Difference between revisions of "Joan Brink"

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[[Joan Brink]] (19**-) Actress, director, translator.
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[[Joan Brink]] (1920-2009) was an actress, director and translator.
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
  
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Born [[Johanna Cornelia Brink]] (1920-2009)
  
  
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=== Youth ===
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Her qualifications include a Masters in English ([[University of Stellenbosch]], 1942), followed by a senior teacher’s diploma ([[University of Pretoria]], 1945) and a Licentiaship in Speech and Drama ([[University of South Africa]], 1956). 
  
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From the 1950s to 1965, besides her theatre and media career outlined below, she taught English at various schools in Pretoria on a part-time basis.
  
  
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=== Training ===
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Bibliography
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She was trained at the University of Stellenbosch and the University of South Africa.
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ESAT. 2023. Piège pour un homme seul. ESAT. Stellenbosch University. 20 December [Online]. Available https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Pi%C3%A8ge_pour_un_homme_seul
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.  
  
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ESAT. 2017. Joan Brink. ESAT. Stellenbosch University.10 April. [Online]. Available: https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Joan_Brink
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Green, A. 2024. A day in the life of the University of Pretoria. 26 February 1958. UP Archives. February 26. [Online]. Available: https://www.up.ac.za/up-archives/news/post_2954480-a-day-in-the-life-at-the-university-of-pretoria.-26-february-1958.
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Skakelblad. 1963. Pro Arte. Publication by University of Pretoria.
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The Play Guild of Rome. Opening Presentation of The Summer 1960-1961 Season. The Play Guild of Rome. [Dark of the Moon Programme]
  
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=== Career ===
 
  
  
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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===As actress===
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She appeared in a number of productions for the [[National Theatre Organisation]] ([[NTO]]) the [[Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal]] ([[PACT]]) and the [[Cape Performing Arts Board]], including ''[[Gister en Vandag]]'' ([[NTO]], 1953), ''[['n Bruid in die Môre]]'' ([[NTO]], 1959), ''[[Die Dubbelbed]]'' ([[PACT]] 1964), ''[[Twaalfde Nag]]'' ([[PACT]], 1964), ''[[Die Selfmoordenaar]]'' ([[CAPAB]], 1973), ''[[The King's Mare]]'' ([[CAPAB]], 1967). 
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In 1961 the Brink family went to Rome for six months. Joan met Anthea Kearney, an actress who asked her to act in ''[[Dark of the Moon]]'' in the theatre of the Play Guild of Rome. Joan played Mrs. Summey and Anthea Mrs. Bergen. The play was written by Howard Richardson and William Berney in 1942.
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===As translator and director===
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In 1957 she directed Molière's comedy ''[[Le Tartuffe]]'' which she had adapted and translated into [[Afrikaans]] (possibly entitled ''[[Hoe Kaler Jonker]]'') for the [[Pro Arte]] student society at the University of Pretoria (founded in 1942 and affiliated with the [[School of Drama]]).
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In 1958 she directed her [[Afrikaans]] version of ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' for [[Pro Arte]]. 
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In 1963 Joan directed Lugkastele in the Aula at the University of Pretoria. Her son Basil Brink saw the play and recollects that she made use of slide images that were projected on diaphanous screens, an innovation at the time. Marga van Rooy (1942-2017) who studied drama at UP was the lead actor in the play. Van Rooy became well-known later and won prizes for her roles in plays, films and TV series.
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=== Other theatre-related activities ===
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In the early 1960s Joan translated the French play [[Piege Pour Un Homme Seul]] into Afrikaans as ''[[Lokval vir 'n Man Alleen]]'' which was staged from 1963 to 1975 in various theatres throughout South Africa. 
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Basil Brink recalls that it was also broadcast by the Afrikaans radio station of the SABC.
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He also recollects that during the 1970s while in Cape Town Joan played the role of Irina Arkadina, a Russian actress and mother of a young writer Konstantin in Anton Chekhov's play The Seagull; directed Ek Is Simon in the St George’s Cathedral; was an external examiner of UCT drama students at the Little Theatre and had a minor role in Charlie Word ‘n Ster (1979) directed by Dirk de Villiers that was filmed in Cape Town.
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There is no record on the internet of Joan’s other theatre-related activities in Cape Town during the 1970s.
  
