Temple Hauptfleisch

(1945-) Theatre researcher, academic, critic, historian, lecturer, dramatist and occasional actor. Born on 27 June 1945 in Bloemfontein, to George Stephanus Hauptfleisch and Katerina Dafina Hauptfleisch (néé Du Plessis). Married Karina Lou Bekker in 1968 and the couple have two children, IT Company director Anzel Mercker and actor, playwright, director and designer Gaerin Hauptfleisch.

Training

Had his schooling at Grey College in Bloemfontein (1950-1962), then went to the University of the Orange Free State (UOFS) to complete a BA in English and Latin, and a BA Hons in English (1963-1969). Further studies at the University of South Africa (UNISA) led to an M.A. in English in 1972 and a D.Litt. et Phil. in 1978.

Career

Became a teacher at Grey College in 1968, while a part-time actor and front of house manager for the Performing Arts Council of the Orange Free State (PACOFS). In 1972 joined the Human Sciences Research Council in Pretoria as sociolinguist, from 1978 head of the National Documentation Centre for the Performing Arts, later the Centre for South African Theatre Research (CESAT). From 1988-1994 senior lecturer and researcher at the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department, lecturing on theatre history and theory, and running workshops in playwriting. In 1994 founded the Centre for Theatre and Performance Studies and later became professor and elected Chair of the Department (1995-2005) and director of the H.B. Thom Theatre (1995-2003). After retiring as chair, served as research professor and Director of the Centre for Theatre and Performance Studies (2006-2009). Retired from the university in 2010 to devote his time to ESAT and other projects.

Publications

Besides a number of publications on various aspects of the sosiology of language (including a 4 volume report on Language Loyalty in South Africa), he has written and published over 80 articles and 8 books on the history and sociology of South African and international theatre. (See South African Theatre/Bibliography for a full list of his publications.)

The most influential books have been Athol Fugard: A Source Guide (Co-authors: Wilma Viljoen and Celeste Van Greunen, Johannesburg: Ad Donker, 1982), South African Theatre - Four plays and an Introduction (Co-author & -editor with Ian Steadman, Pretoria: De Jager-HAUM 1984), The Breytie Book: Essays on South African Theatre. (Johannesburg: The Limelight Press, 1985), Theatre and Society in South Africa: Reflections in a Fractured Mirror (J.L. van Schaik, 1997), Festivalising! Theatrical Events, Politics and Culture (co-edited with Shulamith Lev-Aladgem, Jacqueline Martin, Willmar Sauter and Henri Schoenmakers, Amsterdam, Rodopi, 2007).

Plays and play collections

As playwright and editor he has edited 11 play-collections for schools and author of 15 plays. Prominent plays are Wie is Leopold?(1971), Bloedlyn [Bloodline] (1974), Op Salvokop (1984?), André (1985?) and One for the Road to Damaskus (2002).

Awards and distinctions

In 2002 he received a National Arts Council grant to develop the play One for the Road to Damaskus. Co-founder and publisher of the South African Theatre Journal (with Ian Steadman) (1987-), later sole editor & publisher (1998-2010), and again co-editor (with Petrus du Preez) from 2011 onwards. Founder and former chair of the South African Society Theatre Research (1999-2002) and a member of the executive of the International Federation for Theatre Research since 1998. Awards: Winner, ATKV One-Act Playwriting Competition 1971, Vita Award for Theatre Research (1982), Rector’s Award for Outstanding Research, University of Stellenbosch (1999) and a B-rating as researcher by the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) (since 2002).

Temple Hauptfleisch has a D.Litt et Phil in English Literature from the University of South Africa and is a former head of the Centre for SA Theatre Research (CESAT – 1979-1987), Chair of the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department (1995-2005) and director of the Centre for Theatre and Performance Studies at Stellenbosch (1994-2009). He is currently Research Professor in the Department. He was also the co-founder and is current editor/publisher of the South African Theatre Journal (1987-) and a member of the editorial boards of the journals Shakespeare in South Africa (1986-), African Performance Review (2006-), Perfformio (2008-), Critical Perspectives (2007-), and Critical Stages (2008-). A member of numerous academic societies, he has served on the executive of the International Federation for Theatre Research (1999-2008) and is a member of the editorial board of the Rodopi series Themes in Theatre - Collective Approaches to Theatre and Performance (Editor: Peter Eversman). He has written more than eighty works on the history of South African theatre, research methodology and the sociology of theatre since 1978, including numerous encylopaedia entries on aspects of theatre and performance in the country for international publishers and 8 book-length publications. The most influential books have been Athol Fugard: A Source Guide (Co-authors: Wilma Viljoen and Celeste Van Greunen, Johannesburg: Ad Donker, 1982), South African Theatre - Four plays and an Introduction (Co-author & -editor with Ian Steadman, Pretoria: De Jager-HAUM 1984), The Breytie Book: Essays on South African Theatre. (Johannesburg: The Limelight Press, 1985), Theatre and Society in South Africa: Reflections in a Fractured Mirror (J.L. van Schaik, 1997), Festivalising! Theatrical Events, Politics and Culture (co-edited with Shulamith Lev-Aladgem, Jacqueline Martin, Willmar Sauter and Henri Schoenmakers, Amsterdam, Rodopi, 2007). Current projects are the Encyclopaedia of South African Theatre and Performance (ESAT) website and ongoing research with The African Theatre and Performance Working group of the IFTR. He is also a published Afrikaans and English playwright, and a compiler and editor of 12 play collections for schools.

Sources

Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities H

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page