Jannie Gildenhuys

GILDENHUYS, Jannie. (1929-1999) Bilingual radio, stage and film actor and stage director. Born in **, trained at the University of Stellenbosch??****. Renowned for his incredibly resonant voice and vocal abilities, and his creative direction. Became a lecturer at a teacher's training college, and - on a study tour of Europe came into contact with modern trends in children's theatre and improvisational theatre, notably the work of Joan Littlewood. On his return in 1959, he proposed and later headed National Theatre Organisation's NTO Youth Theatre group, with former teachers Cobus Rossouw and Leonora Nel. They began touring in the Cape in August 1959, with works they devised and put on as a group, continuing in the Transvaal in 1960. By 1961 two groups had been formed for the two provinces. In 1963 this bulk of these groups became part of the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal (PACT) drama company. Gildenhuys now performed and directed for the PAC's , doing * In 1970*? He became the head of the Performing Arts Council of the Orange Free State (PACOFS) experimental theatre group in the Old Presidency Theatre, undertaking significant work as director/actor, including the first professional production of Kanna, hy kô Hystoe (Adam Small), and immensely creative productions of Cry, The Beloved Country (Alan Paton), Becket (Anouilh), ** and Medea (1973)**. He later moved to Cape Town?* to work for CAPAB?* In 1992 won a Fleur du Cap Best Director Award with Die Rebellie van Lafras Verwey (Chris Barnard). In the 1980s he toured the country with a number of popular one-man shows, based on books of the bible. They include ***. In 1998 he received the Fleur du Cap Lifetime Award for his contribution to the industry. He died in August 1999.

GILDENHUYS, Jannie, (regie) Die Jakkalsstreke van Scapino, (vertaal deur Bartho Smit), met Tilana Hanekom, Siegfried Mynhardt, Pieter Geldenhuys, Kita Redelinghuys, Cobus Rossouw, Anton Grobler, Leonora Nel, Johan van Zyl, Frank Graves, (dekor) Doreen Graves (kostuums), Peter Rorke (musiek gekomponeer). NTO jeuggroep: Jannie Gildenhuys, Cobus Rossouw, Leonora Nel & Irene Durr. Doen ook Dieselfde Pad (Kootjie van den Heever.)

Obituary Beeld 24 August 1999.

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