University of Natal, Department of Speech and Drama
Department of Speech and Drama at University of Natal.
History
In 1949 the University of Natal was the first South African university to accept Speech and Drama for BA degree purposes. Founded by Elizabeth Sneddon, the Department enrolled 7 students in 1951. Sneddon's syllabus, devised after research in Britain and America, was adopted by departments in other institutions.
After extensive revisions to the syllabus, the Department's designation became the Department of Drama and Performance Studies in 1996.
The University of Natal no longer exists as a distinct legal entity as it was incorporated with the University of Durban-Westville into the University of KwaZulu-Natal on 1 January 2004.
Alumni
Alumni who were to be appointed Professors and/or Heads include Roger Orton, David Horner, Devi Bughwan, Lynn Dalrymple, Ian Steadman, Dennis Schauffer, Francois Swart, Gary Gordon, Fred Hagemann, Yvonne Banning, Carel Trichardt and, as successors to Sneddon, Pieter Scholtz (1973-1995) and Mervyn McMurtry (1996-). In Canada, America, Britain and Australia, Azra Francis, Peter Larlham, Michael Barclay, Di James, Robert Gordon and David Ritchie hold similar positions. Performers include Mary Peach, Louis Burke, Carel Trichardt, Ann Wakefield, Lyn Hooker, Eckard Rabe, Dorothy-Ann Gould, Ellis Pearson, Brenda Radloff and, for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Richard Haines and Paul Spence.
Productions
1980: Archy's life of Mehitabel was presented by the Department of Speech and Drama, University of Natal, at the Square Space Theatre, adapted and directed by Ann Wakefield, May 1980.
Sources
McMurtry 2002.
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