Anna Neethling-Pohl

Anna Neethling-Pohl the South African actress and author was born Anna Pohl. in Graaf Reinet in the Eastern Cape on 24 December 1906. Her father was the cultural leader and theatre enthusiast Pieter Pohl. At the age of five she joined theatre and continued to perform until high school when took part in Die laaste van die takhare in 1923. Her work in literature has earned her recognition as she was awarded the Langenhoven Prize in 1926 and the in 1926 and the Vaderland Prize in 1937. Pohl became a film actress and the first female broadcaster from 1935 and contributed to folkfeeste (National festivals) which began in 1938. In 1952 she was the co organiser of the Van Riebeeck Festival celebrations in Cape Town and also played a role in Hantie kom huis toe in 1955 when it was presented in Cape Town. She was instrumental in the formation of the Cape Afrikaans Theatrical Society Kaapse Afrikaanse Toneelvereninging, Volksteater in Pretoria and the National Theatre Organisation (NTO). After working for 21 years at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) presenting women and children’s programmes, she joined the University of Pretoria Department of Drama as a professor in 1965. Pohl translated 7 Shakespeare plays into Afrikaans and in addition wrote plays and novels. In 1986 she played a lead role in the Higgins’ Harold and Maude. She performed in over 50 stage works and lead roles, half of which were indigenous Afrikaans dramas. Pohl died in 1992.

Sources

http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/chronology/thisday/1906-12-24.htm

For more information

Anna Neethling-Pohl, 19**

Hannes Horne, 19**

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