== Contribution to South African theatre and performance ==

=== As playwright ===

While a teacher he began writing plays for children and adults, both numerous one-act plays and full length works. 

'''His full length plays include:''' 

''[[Die Swart Engel]]'' ("The black angel") (perf 1946, pub 1947), ''[[Salomé Dans!]]'' (1950), ''[[Langs die steiltes]]''(1952, perf 1953), ''[[As Ons Twee Eers Getroud Is!]]'' (1952); ''[[Jesus van Nasaret]]'' (1954), ''[[Verkiesing sonder politiek!]]'' (perf 1955, pub. 1956), ''[[Judas van Keriot]]'' (1959), ''[[Die Vonkel in Haar Oë!]]'' (perf 1960, pub. 1960), ''[[Man van Keriot]]'' (1976),
 
'''His many one-act plays include:''' 

''[[Laat die kerse brand!]]'' (1945);''[[Oktobernag]]'' (1946); ''[[Bo-op die berge]]'' (1947), ''[[Die vrees]]'' (1948); ''[[Kerse Teen die Wind!]]'' (1950), ''[[Mamma het Planne]]'' (1950, aka ''[[Die Noîentjie het Planne!]]'', 1969), ''[[Speurhonde van die Dood]]'' (1954); ''[[Ons het 'n Ster Gesien!]]'' (1957)''[[As die Nefie kom Kuier!]]'' (19**), ''[[Die Winde van U Toorn]]'', ''[[In my Dae]]'', ''[[Die Hand wat hy eenmaal geneem het]]'', ''[[Die Braaiboud]]'' (19**), ''[[Iewers Langs die Pad]]'' (1967), ''[[Viertal]]'' (1968),''[[Uur van die waarheid]]'' (1969),  ''[[Familieportret]]'' (19**).

Most of his one act plays were published in a variety of collections, often edited by himself for [[J.L. van Schaik]] publishers. 

In 1978 [[Charles Malan]] edited ''[[Kortgesprek]]'' ("Short discussion"), a selection from Beukes's  one-act plays, published under Beukes's name by [[J.L. van Schaik]], in celebration of the author's 65th birthday and his retirement from the University.

=== As translator ===
Besides translations of works by Trygve Gulbranssen and Khalil Gibran, he also translated Molière's ''[[Tartuffe ou L'Imposteur]]'' into [[Afrikaans]] as  ''[[Die huigelaar]]'' (Pretoria: Van Schaik, 1970).

=== As compiler and editor===

In his zeal to promote  [[Drama|drama]] in [[Afrikaans]], Beukes became the most prolific compiler and editor of play collections in South African history, producing numerous anthologies of plays for the publishers [[J.L. van Schaik]] over the course of more than 40 years. Most of these were intended for use by schools, universities and amateur companies and encompassed a number of collections of his own short plays, as well as general collections, usually containing one of his own texts alongside works by other playwrights.  

Among the collections are: ''[[Laat die kerse brand; en ander eenbedrywe]]'' (1945), ''[[Ses Eenbedrywe]]'' (1946), ''[[Uitgesoekte Eenbedrywe]]'' (1948),  ''[[Kerse Teen die Wind: Tien Eenbedrywe]]'', ''[[Nuwe Eenbedrywe]]'' (1952), ''[[Vyf Nuwe Eenbedrywe]]'' (1957), ''[[Skerm en Masker]]'' (1958), ''[[Kom Ons Speel Toneel]]'' (1959, 1963), ''[[Spele vir die Jongspan]]'' (1959), ''[[Woord en Masker]]'' (1964), ''[[Twee Sente vir ’n Pêrel: Drie Eenbedrywe vir die Jeug Byeengebring]]'' (1968), ''[[Die Nôientjie het Planne! Vier Ligte Eenakters]]'' (1969), ''[[Uur Van Waarheid: Vier Kortspele]]'' (1969), ''[[Vier Nederlandse Eenbedrywe]]'' (1970), ''[[Iewers Langs die Pad]]'' (1970), ''[[Skuif Oop die Gordyn!]]'' (1982), ''[[Roep van die Naguiltjie en Ander Eenbedrywe]]'' (1983), ''[[’n Lag en ’n Traan]]'' (1988) and ''[[Spel en Spelers]]'' (1988).


Many of these editions were reprinted numerous times.

=== As academic writer ===
''Die Moderne Eenbedryf'' ("The Modern One-act Play"), a published version of his 1947 doctoral thesis.  

''Skrywers en Rigtings'' ("Writers and Directions"), a widely used handbook on [[Afrikaans]] literature, co-edited with [[Felix Lategan]]. Beukes also wrote the section on [[Drama]].

=== As lecturer and mentor ===

A kind and gentle man with a genuine fondness for his students, he was an immensely engaging and enthusiastic lecturer with a passion for [[Afrikaans]] literature and particularly drama. Over his many years at the University, Beukes inspired many  young writers and academics to contribute to the canaon of Afrikaans writing.     

=== Cultural actitivities and contributions ===
Much involved in cultural work, he was a member of [[Volksteater]] in Pretoria, particularly involved in their children's theatre project (1941) and was also involved with [[FATSSA]], [[NTO]] and other similar organizations. 

He became a member (and chairman 1973–1975) of the [[Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns]], Chairman of the [[Kommissie vir Woordkuns]] ("Commission for Verbal Arts") of the [[Nasionale Kultuurraad]] ("National Cultural Council" - 1973-4), and member of the executive of the [[Federasie vir Afrikaans Kultuurvereniginge]] ([[FAK]] - 1973-6). He was the co-founder of a number of organizations, including the [[National Drama Library]] and [[DALRO]]. In 1977 he was made a member of the committee created by the [[Department of National Education]] to study and make recommendations regarding [[Amateur]] Theatre in South Africa.

== Awards ==
1948: Winner of the [[FATSA]] competion for one-act plays: ''[[Die vrees]]''

1952: The [[Hertzog Prize]] for drama for his three plays ''[[As ons twee eers getroud is]]'', ''[[Langs die steiltes]]'' en ''[[Salomé dans!]]''. He controversially shared the Prize with [[W.A. de Klerk]], in a time when all expectations were that [[Uys Krige]] would be the winner.  

1952: The [[Van Riebeeck Festival]] prize for drama for ''[[As ons twee eers getroud is]]''

1959: Prize of the [[NG Kerk-uitgewers]] (on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the South African Bible Society) for ''[[Judas van Keriot]]''

1984: Made an Honorary Member of [[SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns]]

[JH/TH]

== Sources ==

https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerhard_J._Beukes

''Stellenbosch Writers'' website [http://www.stellenboschwriters.com/beukes.html]

''Afrikaans Wikipedia'' [https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerhard_Beukes]

[[Petrus Jacobus du Toit|Du Toit, Petrus Jacobus]] 1988. ''Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika''. Pretoria: [[Academica]].

[[Erika Terblanche]], biography of [[Gerhard J. Beukes]] in [[LitNet]] (2014-08-21)[https://www.litnet.co.za/gerhard-j-beukes-19131998/]

Copy of a catalogue  (handwritten by various hands) of the [[F.C.L. Bosman]] collection held at the [[Nasionale Afrikaanse Letterkunde Museum en Navorsingsentrum]] ([[NALN]]) in Bloemfontein.

[[Jan Senekal|Senekal, Jan]] and [[Karien van Aswegen|Van Aswegen, Karien]] (eds.). 1980. ''Bronne by die Studie van Afrikaanse Dramas 1900-1978''. Johannesburg: [[Perskor]]


Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]

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