Difference between revisions of "Danie Burger"

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== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
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He attended school at
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He started his theatrical career at school in East London, later doing amateur teatre for [[PEAAT]] in Port Elizabeth
  
 
Studied Drama at the [[University of Pretoria]], completing a B.A. in Drama.  Later did an Honours degree in Directing under [[Robert Mohr]], at the [[University of Cape Town]].
 
Studied Drama at the [[University of Pretoria]], completing a B.A. in Drama.  Later did an Honours degree in Directing under [[Robert Mohr]], at the [[University of Cape Town]].

Revision as of 05:35, 28 October 2025

Danie Burger (1946-2025) was a male nurse, municipal administrator , stage actor, translator and director.

Biography

He attended school at

He started his theatrical career at school in East London, later doing amateur teatre for PEAAT in Port Elizabeth

Studied Drama at the University of Pretoria, completing a B.A. in Drama. Later did an Honours degree in Directing under Robert Mohr, at the University of Cape Town.

He started working as a male nurse, then worked in the city administration of Pretoria, while doing part-time acting and directing. In this time he and Pieter Brand co-founded Dinkteater ("Think Theatre"), an experimental theatre workshop, in Pretoria in the 1970s, using semi-professional and amateur performers in avant garde productions, heavily influenced by the work of Peter Brooke and Grotowsky.

He then resigned his job and went to Cape Town to do an Hons BA at the University of Cape Town. On completing his studies, he joined the PACOFS drama company in 1983 as actor and director, before taking up a permanent administrative position in the Municipality of Durban.

He retired to the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal in the new millennium and passed away in Pinetown Natal of unknown causes on 18 April, 2025.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

For Dinkteater he directed a number of Afrikaans versions of Elizabethan and Jacobean plays (e.g. The Duchess of Malfi, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore ), as well more contemporary works by Ionesco (Exit the King), Cristofer (The Shadow Box) and others. He also directed a number of original new Afrikaans plays for them, including Bloedlyn (197*) and Wie is Leopold? (197*) both by Temple Hauptfleisch and Die Duiwel, sy handlanger en die drie ligtekooie by Marlene van Niekerk (197*).

For PACOFS he acted in Julius Caesar, Laat-Februarie 1922, Taraboemdery, Twaalfde Nag, Babbelkous!, Die Hand vol Vere, Vettie, Vettie!. He directed As die Nefie kom Kuier, and assisted as director for Charley se Tante.

He translated and adapted plays such as The Duchess of Malfi, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore and The Shadow Box into Afrikaans.


Sources

National Arts Festival programme, 1985.

Personal records of Temple Hauptfleisch and Karina Hauptfleisch

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