Ampie

by Jochem van Bruggen. The influential and award-winning Afrikaans set of two novels on the Great Depression. Dramatized by Van Bruggen (with the help of Stephanie Fauré).

See also Ampie Oppie Diekens

Performance history in South Africa

First produced by André Huguenet and directed by Stephanie Faure in 1930, with Huguenet as the poor white young man "Ampie" and Lydia Lindeque. It opened for a two-day run in the Pretoria Opera House on 18 April 1930 and then toured. It was immediately hailed as a milestone in Afrikaans culture, though not all liked the details of the production. Huguenet used the same play a number of times to save his career (e.g 1932, 1941). Van Bruggen also did a production with his family and toured it (193*?),

The play launched the career of the young Marius Weyers when produced by TRUK Toneel in 1970, directed by François Swart. Other cast members were Laurie van der Merwe, Tine Balder, Schalk Jacobsz, Annette Engelbrecht, Katinka Heyns, David van der Merwe, Don Lamprecht, Louis van Niekerk, Max Curtis, Jacqueline Cook. Decor designed by Schalk Jacobsz.

Presented by KRUIK directed by Truida Louw, 1971, starring Mees Xteen as Ampie, Pieter Bredenkamp, Margot Luyt, Trudi du Plessis, Etienne Pienaar, Pieter Geldenhuys, Anna Cloete, Marie Pentz, Chris Swanepoel, David Haynes, Paul Slabolepszy and a live donkey. Design by Chris van den Berg, stage management by Mavis Lilenstein.

Another version formed part of the opening season of the Pretoria State Theatre in 1981.

Another version by Schalk W. Jacobsz, directed by him for PACOFS in 1982, starring Pieter Brand.

Sources

PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988.

Ampie theatre programmes, 1970, 1971.

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