Willem van Zyl

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

Began work for the combined Paul de Groot company in 1927, working on Gerieflike Huwelik (Dumas pére), Then, when the company split, he worked for the Hendrik Hanekom's Afrikaanse Toneelgeselskap, appearing in Oorskotjie (Scampolo by Niccodemi) and Onskuldig Veroordeel (lit "Innocently Sentenced") in 1928-29, Die Uur van Vergelding ("The Hour of Retribution" ostensibly by Friedrich Gunter) in 1930. In 1930 he married Wena Naudé, and later that year they became Hendrik Hanekom's partners when the company was renamed the Hanekom-Van Zyl Geselskap. He did Wie is Wie (Who is Who by Will Evans) and Die Silwer Koning (The Silver King by H.A. Jones) for the company. In the same year however, Hanekom retired to start a school, and they continued as the Wena Naudé-Van Zyl Geselskap.

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