 
=== As actress ===
 
=== As actress ===
 +
 
She has appeared on stage in ''[[Gister en Vandag]]'' (1953), ''[['n Bruid in die Môre]]'' (NTO 1959), ''[[Die Hemelbed|Die Dubbelbed]]'' (PACT 1964),  ''[[Twelfth Night|Twaalfde Nag]]'' (PACT 1964), ''[[Die Selfmoordenaar]]'' (CAPAB 1973), ''[[The King's Mare]]'' (CAPAB 1967).
 
She has appeared on stage in ''[[Gister en Vandag]]'' (1953), ''[['n Bruid in die Môre]]'' (NTO 1959), ''[[Die Hemelbed|Die Dubbelbed]]'' (PACT 1964),  ''[[Twelfth Night|Twaalfde Nag]]'' (PACT 1964), ''[[Die Selfmoordenaar]]'' (CAPAB 1973), ''[[The King's Mare]]'' (CAPAB 1967).
  
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== Sources ==  
 
== Sources ==  
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Outline of Joan Brink’s theatrical career by her son Basil Brink
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05 September 2025
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ESAT. 2023. Piège pour un homme seul. ESAT. Stellenbosch University. 20 December [Online]. Available https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Pi%C3%A8ge_pour_un_homme_seul
 +
 +
ESAT. 2017. Joan Brink. ESAT. Stellenbosch University.10 April. [Online]. Available: https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Joan_Brink
 +
 +
Green, A. 2024. A day in the life of the University of Pretoria. 26 February 1958. UP Archives. February 26. [Online]. Available: https://www.up.ac.za/up-archives/news/post_2954480-a-day-in-the-life-at-the-university-of-pretoria.-26-february-1958.
 +
 +
Skakelblad. 1963. Pro Arte. Publication by University of Pretoria.
 +
 +
The Play Guild of Rome. Opening Presentation of The Summer 1960-1961 Season. The Play Guild of Rome. [Dark of the Moon Programme]
 +
 
''Twaalfde Nag'' programme notes, 1964
 
''Twaalfde Nag'' programme notes, 1964
  

Revision as of 10:06, 13 September 2025

Joan Brink (1920-2009) was an actress, director and translator.

Biography

Born Johanna Cornelia Brink (1920-2009)


Her qualifications include a Masters in English (University of Stellenbosch, 1942), followed by a senior teacher’s diploma (University of Pretoria, 1945) and a Licentiaship in Speech and Drama (University of South Africa, 1956).

From the 1950s to 1965, besides her theatre and media career outlined below, she taught English at various schools in Pretoria on a part-time basis.


Bibliography ESAT. 2023. Piège pour un homme seul. ESAT. Stellenbosch University. 20 December [Online]. Available https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Pi%C3%A8ge_pour_un_homme_seul .

ESAT. 2017. Joan Brink. ESAT. Stellenbosch University.10 April. [Online]. Available: https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Joan_Brink Green, A. 2024. A day in the life of the University of Pretoria. 26 February 1958. UP Archives. February 26. [Online]. Available: https://www.up.ac.za/up-archives/news/post_2954480-a-day-in-the-life-at-the-university-of-pretoria.-26-february-1958. Skakelblad. 1963. Pro Arte. Publication by University of Pretoria. The Play Guild of Rome. Opening Presentation of The Summer 1960-1961 Season. The Play Guild of Rome. [Dark of the Moon Programme]


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

As actress

She appeared in a number of productions for the National Theatre Organisation (NTO) the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal (PACT) and the Cape Performing Arts Board, including Gister en Vandag (NTO, 1953), 'n Bruid in die Môre (NTO, 1959), Die Dubbelbed (PACT 1964), Twaalfde Nag (PACT, 1964), Die Selfmoordenaar (CAPAB, 1973), The King's Mare (CAPAB, 1967).

