Jansenville Dramavereniging

The Jansenville Dramavereniging was an theatrical society in Jansenville in the Karoo.

It is sometimes incorrectly called the Jansenville Dramatiese Vereniging.

Known in English as the Amateur Dramatic Society, Jansenville, the Jansenville Amateur Dramatic Society or the Jansenville Dramatic Society..

Founding, function and history

The group, consisting of a group of amateur and professional actors who lived in or around the rural town of Jansenville, Eastern Cape, was founded on May 14, 1959, with Dr Frans Nell (chairman), Rita Greeff (secretary), and Ms Andre Slabbert (later Andre Glaum) (treasurer).

In 1961 Pauline van Zyl was made secretary and together with Jannie van Zyl, Ice Lötter and Rykie Lötter (professional). They acted together over a period of 30 years. Other members included Chris Ackerman, Susie Crouse, Bertie de Beer, with schoolgirls Arina van Zyl (now Arina de Witt) and Annabie de Beer who did much singing. Hannes van Eck provided music with his concertina.

Joyce Smith???

In 1972, Kongres was the Jansenville Dramavereniging's first production to come in at first place during the ??? Competition.

During its existence it travelled widely around the Eastern Cape and gave performances mainly at smaller villages, as well as putting on over 200 performances in centres as far apart as Aliwal North, Hartenbos and Bloemfontein d. Many of their productions were staged in the Jansenville Town Hall. Some members of the club were D J De Villiers, Mr E.H. Egan, Mrs Egan, Mrs Orsmond, Mr Etto van Bonde, Mrs van Bonde and Maud Jones.

Performances were given until 1973 when, with the imminent arrival of TV, a decision was taken to disband the group.

Contributions to South African Theatre

1959: Ligblou Vaas (Light-blue Vase); produced by H Booysen, starring Andre Slabbert and Frans Nel.

1959: Mamma Het Planne (Mom Has Plans). Produced by Rita Greef and starring Johannes Slabbert, Magrieta Slabbert, Gielie Grobler, Valerie Nel and David Birch.

1959: Kerse Teen Die Wind (Candles Against the Wind). Produced by Rykie Lötter and starring Helen Booysen, Jannie van Zyl, Ice Lötter and Johannes Slabbert.

1960: Die Hele Dorp Skinner (The Whole Village Gossips). Produced by Rita Greef and starring Rykie Lötter, Ice Lötter, Johan Bekker, Truida Bekker, Gielie Grobler, Abel Pienaar, Beryl la Grange, Bettie Nel, Danie Knoetze and Rita Greef.

1961: Verskeidenheidskonsrt (Variety Concert). Produced by Adele Ossher.

1962: Verskeidenheidskonsrt (Variety Concert). Produced by Adele Ossher.

1963: Dienie Speel Toneel (Dienie is Play Acting) is a one-act play by Hélène Pienaar-De Klerk. Produced by Pauline van Zyl. Starring Ice Lötter, Rykie Lötter, Pauline van Zyl, Joey Steenkamp, Chris Steenkamp and Francois Slabbert.

1963: Sorry, Wrong Number. Produced by Adele Ossher. Starring Ice Lötter, Adele Ossher and Bertie de Beer.

1968: Bly Kalm (Stay Calm). Produced by Pauline van Zyl. Starring Theo Skein, Joey de Beer, Pauline van Zyl, Rykie Lötter, Terry Terblanche and A Nieuwoudt.

1968: Oupa Saliger (Uncle Saliger). Produced by Pauline van Zyl. Starring Loamie Terblanche, Bertie de Beer, Renier Grobler, Pauline van Zyl, Arina van Zyl, Sandra Muller and Ice Lötter.

1971: Heimwee (Memories) Produced by Ice Lötter and Rykie Lötter. 1st, 2nd and 3rd act by Pauline van Zyl. Starring Maans Kemp, Annette ?, Chris Ackerman, Wessel Cornelius, Janet Cornelius, Ice Lötter, Rykie Lötter, Pauline van Zyl, Jannie van Zyl, Arina van Zyl, Annabie de Beer, Hannes van Eyk, Susie Crouse, Sarie Slabbert, Nic Botha, Dirk Smit, Joyce Smit, Christo van Wyk, Henna Jooste and Gerrit van Wyk.

1971: As Nefie Kom Kuier (When Cousin/Nephew Comes Visiting), an Afrikaans one-act farce by Gerhard J. Beukes (1913 - 1998) was a production for the ATKV competition. Produced by Chris Ackerman. Starring Arina van Zyl, Dawie de Beer, Annabie de Beer and Elno Jansen.

1972: Kongres (Congress), produced by Pauline van Zyl who also starred as the Doctor. Other performers included Ice Lötter, Rykie Lötter, Roelof van der Merwe, Chris Ackerman, Nic Botha, Gerrit van Wyk, Dirk Smit]] and Eunice van der Merwe.

1972: Broers (Brothers), Produced by Chris Ackerman. Starring Chris Ackerman, Jannie van Zyl, Wessel Cornelius, Gerrit van Wyk, and Rykie Lötter.

1972: Reën Van Jou Liefde (Rain of Your Love), Produced by Ice Lötter and Rykie Lötter. Starring Ice Lötter, Rykie Lötter, Wessel Cornelius and Pauline van Zyl.

1972: Begrafenis (Funeral), Produced by Gerrit van Wyk. Starring Anna Ackerman, Helena Slabbert, Lana Fourie, Jannie van Zyl and Janet Cornelius.

1973: Ou Bokke and Groen Blare (Old Goats and Green Leaves), written by Dr Louis de Villiers and produced by Pauline van Zyl, won the ATKV annual acting competition. Starring Chris Ackerman, Rykie Lötter, Roelf van der Merwe, Lucy Smit, Jannie van Zyl, Ice Lötter, Pauline van Zyl and Eunice van der Merwe, was presented in the Jansenville Town Hall.

1973: Storm. Produced by Philip Crouse. Starring Susie Crouse, Arina van Zyl, Ian van Zyl, Naomi Mattheus and Philip Crouse.

1973: Rooibruib Blare (Reddish-brown Leaves). Produced by Ice Lötter and Rykie Lötter. Starring Gielie Grobler, Matty Grobler, Ice Lötter, Rykie Lötter, Anna Ackerman, Wessel Cornelius and Janet Cornelius.

1973: Stilte Asseblief (Quiet Please!); Produced by Pauline van Zyl, Starring Ice Lötter, Rykie Lötter, Bertie de Beer and Pauline van Zyl.

1974: Toewyding

1974: Dis Nou Te Laat

1975: Mans Verkies Blondines (Men Prefer Blondes)

1975: Kongres

1975: Middernag (Midnight)

1976: Van Bye En Blomme (From Bee and Flowers).

Awards

1972, Kongres won first place in the Cape provincial round of the annual ATKV Competition.

1973: Ou Bokke and Groen Blare won the top award at the ATKV National competition in Bloemfontein.

Sources

"Jansenville, Yesterday and Today," Chronicles and Anecdotes of a Noorsveld Town, 1855-1955 by Sid Fourie. Published by The Jansenville Chronicle, Jansenville, Cape Province, 1956.

Interview with Pauline van Zyl

"Turning Back the Pages - The Story of a Noorsveld Town and District", Jansenville by Sid Fourie. Esco Publishers, Jansenville.

"Jansenville Buit die Nationale Trofee Vir Opvoering", Die Oosterlig, Monday, October 22, 1973.

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