Anna Neethling-Pohl

STILL TO BE EDITED

(1906-1992) Vocal artist, actress for radio, stage and film, director, lecturer, playwright, translator and rugby-lover. Born Anna Servasina Pohl on 24 December 1906 in Graaff-Reinet. Her parents were (Pieter Pohl and Evelyn Maud Pohl - néé Luyt) and her siblings (Truida (Pohl) Louw, Jan Pohl and Snaps Pohl) all became theatre practitioners as well. Best known under her married name of Anna Neethling-Pohl, the South African actress and author was born as Anna Pohl in Graaf Reinet in the Eastern Cape on 24 December 1906. Her father was the cultural leader and theatre enthusiast Pieter Pohl. At the age of five she joined theatre and continued to perform until high school when took part in Die laaste van die takhare in 1923. Her work in literature has earned her recognition as she was awarded the Langenhoven Prize in 1926 and the in 1926 and the Vaderland Prize in 1937. Pohl became a film actress and the first female broadcaster from 1935 and contributed to folkfeeste (National festivals) which began in 1938. In 1952 she was the co organiser of the Van Riebeeck Festival celebrations in Cape Town and also played a role in Hantie kom huis toe in 1955 when it was presented in Cape Town. She was instrumental in the formation of the Cape Afrikaans Theatrical Society Kaapse Afrikaanse Toneelvereninging, Volksteater in Pretoria and the National Theatre Organisation (NTO). After working for 21 years at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) presenting women and children’s programmes, she joined the University of Pretoria Department of Drama as a professor in 1965. Pohl translated 7 Shakespeare plays into Afrikaans and in addition wrote plays and novels. In 1986 she played a lead role in the Higgins’ Harold and Maude. She performed in over 50 stage works and lead roles, half of which were indigenous Afrikaans dramas. Pohl died in 1992.

