Die Koggelaar

Die Koggelaar ("The mocker") is a play by Pieter Fourie (1940-)

The original text

Die Koggelaar is an expressionistic play that deals with the Afrikaner and his relationship to God, set in a world bereft of hope. A central symbol is the all encompassing drought - ravaging the souls of the Afrikaners as much as it does the land.

According to Nico Luwes (2012, p.255) the origins of the play lie in a period of acute loneliness and a disillusionment which newly divorced Fourie experienced while living in Franschoek and working as Resident Dramatist for CAPAB. He began writing the work in 1981-2, a period of immense confrontation and violence in the country, but only finished it in 1986, when he submitted the text for the newly instituted SACPAC Award. The text won the very first such award, to some considerable controversy and, in terms of the award, was subsequently performed by a number of the Performing Arts Councils in 1987.

The play also won the newly created Dawie Malan Award for new indigenous plays, instituted by DALRO, in that year.

Published by Haum-Literêr in 1988. It would become the second play in the quartet of farm tragedies by Fourie, along with Ek, Anna van Wyk, Donderdag se Mense and Post Mortem.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1987: First performed by the CAPAB drama company for the combined Performing Arts Councils, opening at the Nico Malan Theatre on 20 March 1987. The play was directed by Dieter Reible, with Ian Roberts (Boet Cronjé), Cedwyn Joel (Anker), Leslie Fong (Knaplat), Brümilda van Rensburg (Anna Cronjé), Lida Meiring (Betta Cronjé), Dawie Maritz (Ben Cronjé), Neels Coetzee (Buurman/Kroegman/Dominee) and Jan Ellis, Pedro Kruger and Sarel Pretorius alternating as Klein-Ben at the various venues. Stage manager Hannelie de Beer. Lighting was by Pieter de Swardt and costumes by Jenny de Swardt.

1987: In accordance with the regulations of the award, the Performing Arts Councils sponsored production was subsequently taken on tour, though in a substantially shortened version according to Luwes (2012, p. 341). It was to have opened at the Roodepoort Civic Theatre on 1 May 1987, but this run was cancelled. The play was then performed at the State Theatre, Pretoria, opening on 14 May, the Windhoek Theatre in Namibia opening on 9 June and the Bloemfontein Civic Theatre, opening on 17 June. It used the same cast throughout.

Sources

Die Koggelaar theatre programme, 1987.

Nico Luwes 2010. Pieter Fourie (1940-) se bydrae as Afrikaanse dramaturg en kunsbestuurder: 1965-2010. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Bloemfontein: University of the Free State, pp. 255, 331-374 [1]

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