Louw Odendaal

Louwrens (Louw) Odendaal (1941-2000) was a South African academic, drama lecturer, actor and director. Also published as L.B. Odendaal.

Not to be confused with Lourens Odendaal.

Biography

Born Louwrens Badenhorst Odendaal, he obtained a M.A. in Afrikaans from the University of Pretoria with the thesis Prinsipes van die radiodrama, soos afgelei van enkele Afrikaanse radiodramas ("Principles of the radio drama, as deduced from a few Afrikaans radio dramas", 1967) and a D.Litt degree with the thesis on Die drama van die absurde in Afrikaans ("The drama of the absurd in Afrikaans") in 1972(8)?.

Initially a lecturer in Afrikaans at the University of the Orange Free State, he became Head of the University of Pretoria Drama Department from 1973 to 1998.

Besides his work in theatre he also published collections of stories for young people,

Contribution to South African theatre, film, media and performance

As academic

He wrote a number of articles over the years and contributed articles on Drama to publications like He was also the author of Prinsipes van die radiodrama ("Principles of radio drama", 1968) and the editor of the collection Drama-opleiding in die sewentigerjare: Kongrespublikasie /Drama training in the seventies: A conference publication (1978). Compiled and edited Hoorspelkeur (a collection of radio plays) in 1983, with a new edition in 1997.

He wrote a foreword to Graswewenaar by Nico Luwes (1994), and one for Vyf keurkomedies ("five selected comedies") by Louis de Villiers, which he also combined and edited.

As playwright

He wrote the plays Nyoni (1967 in Afrikaans and English), Ben die bokser (A play in three acts, 1982 and 1984), Ada.

Co-wrote UNyoni with Carl van Heerden.

As director

He directed a version of Faust in Afrikaans in the 1970s and University of Pretoria Drama Department productions of Siener in die Suburbs (1993), Die Potlooddief en die Engel (1983), People are Living There (1986), Die Nag van Legio (early 1970s) and on the occasion of the department’s 25th birthday Die Man met 'n Lyk om sy Nek.

As actor

He played Harry Dalton in an Afrikaans translation of Equus in 1978.

Acted in the films 'n Beeld vir Jeannie (1976), Thaba (1977, Pretoria O Pretoria! (1979), Rienie (1980) and Agter Elke Man (1990). (TH)

Sources

P.J. du Toit, 1988

http://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n79058866/

http://www.news24.com/xArchive/Archive/Academic-dies-in-shooting-incident-20001228

https://www.google.co.za/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=70-dU42IIqPd8gfhyICQBg&gws_rd=ssl

Stellenbosch University Library catalogue.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5157925/.

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

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