Ons Spreekuur

Ons Spreekuur (literally: "Our Talking Hour") was an influential literary society.

The society

It was founded by Dr W.J. Viljoen in Stellenbosch in 1895 to cultivate a love for Dutch literature and language and one of its activities was an annual concert at which plays were also performed. From 1916 onwards Afrikaans was also admitted.

Plays and other items performanced by Ons Spreekuur

1906: Performed by Ons Spreekuur in Stellenbosch some time during the year, probably in the Dutch original.

1907: Napoleon Bonaparte, Eerste Konsul (H.J. Schimmel) performed in Dutch in Stellenbosch, some time in August.

1908: Herodes (Maaldrink) performed in Stellenbosch, some time in August.

1909: The four act drama Jan Masseur (Maaldrink) was performed in Stellenbosch on 6 and 13 August.

1919: A performance of De Hongaarsche Samenzwering ("The Hungarian Plot") by A.S.C. Wallis was done by them in Cape Town, under the patronage of the ANV (Algemeen Nederlandsch Verbond).

Offshoot societies

Graaf Reinet

In 1904 a Graaff-Reinetse Spreekuur was founded in Graaf Reinet, as a local chapter of the Stellenbosch-based Ons Spreekuur.

Sources

F.C.L. Bosman. 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [1]: pp. 9, 34, 482

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 42, 479

P.J. du Toit. 1988. Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika. Pretoria: Academica

[JH/TH]

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