Hermien Dommisse

(1915-2010). Stage, radio, screen and television actress, director, academic author, cultural activist.

Biography

Born 27 October 1915 to Evert and Hettie Dommisse, studied at the University of Pretoria. Completed a doctorate at the University of Pretoria in 19**.

She married Gilbert McCaul and the couple had three children.

She died on 24 March 2010 in Edenvale, South Africa.

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

Stage work

She worked as an actress (and later also as director on occasion) with numerous companies including amateur companies (e.g. Volksteater, the Krugersdorp Municipal Dramatic and Operatic Society , the Johannesburg REPS), a number of independent theatre companies (e.g. André Huguenet Geselskap), and the state funded theatres NTO, PACT, NAPAC and CAPAB.

Among the plays she appeared are Helshoogte (André Huguenet Geselskap, 1943, Oorlog is Oorlog (Die Maskers, 1944), Die Vader (CAPAB, 1969), Joan of Lorraine (Johannesburg REPS, 1947), Die Koopman van Venesië (NTO, 1953),The River Line (Little Theatre Players, 1954),

Helshoogte ("Hell's Heights" - an Afrikaans version of Wuthering Heights) for André Huguenet's company in the 1943, Die Koopman van Venesië (an Afrikaans version of The Merchant of Venice) for Fred Engelen (Little Theatre Cape Town, 1960), *

As director she did Dagbreek (Wynand du Preez), for the Krugersdorp Municipal Dramatic and Operatic Society (1941); NTO as part of the The Van Riebeeck Festival in 1952, playing for 191 nights. It opened in the Hofmeyr Theatre, was directed by Hermien Dommisse Iepekonders (Le Malade imaginaire) for the NTO in 1953.

Among her other directing projects over the years have been Bluebird (Maeterlinck) for Pretoria Girls High School.

Film

Made a number of films, including roles in Die Kandidaat (1968), Jannie Totsiens (Also known as Farewell Johnny, 1970), Pappalap (also known as Pappa Lap: 'n Verhaal van 'n pa en sy dogter , 1971), Aanslag op Kariba (1973), Ma Skryf Matriek (1975), Netnou Hoor die Kinders! (1977), Plekkie in die Son (1979), Fiela se Kind (1988) and That Englishwoman (1989).

Television

Best known publically in later years for her TV roles, namely "Mrs Duvenhage" in Agter Elke Man and "Monika Vorster" in the long-running soap Egoli: Place of Gold.

She was also the post-synchronization director of one episode of Shaka Zulu (the TV Mini-Series)

Cultural activism

She campaigned strongly for state support for professional theatre, opera and ballet in South Africa, and - besides her theatre work - played a crucial role in the promotion of opera as an art form in Johannesburg and in South Africa.

Author

Over the year she published a number of articles on all aspects of the performing arts, plus two books: Her doctoral thesis Die dramaturg en sy gemeenskap ("The dramatist and his community", a look at the role of theatre in society. Also listed under the name Hermien McCaul-Dommisse in some sources) and Voetspore ("Footsteps", 1996), an auto-biographical look at her role in the evolution of the performing arts in South Africa through some of her writings over the years; published in English as Long Jouney of the Heart, (2001).

Awards, etc

In 1987 she received an Award for Outstanding Cultural Achievement from the Federation of Afrikaans Cultural Organizations (the FAK).

In 1990 she received a Special Pennant for the Promotion of the Performing Arts from the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns.

In 1999 she received the Fleur du Cap Lifetime Award for her contribution to the industry.

In 2004 she received a Naledi Lifetime Achievement Award for her work.

[JH, TH]

Sources

Du Toit, 1988

Inskip, 197*

SACD 1973; 1978/79; 1979/80;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermien_Dommisse

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241197/bio

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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