Gerhard J. Beukes

(1913 - 1998) Academic cultural activist and prolific Afrikaans playwright and compiler of plays. Also known as Gerhard Beukes.

Biography

Born Gerhard Johannes Beukes on 21 November 1913 on the farm Biesjespoort near Upington, Northern Cape. One of seven children, he only began school at eleven years of age in a farms chool, then and continued his schooling at Keimoes en in 1932 matriculated from the high school at Upington. Married Isabella Pretorius in 1940, and had two sons: Johann and Gerhard. His wife passed away in 1992 and in 1994 he married Marie Lategan. Beukes died in Bloemfontein in 1998.

Training

He studied Afrikaans and Dutch at the University of Stellenbosch (BA 1935, Senior Teacher's Diploma 1936), then completed an MA on Afrikaans poetry at the University of South Africa (1939) and in 1946 a doctorate (D.Litt) at the University of Pretoria with a thesis on the modern one-act play. This led him to theatre and drama as a creative field. In 1956 he obtained a Carnegie-burasry to spend 3 months in the USA to study cuyrrent trends in theatre.

Career

After 10 years teaching at schools, beginning at Michaelhouse in Natal in 1937, and ending at Pretoria Boys’ High School, he became a lecturer in Afrikaans and Dutch at the then University College of the Orange Free State (UKOVS - later to become the University of the Orange Free State and ultinately the University of the Free State) in Bloemfontein (1947 -1960), made professor in 1961 and in 1973 became Head of the Department of Afrikaans en Nederlands. Retired in 1978.

Contribution to South African theatre and performance

As playwright

While a teacher he began writing plays for children and adults, both numerous one-act plays and full length works.

Collections of his one-act plays include Kerse teen die wind, met die subtitel tien eenbedrywe,

As compiler

Over the years he compiled 12 anthologies of plays for use by schools, universities and amateur companies, including:

195*: Uitgesoekte eenbedrywe Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik

1965: Woord en masker (editor)Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik 1970: Vier Nederlandse eenbedrywe (editor) Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik .

List of works: 1945: Laat die kerse brand 1948: Die vrees 1950: Kerse teen die wind 1952: As ons twee eers getroud is!

1956: Verkiesing sonder politiek! 1959: Judas van Keriot 1964: Die vonkel in haar oë!

1969: Uur van die waarheid

Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik. Gerhard J. Beukes also compiled 12 anthologies of plays for use by schools, universities and amateur companies. Later began writing plays for children and adults, both numerous one-act plays and full length works. Among these are Die Swart Engel (perf 1946, pub. **), Oktobernag (Perf 1946, pub 19*), Bo-op die Berge (perf 1947, pub 19*) Langs die Steiltes (perf 1953, pub 195*), Speurhonde van die Dood, As Ons Twee Eers Getroud Is (perf. 1952, pub. 19**), Verkiesing sonder politiek! (perf 1955, pub. 1964), Die vonkel in haar oë! (perf 1960, pub. 1960), Die Braaiboud (19**), As Nefie Kom Kuier (19**) and Familieportret (19**). In 1952 he controversially shared the Hertzog Prize for Drama with W.A. de Klerk for his play **. Edited numerous collections of one-act plays for schools and amateur companies, including Nuwe Eenbedrywe ("New One-act Plays". J.L. van Schaik,1952); Kom ons speel toneel ("Come let us act", J.L van Schailk 19**), **.

As academic writer

Die moderne eenbedryf ["The Modern One-act Play"], a published verion of his 1947 doctoral thesis.

Skrywers en rigtings (co-edited with F.V. Lategan), a much used handbook on Afrikaans literature. Beukes also wrote the section on Drama.

In 1978 J.L. van Schaik published Kortgesprek, (compiled by F.V. Lategan) to celebrate the author's 65th birthday.

Cultural actitivities and contributions

Much involved in cultural work, he was a member of Volksteater in Pretoria, particularly involved in their children's theatre project (1941). Also became a member of the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns and was the co-founder of a number of organizations, including FATSSA, NTO, the National Drama Library, and DALRO. He was a founding board member of PACOFS. In 1977 was he was made a member of the committee created by the Department of National Education to studyand make recommendations regarding Amateur Theatre in South Africa.

Awards

1948: Winner of the FATSA competion for one-act-plays: Die vrees

1952: Hertzog Prize for drama and the Van Riebeeck Festival prize for drama

1959: Prize of the NG Kerk-uitgewers (on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the South African Bible Society) for Judas van Keriot

1984: Made an Honorary Member of SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns

[JH/TH]

Sources

P.J. du Toit, 1988

Erika Terblanche, biography of Gerhard J. Beukes in LitNet (2014-08-21)

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