Moeder Hanna

Moeder Hanna ("Mother Hanna") is a play in two acts by Bartho Smit (1924 - 1986).

The original text

A drama about a mother and her menfolk in the Anglo-Boer War, it was written over the course of about ten years while the author was studying and travelling in Europe.

Published in the academic journal Standpunte, 10(3):3-30. January, 1956, and by the Afrikaanse Persboekhandel in 1958(?).

Translations and adaptations

Filmed for TV by the SABC in 1976, directed by Fred Nel, with Siegfried Mynhardt, Kita Redelinghuys, Marie Koeleman, Pieter Bredenkamp, Adriaan van Niekerk, Nico Germishuyse, Chris van Niekerk. Music by Walter C. Jouval, cinematography André van den Heever, editing by Axel Kompat, production design by Heinrich van der Walt, makeup by Alvino Willemse, sound by Roy Smithers, lighting by Angus Clarke, camera operators Terry Delahunt and Nick Herholdt, production assistant Frans Fourie and production secretary Karen Pepler.

Broadcast on 4 October 1976.

Performance history in South Africa

1959: First produced on 11 May, as a double bill with Meisies van Vervloë Dae, by National Theatre Organisation in its NTO Kamertoneel. Directed by Bartho Smit himself, with Milla Louw as Moeder Hanna, Johan Malherbe as Ouboeta, Jan Bruyns as Bart Harmse, Siegfried Mynhardt Oupa and Lynette Kotzé as the daughter. Two soldiers were played by Piet Bezuidenhout and Douglas Winn.

1959: It was followed from 27 July to 1 August 1959 in the Bellville Kamertoneel with Babs Laker (Hanna), Leonora Nel (Maria), Jan van Zyl (Bart Harmse), Cobus Rossouw (Oupa Harmse) and Matthys du Toit (Ouboeta), this time with Die Les as a double bill. Bartho Smit directed. Decor was by Frank Graves and costumes by Doreen Graves. Athol Fugard was the stage manager, lighting by Pip Marshall.

Kamertoneel het ook aan 5 dramastudente kans gebied om die hoofstadgehore te vermaak in Pretoria.

19**: Staged by NAPAC in 19** in a production directed by Elma Krynauw, with Jeanette Hanekom (Moeder Hanna), Carel Trichardt (Oupa Harmse), Bertie Heiberg (Bart Harmse), Petru Wessels (credited as Petro Wessels) (Maria), Siegfried Schumann (Ouboeta) and Peter Millin (Soldaat).

1970: Performed by CAPAB in 1970 at the Hofmeyr Theatre on the cancellation of Putsonderwater, as a double bill with an Afrikaans version of Chekov's The Proposal (Ouers-Vra). The author directed and the cast were Siegfried Mynhardt, Percy Sieff, Kita Redelinghuijs, Sandra Kotzé, Cobus Rossouw, Pieter de Swardt and Martin Crous. Stage manager Mavis Lilenstein, decor and lighting by Pieter de Swardt, costumes designed by Elaine Aucamp.