(24/12/1906-1992). Born Anna Servasina Pohl in Graaff-Reinet. Parents (Pieter Pohl and Evelyn Maud Pohl - néé Luyt) and siblings (Truida (Pohl) Louw, Jan Pohl and Snaps Pohl) all theatre practitioners as well. Completed school in 1923, obtained a BA (in History and Geography) at the University of Stellenbosch (1927), a higher education diploma at the Transvaalse Universiteitsckollege (1928). Married J.C. Neethling (1930) and had one daughter, Evelyn Erda. Divorced in 1945. Taught high school at various schools and colleges over the years (i.a. in Graaff-Reinet, Pretoria , Gordons Bay) while involved in amateur theatre. Played a major role in founding and running a number of theatre societies and companies over the years. As student she was a member of the Dramatiese komitee ("Drama Committee") of the Unie-Debatsvereniging (UDV) in Stellenbosch,. In 1933-1934 helped found the Kaapstadse Afrikaanse Toneelvereniging (K.A.T).and acted in P.W.S. Schumann's Hantie kom Huistoe. In 1935 moved to Pretoria, to become the co-founder (with Leonie Pienaar) of Ons Teatertjie-Toneelgroep (renamed Volksteater in1936), remaining its driving-force till 1945. (She appeared in 19 plays for Volksteater between 1936 and 1942.) In 1937 she became a specialist member of the Toneelburo of the F.A.K. In 1941 she began a shortlived Kinderteater ("Children's theatre") project for them, in which she had children creating plays (also by improvisation) and initiated an annual Kersspel ("Nativity Play") for the society. Also led the Katdorings-Toneelgroep, and worked for the Krugersdorp Municipal Dramatic and Operatic Society and the Pierre De Wet Geselskap (her first professional tour). After a brief spell with the Road Works Department, she joined the SABC as professional actress, announcer and director (1945). In January 1947 was made a member of a sub-committee of the National Council for Adult Education, intended to study theatre matters. It further consisted of P.P.B. Breytenbach (chair), Donald Inskip, Myles Bourke, and Steve Naude (secretary), and submitted a proposal for a state-funded theatre to the government. This evenually led to the establishment of the National Theatre Organisation (NTO) in 1947, with Neethling-Pohl a member of the first board. In 1947 she toured the country with André Huguenet and Leontine Sagan artistic advisors, to address meetings and audition players and went on to serve NTO as actress, director and artistic director (1956-57), doiung numerous playe for them as well as overseeing the NTO contribution to the 1952 Van Riebeeck Tercentenary festivities. In 1964 appointed as lecturer, later Professor, in the new University of Pretoria Drama Department, a post she held till retirement in 197*. Her stage performances include Lentewolken by Herman Roelvink (UDV ,1925), Koringboere by D.F Malherbe (UDV ,1926), The Master Builder by Henrik Ibsen (UDV ,1926) and Candida by G.B. Shaw (UDV ,1927), P.W.S Schumann's Hantie Kom Huistoe (1933), Ibsen's Boumeester Solness ("The Master Builder", 1935), J.F.W. Grosskopf's In die wagkamer (1936), H.A. Fagan's Rooibruin Blare and Ousus (1936), Schumann's Katrina (1937), Sophocles's Koning Oidipus (1938), Leipoldt's Die Laaste Aand (1940), Maria Stuart (1941), Fagan's Lenie (1941), Grosskopf's Legende (1942) Maeterlinck's Monna Vanna (1942) and his Suster Beatrys (1943), Pinkie (1944), Korrels en Kaf (1944), W.A. de Klerk's Ontvlugting (1944), Die Vroue van Troje (1945), Hamlet' (1947), Ibsen's Spoke (Ghosts, 19*), Gif en Oujongnooiens (Volksteater, Pretoria, 1948), Macbeth (NTO, 1950) , D.J. Opperman's Periandros van Korinthe (1956), N.P. van Wyk Louw's Germanicus (1957), Dürrenmatt's Die Besoek van die Ou Dame (1962), Pirandello's Die Lewe wat ek jou gegee het (1964), Elektra (196*), Van Wyk Louw's Die pluimsaad waai ver (1966), Moeder Courage (Brecht, SWAPAC*?, 19**), Much of her fame however rested on her oratorical talents and her readings of the Afrikaans poets and writers. As director she did many plays with amateur, student and professional groups. These include Terwyl daar Basaar gehou word (Ons Teatertjie-toneelgroep, 1936), Die Dieper Reg (Volksteater, 1938 and 1941), Die Wildsboudjie (Volksteater, 1940), Maria Stuart (Volksteater, 1941), In 'n skewe straatjie (Die Katdorings, 1945), Hamlet (co-directed with Siegfried Mynhardt,1947), Nag Het die Wind Gebring (for the NTO inaugural season 1948). In 1952 she was the director of pageants for the Van Riebeeck Festival, and in 1956-7 was director and artistic leader for NTO, directing 10 plays for them. Her radio work included *** Films include ****. She wrote one original play, Dagbreek ("Daybreak") under the pseudonym Wynand Du Preez. Her translations include * Maeterlinck's Suster Beatrys (1943), * NEETHLING-POHL, Anna. Member of the National Theatre Organization, together with Steve Naude, Major Myles Bourke and Professor Donald Inskip. Directed Nag Het die Wind Gebring, by W.A. de Klerk, which was presented by the National Theatre for its inaugural season. Starred in Macbeth in Afrikaans, which was directed by Gwen Ffrangçon-Davies in 1950 for the National Theatre.. It was staged at His Majesty’s and also starred André Huguenet. She directed Periandros van Korinthe which was staged by the National Theatre’s Afrikaans arm for one of their Festival productions at the Library in 1956. She directed Gekonkel in die Nag, which was a translation of Ferenc Molnar’s The Play’s the Thing, and was also staged by the Afrikaans arm of the National Theatre for their Festival production at the Library in 1956. She starred in Bartho Smit’s Afrikaans translation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s The Visit, directed by Fred Engelen, and staged at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre in 1962. She starred in TRUK’s production of Elektra at the Civic in 1965. It was directed by Costis Michaelides. She directed an Afrikaans translation of The Merchant of Venice starring Carl Trichardt for TRUK in 1969. NEETHLING-POHL, Anna, Mara (regie), (verwerking van Grosskopf se Oorlog is oorlog), Volksteater, Pta.Kry ‘n erepenning v/d Akademie in 1959.

In 2012, twenty years after her passing, Schalk Schoombie wrote a play about her life entitled Liefde, Anna. ("Love, Anna"), which premiered at the Aardklop festival with Sandra Prinsloo as Anna.

Sources

Binge, 1969; Horne, 1970; Neethling-Pohl, 19**; Du Toit, 1988; Tucker, 1997 [TH, JH] Anna Neethling-Pohl Dankbaar die Uwe

Hannes Horne, 19**

http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/chronology/thisday/1906-12-24.htm

Awards

Three Leaf Arts Award (1965) as Best Actress for her performance as the mother in Pirandello's Die Lew wat ek joi gegee het. (Source: Teater SA, 1(3), 1969).

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities N

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page