Die Vrystaatse Toneelskool

Die Vrystaatse Toneelskool ("The Free State Theatre School") was a training institution set up in Bloemfontein by Hendrik Hanekom (1893-1952) and Mathilde Hanekom (1896-1976).

It was also known simply as "Die Toneelskool" ("the theatre school") or variously as the Toneelskool van die Hanekoms Die Toneelskool van die Hanekoms and Die Hanekoms se Toneelskool (all three all basically meaning the "Theatre school of the Hanekoms").

It was opened in September 1934, when Mathilde’s health became a concern and their daughter needed to go to school, and lasted a little more than 3 years. Basically it was a theatrical society which they used to put on 15 plays between 1934 and 1937, utilizing a number of local amateurs, many of whom went on to become important figures in amateur and professional theatre. Among the more prominent alumni were Kitty Maasdorp, Fred van Rooyen and J.J. van Rensburg.

The first production by the school turned out to be one of the great success stories of the Afrikaans theatre: Hanekom's portrayal of President Paul Kruger in D.C. Postma's historical and symbolic drama Oom Paul ("Uncle Paul"). (Hanekom later toured with a professional company, playing Oom Paul to a wider audience.)

They also did pieces by local author D.F. Malherbe (notably Amrach die Tollenaar and the dramtised verion of Hans die Skipper).