Rykie Lötter

Rykie Lötter nee Rykie van Niekerk, stage name Rita van Niekerk. (Date of birth/death) was a professional stage Director and actress.

Biography

Rykie Lötter was a resident of Jansenville for many years. Prior to settling in the village she was part of Anton Ackermann's touring group, known as Anton Ackermann Geselskap. She met and later married Ice Lötter, a member of Louis de Vriend's group who was also touring the country. Her stage name was Rita van Niekerk. That was during the period circa 1927-1935. After their marriage they returned to Jansenville and lived on Ice's farm, Olyvenfontein, where he took up farming. They had two daughters, Francie Taljaardt who lives in Jansenville, and Ora Schreuder who lives in Humansdorp (as of 2023).

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Rykie Lötter produced the following shows for the Jansenville Drama Vereniging with ger husband, Ice Lötter:

1959: Kerse Teen die Wind (Candles Against the Wind) by Gerhard J. Beukes. Produced by Rykie Lötter and starring Helen Booysen, Jannie van Zyl, Ice Lötter and Johannes Slabbert.

Rykie Lötter co-produced the following shows for the Jansenville Drama Vereniging with ger husband, Ice Lötter:

1971: Heimwee (Memories). 1st, 2nd and 3rd act by Pauline van Zyl. Co-starring Maans Kemp, Annette ?, Chris Ackerman, Wessel Cornelius, Janet Cornelius, Rykie Lötter, Pauline van Zyl, Jannie van Zyl, Arina van Zyl, Annabie de Beer, Hannes van Eyk, Susie Crouse, Sarie Slabbert, Nic Botha, Dirk Smit, Joyce Smit, Christo van Wyk, Henna Jooste and Gerrit van Wyk.

1972: Die Reën Van Jou Liefde (The Rain of Your Love) is a one-act play in Afrikaans by W.A. de Klerk. Co-starring Rykie Lötter, Wessel Cornelius and Pauline van Zyl.

1973: Rooibruin Blare (Reddish-brown Leaves). Co-starring Gielie Grobler, Matty Grobler, Rykie Lötter, Anna Ackerman, Wessel Cornelius and Janet Cornelius.

Rykie Lötter starred in the following productions with the Jansenville Drama Vereniging:

1960: Die Hele Dorp Skinner (The Whole Village Gossips). Co-starring Ice Lötter, Johan Bekker, Truida Bekker, Gielie Grobler, Abel Pienaar, Beryl la Grange, Bettie Nel, Danie Knoetze and Rita Greef.

1963: Dienie Speel Toneel (Dienie is Play Acting) is a one-act play by Hélène Pienaar-De Klerk. Produced by Pauline van Zyl. Co-starring Ice Lötter, Pauline van Zyl, Joey Steenkamp, Chris Steenkamp and Francois Slabbert.

1968: Bly Kalm (Stay Calm). Produced by Pauline van Zyl. Co-starring Theo Skein, Joey de Beer, Pauline van Zyl, Terry Terblanche and A Nieuwoudt.

1971: Heimwee (Memories) Produced by Ice Lötter and Rykie Lötter. 1st, 2nd and 3rd act by Pauline van Zyl. Co-starring Maans Kemp, Annette ?, Chris Ackerman, Wessel Cornelius, Janet Cornelius, Ice Lötter, Pauline van Zyl, Jannie van Zyl, Arina van Zyl, Annabie de Beer, Hannes van Eyk, Susie Crouse, Sarie Slabbert, Nic Botha, Dirk Smit, Joyce Smit, Christo van Wyk, Henna Jooste and Gerrit van Wyk.

1972: Die Kongres (“The Congress”). A one-act play by Louis de Villiers. Produced by Pauline van Zyl and entered in the annual Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging competition in Bloemfontein where it won the top award. Co-performers included Pauline van Zyl, Ice Lötter, Roelof van der Merwe, Chris Ackerman, Nic Botha, Gerrit van Wyk, Dirk Smit and Eunice van der Merwe.

1972: Broers (Brothers), Produced by Chris Ackerman. Co-starring Chris Ackerman, Jannie van Zyl, Wessel Cornelius, and Gerrit van Wyk

1972: Die Reën Van Jou Liefde (The Rain of Your Love) is a one-act play in Afrikaans by W.A. de Klerk. Produced by Ice Lötter and co-starring Ice Lötter, Wessel Cornelius and Pauline van Zyl.

1973: Ou Bokke and Groen Blare (Old Goats and Green Leaves), written by Dr Louis de Villiers and produced by Pauline van Zyl, won the ATKV annual acting competition. Co-starring Chris Ackerman, Roelf van der Merwe, Lucy Smit, Jannie van Zyl, Ice Lötter, Pauline van Zyl and Eunice van der Merwe, was presented in the Jansenville Town Hall.

1973: Rooibruin Blare (Reddish-brown Leaves). Produced by Ice Lötter and Rykie Lötter. Co-starring Gielie Grobler, Matty Grobler, Ice Lötter, Anna Ackerman, Wessel Cornelius and Janet Cornelius.

1973: Stilte Asseblief (Quiet Please!); Produced by Pauline van Zyl, Co-starring Ice Lötter, Bertie de Beer and Pauline van Zyl.

1974: Toewyding (Dedication). Produced by Pauline van Zyl. Co-starring Ice Lötter, Jannie van Zyl, Pauline van Zyl and Chris Ackerman.

1974: Dis Nou te Laat (It's Now Too Late), a one-act play by Louis de Villiers. Produced by Pauline van Zyl. Co-starring Ice Lötter, Jannie van Zyl, Pauline van Zyl and Ina van der Westhuizen, Willie de Beer and Gerrit van Wyk.

1975: Mans Verkies Blondines (Men Prefer Blondes). Produced by Pauline van Zyl. Co-starring Ice Lötter, Jannie van Zyl, Pauline van Zyl, Arina van Zyl, Edward Lemmer, Chris Ackerman and Gerrit van Wyk.

1975: Middernag (Midnight). Produced by Pauline van Zyl. Co-starring Arina van Zyl, Pauline van Zyl and Lucy Smit.

1976: Van Bye en Blomme (From Bees and Flowers). Produced by Pauline van Zyl. Co-starring Lana Fourie, Susie Crouse, Pauline van Zyl, Ina van der Westhuizen and Hettie Erasmus.

1976: Die Rooi Duiwel se As (The Red Devil's Ashes) by D G Richard, A one-act play based on a short story of the same name. A group gathers to hear the last will and testament of a family member with all sorts of unnatural happenings taking place. Produced by Pauline van Zyl. Co-starring Pauline van Zyl and Ice Lötter.

1977: Die Erfenis (The Inheritance). Produced by Pauline van Zyl. Co-starring Jannie van Zyl, Pauline van Zyl, Ice Lötter, and Hillmar Heydenrych.

1978: Babbelkous en Bruidegom (Chatterbox And Bridegroom). La Perruche et le Poulet ("The Parrot And The Chicken") is a play by French dramatist Robert Thomas. It premiered at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in Paris on 12 August 1966, and was translated into Afrikaans by Tine Balder who renamed it Babbelkous en Bruidegom. It was adapted for an Afrikaans audience by Anna Neethling-Pohl. Produced by Pauline van Zyl. Co-starring Renier Grobler, Ria Grobler, Jannie van Zyl, Pauline van Zyl, Ice Lötter, Wessel Cornelius, Janet Cornelius and Ina van der Westhuizen.