W.J.B. Pienaar

(18*-19*) Teacher, politician, actor, playwright. (Also known as W.J. Pienaar).

A local teacher and active member and leading figure in the cultural life of Volksrust, Transvaal. *

Wrote Saul, a pageant-style Afrikaans drama in five acts about the Biblical character, with a large cast of 25 and including songs and dances. The plays was first performed to local acclaim in 1923 (as fundraiser for the local "Dingaan's day" festivities), with Pienaar in the role of "Samuel" and under the direction of R.G. van Tonder. (Repeated 1924, 1925.) The play was also performed in Krugersdorp, Pretoria and Johannesburg in 1925, having been polished by Paul de Groot. The text was published by ** in 1928.

Pienaar later went on tour with Paul de Groot, performing in ***

In 1940 he directed N.P. van Wyk Louw's 1939 play Hélène for K.A.T. in the Little Theatre, Cape Town.