In 1961 the Brink family went to Rome for six months. Joan met Anthea Kearney, an actress who asked her to act in Dark of the Moon in the theatre of the Play Guild of Rome. Joan played Mrs. Summey and Anthea Mrs. Bergen. The play was written by Howard Richardson and William Berney in 1942.




As translator and director

In 1957 she directed Molière's comedy Le Tartuffe which she had adapted and translated into Afrikaans (possibly entitled Hoe Kaler Jonker) for the Pro Arte student society at the University of Pretoria (founded in 1942 and affiliated with the School of Drama).

In 1958 she directed her Afrikaans version of A Midsummer Night's Dream for Pro Arte.

In 1963 Joan directed Lugkastele in the Aula at the University of Pretoria. Her son Basil Brink saw the play and recollects that she made use of slide images that were projected on diaphanous screens, an innovation at the time. Marga van Rooy (1942-2017) who studied drama at UP was the lead actor in the play. Van Rooy became well-known later and won prizes for her roles in plays, films and TV series.


Other theatre-related activities

In the early 1960s Joan translated the French play Piege Pour Un Homme Seul into Afrikaans as Lokval vir 'n Man Alleen which was staged from 1963 to 1975 in various theatres throughout South Africa.

Basil Brink recalls that it was also broadcast by the Afrikaans radio station of the SABC. He also recollects that during the 1970s while in Cape Town Joan played the role of Irina Arkadina, a Russian actress and mother of a young writer Konstantin in Anton Chekhov's play The Seagull; directed Ek Is Simon in the St George’s Cathedral; was an external examiner of UCT drama students at the Little Theatre and had a minor role in Charlie Word ‘n Ster (1979) directed by Dirk de Villiers that was filmed in Cape Town. There is no record on the internet of Joan’s other theatre-related activities in Cape Town during the 1970s.

As actress

She has appeared on stage in Gister en Vandag (1953), 'n Bruid in die Môre (NTO 1959), Die Dubbelbed (PACT 1964), Twaalfde Nag (PACT 1964), Die Selfmoordenaar (CAPAB 1973), The King's Mare (CAPAB 1967).

As translator

She translated A Midsummer Night's Dream into Afrikaans and directed the play for the Pro Arte students of the University of Pretoria.

She adaptated Molière's comedy Le Tartuffe into Afrikaans (possibly entitled Hoe Kaler Jonker).

Hoe Kaler Jonker, a translation of a work by Molière, presented by the Pro Arte Kunsvereniging, University of Pretoria, directed by Joan Brink, July 1957.

Lokval vir 'n Man Alleen (Piege Pour Un Homme Seul) translated by her (DALRO 1968).

Awards, etc

Sources

Outline of Joan Brink’s theatrical career by her son Basil Brink 05 September 2025

ESAT. 2023. Piège pour un homme seul. ESAT. Stellenbosch University. 20 December [Online]. Available https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Pi%C3%A8ge_pour_un_homme_seul

ESAT. 2017. Joan Brink. ESAT. Stellenbosch University.10 April. [Online]. Available: https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Joan_Brink

Green, A. 2024. A day in the life of the University of Pretoria. 26 February 1958. UP Archives. February 26. [Online]. Available: https://www.up.ac.za/up-archives/news/post_2954480-a-day-in-the-life-at-the-university-of-pretoria.-26-february-1958.

Skakelblad. 1963. Pro Arte. Publication by University of Pretoria.

The Play Guild of Rome. Opening Presentation of The Summer 1960-1961 Season. The Play Guild of Rome. [Dark of the Moon Programme]

Twaalfde Nag programme notes, 1964

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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