Geoff Cronjé

Geoff Cronjé (1907-1992) was an academic, university professor, cultural leader and founding head of the drama department at the University of Pretoria.

Born Geoffrey Cronjé on 30 December 1907 in Pretoria.

An avid student he aquired three doctorates over the years and was head of three?* departments at the University of Pretoria, namely Psychologogy/Philosophy?* Sociology and Drama **]

As a sociologist and cultural leader he is seen as one of the founders of the apartheid system in South Africa.

He passed away on 23 January 1992.

He became chairman of the National Theatre Organisation board in 1954 and remained till its demise in 1962, finding himself at the centre of much of the later infighting.

In 196* he was made the first Professor of the newly founded Department of Drama at the University of Pretoria, where he remained till his retirement in 197*.

Besides many articles on the literary, performative and sociological aspects of theatre and drama, he was the author of an Afrikaans handbook on dramatic theory called Die Drama as Speelstuk ("The play as performance piece")

Sources

"Toeskouer" 1960. "Die Slag van die Kaapse Vlakte", Standpunte Jaargang XIV, Nr 2, Desember 1960: pp. 4-9.

G. Cronje. 1960. "'n Antwoord", Standpunte Jaargang XIV, Nr 2, Desember 1960: pp. 10-13.

P.J. du Toit, 1988;

Temple Hauptfleisch, 1985.[2]

Rinie Stead, 1981[?*];

Rinie Stead, 1985b;

Percy Tucker, 1997. [JH, TH]

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