Johann van Heerden

(1949-) Drama lecturer, stage and film actor and director. Son of local director and actress Marie van Heerden, brother of actor Marcel van Heerden. Trained at the University of Stellenbosch Department of Drama. As a young actor he made something of a name for himself on the Stellenbosch and Cape stage, and particularly in films.

In 1973 he became a lecturer in acting and directing at the University of Stellenbosch, completed an M.Dram degree.

In 1988 he left the department after 20 years and joined Frans Marx Films as producer, and later moved on to become a senior manager in the M.Net stable. Retiring on 1 March 2003.

Completed a D.Phil degree in Drama and Theatre Studies at Stellenbosch, writing on major trends in the post-Apartheid professional theatre (2008).

As actor

Stage roles include Selle Ou Storie (Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1974) at The Space,

Other lead roles in stage productions include:

'Martin Dysart' in Equus, (Peter Shaffer); 'Vincentio' in Measure for Measure (Shakespeare); 'Victor' in The Mad Woman of Chaillot (Jean Giraudoux); 'Die Vreemdeling' in Die Goue Kring (Uys Krige); 'The Director' in Six Characters in Search of an Author (Luigi Pirandello); 'Leontes' in The Winter's Tale (Shakespeare); 'Bob' in The Private Ear (Peter Shaffer); various characters in The Fall and Redemption of Man (John Bowen); 'Dr Dussel' in The Diary of Anne Frank (Goodrich and Hackett); 'Lukophroon' in Periandros van Korinthe (D. J. Opperman); 'Robin' in The Double Face of Love (Marivaux); 'Marcus' in Germanicus (N.P. van Wyk Louw); 'Joe' in Lovers/Winners (Brian Friel); ; 'Enrique' in The School for Brides (Moliére); 'Alfred' in My Three Angels (Albert Husson); 'Don Pedro' in Much Ado about Nothing (Shakespeare)

As director

Directed many plays with students. Among his productions for the Department were:

1973: Die Kaukasiese Krytsirkel (Bertolt Brecht), which he had translated from the original German.

1976: Die Goeie Mens van Sezuan (Bertolt Brecht) which he had translated from the original German.

1979: Andorra (Max Frisch)

1980: Lysistrata (Aristophanes)

1981: Woyzeck (Georg Büchner) in an Afrikaans version, which he had translated from and based upon the German source material.

1983: Enrico IV (Luigi Pirandello) in an Afrikaans version, which he had translated from the Italian (translated after study and research period in Italy in 1975)

1986: Die Vlindervanger (The Collector by John Fowles/David Parker).

1986: Van Arme B.B. (the works of Bertolt Brecht) - a biographical study of Bertolt Brecht and his work, based on Brecht on Brecht by George Tabori, in own Afrikaans translation from the German.

1987: August August, August (Pavel Kohout)

1987: Sylvia (compiled by Linda Pienaar) - A biographical study of Sylvia Plath and her work, compiled from her writings.

He also did occasional professional productions, among which:

1983: Ekskuus vir die Wals (Etienne van Heerden) at the Libertas Theatre in Stellenbosch and the Nico Malan Arena in Cape Town.

1983: Vyand! (Enemy! by Robin Maugham) - Produced and directed, in Afrikaans, for SWAPAC, the South West African Performing Arts Council in Windhoek, Namibia.

1983: Laat-Februarie 1922 (Johan Kapp) - Directed for CAPAB (Cape Performing Arts Board) at the Nico Malan Arena in Cape Town.

1985: The Island (Athol Fugard) - At the Theater Interpretation Center, Theater Department, North¬western University, Chicago USA, with Harry Lennix in the lead role.

1985: Carousel (Rodgers & Hammerstein) - Co-director, with Dominic Missimi, of the professional production that opened in Chicago and then moved to New York City.

1985: How the Children Won the Wars (musical by Dominic Missimi) - Co-director, with Dominic Missimi, of the professional production that opened in Chicago and then moved to New York City.

1987: Die Vlindervanger (The Collector by John Fowles/David Parker) - A new professional production of own Afrikaans translation for SWAPAC in Windhoek, Namibia.

Translator and adaptor

Over the years he adapfted and translated a number of works into Afrikaans, often from the original language, usually directing the production himself. Among the texts are: Die Kaukasiese Krytsirkel (Bertolt Brecht), from the original German (1973); Die Goeie Mens van Sezuan (Bertolt Brecht), from the original German (1976); Woyzeck (Georg Büchner), translated from and based upon the German source material (1981); Enrico IV (Luigi Pirandello), from the Italian (after study and research period in Italy in 1975, produced 1983); Die Vlindervanger (John Fowles/David Parker), 1986;

Also compiled and developed Van Arme B.B. (from the original German works of Bertolt Brecht and based on Brecht on Brecht by George Tabori, 1986).

Sources

Curriculum Vitae of Johann van Heerden (2011)

Correspondence with Johann van Heerden (11 Feb 2012)

Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

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