Wim Vorster
Wim Vorster (1949-) is an actor, stage manager, playwright, translator, theatre arts administrator and archivist.
Contents
Biography
Wim Vorster was born in Kimberley on 6 September 1949, the eldest of three children. His parents were Johannes Henning Vorster and Debora Marais Badenhorst and his sisters are Debbie and Hanli. He spent his childhood in Warrenton in the Northern Cape and matriculated at Warrenton High School.
He studied drama at the University of Pretoria Drama Department graduating with a B.Dram. degree in 1975. His lecturers at the time included the likes of Anna Neethling-Pohl, Hannes Horne, Neels Hansen, Fred Steyn, Carel Trichardt.
Career
He joined PACOFS in 1974, initially working as an actor, later also as stage manager. He then lived in George for a while (1978 to 1983), where he produced and acted in a number of plays for Die Rederykers amateur company (e.g. Boerneef van Boplaas, Wimpelwerk and Skemerstories). He returned to Bloemfontein to become the manager of the Drama company manager and literary adviser for PACOFS (1989-1994). During 1994 he relocated to Johannesburg, where worked as a freelance actor/author for a while (1994 - 2000) and as executive manager of JATO (Johannesburgse Afrikaanse Toneelorganisasie) (1998-2000). He also served on numerous panels over the years, including as a patron of EADS (Edenvale Acting and Drama Society), an annual judge of their one-act competition for schools, the ATKV's judging panel for the final round of the Tienertoneel competition,
In June of 2000 he was appointed as Literary Rights administrator and Librarian by DALRO (Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation). His appointment ended in 2010, with a 5 month contract till May to train his successor.
He has received a number of accolades for his work, including the Piers Nicholson Award for his contribution to theatre in the Free State (1992) and a special Vita Award for his stage adaptations and translations (1993).
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Besides the various administrative positions noted above, Vorster also contributed substantially to the industry as creative and performing artist.
As actor for stage, film and TV
For SUKOVS he featured in The Jar (Pirandello), directed by Jannie Gildenhuys, Die Koningin en die Rebelle (Ugo Betti) directed by William Egan, Deathwatch (Jean Genet) directed by Johan Esterhuizen, Die Goeie Mens van Setzuan (Bertolt Brecht) directed by William Egan.
Appeared in and produced Boerneef van Boplaas, Wimpelwerk and Skemerstories for Die Rederykers in George (1978 to 1983)
Other stage roles include "Edward" in his own play Die Joburg Zoo Storie (regie Christo Compion)
As director/producer
Directed A.S. van Straten's Pendoring (Edms) Beperk (with Paul Lückhoff and Tess van Staden), Diensmeisies (Jean Genet), My Arme Marat (Alexei Arbuzov), .
As stage manager
Stage manager for the NAPAC production Edwardian Scrapbook directed by Malcolm Woolffson in 1977, SWAPAC for productions Harold en Maude (directed by Hannes Horne, with Anna Neethling-Pohl) for the celebration of her 80th birthday and Vettie, Vettie! in 1986,
As translator and playwright
His numerous Afrikaans translations include Diensmeisies (Jean Genet), Not Now Darling, It Runs In The Family, Chase Me, Comrade! (Ray Cooney) Oedipus (Hugo Claus), Die Kwinkslaers (Neil Simon's se The Sunshine Boys), Trainspotting (Irvine Welsh,) The Gypsy's Revenge (Michael Lambe), Miss Margarida's Way, (Roberto Athayde)
He also did a few English translations, inter alia of the Afrikaans stage version of Fiela se Kind, .
He also adapted a number of prose works for the stage, among them Die Verste Grens (Maretha Maartens), Maru (Bessie Head), Skraap (a one act dramatization of Tippex Dit Uit by Annemarie Conradie),
As a playwright he wrote a number of one-act and full length plays for both young people and adults. Among them are an African version of Medea (written at the behest of Jannie Gildenhuys, based on the versions by Euripides and Jean Anouilh in particular, but using an self-created African mythology). Other original plays are O, Hex!, Nagvoëls, Skimmespel (2005), Waterman (2006), Terugkere (2007), Smeltkroeg (2007), Pretpark (2008), Kruispad (2010), Nagmaal (2010), .
As archivist/historian
He founded the online Facebook page Teaterargief ("Theatre Archive"), which seeks to provide a history of South African theatre in pictures.
From 1978 to 1983 he lived in George and produced and acted in Boerneef van Boplaas, the thrillers Wimpelwerk and Skemerstories for Die Rederykers.
1989 - 1994 : Vertaling en regie van Diensmeisies (Jean Genet,) regie van My Arme Marat ( Alexei Arbuzov). Doen verskeie ander vertalings van toneelstukke: Not Now Darling, It Runs In The Family & Chase Me, Comrade! (Ray Cooney) Oedipus (Hugo Claus) en verwerkings van prosa vir die verhoog, bv. Die Verste Grens (Maretha Maartens,) Maru (Bessie Head) Ontvang in 1993 spesiale Vita-prys vir verhoogverwerkings en vertalings. Ontvang in 1992 Piers Nicholson Toekenning vir bydrae tot ontwikkeling van Toneel in die Vrystaat.
Doen regie van Pendoring (Edms) Beperk (A.S. van Straten) met Paul Lückhoff, Tess van Staden e.a. Skryf in opdrag van Jannie Gildenhuys =n Afrika weergawe van Medea vir drie spelers. Baseer dit op die weergawes van Euripides en veral Anouilh maar skep =n eie Afrika mitologie. Nomsa Xaba speel die naamrol met Isadora Verwey as haar verpleegster uit Europa en Pieter Brand as tweelingbroers Jason en Krion uit Griekeland. 1994 : Bedank by SUKOVS. Vertaal Neil Simon se The Sunshine Boys in Afrikaans as Die Kwinkslaers vir die Ernst Eloff Geselskap. Jannie Gildenhuys behartig regie. Bestuur geselskap tot en met September en verhuis dan na Johannesburg.
1994 - 2000 : Vryskut in Johannesburg. Uitvoerende Bestuurder van JATO (Johannesburgse Afrikaanse Toneelorganisasie) in 1998 en doen vir hulle regie van Jedan-Paul Sartre se Huis Clos onder die titel Agter Geslote Deure met Paul Lückhoff, Antoinette Kellermann en Rina Nienaber. Speel rol van Edward (saam met Alby Michaels as Albee) in die selfgeskrewe parodie Die Joburg Zoo Storie (regie Christo Compion)
Junie 2000 : Word aangestel by DALRO (Dramatiese, Artistieke & Letterkundige Regte Organisasie) as Outeursregadministrateur en Bibliotekaris. Skryf eenbedrywe vir skole, twee waarvan die eindrondes van ATKV Tienertoneel haal, t.w. O, Hex! en Nagvoëls. Vertaal die verhoogverwerking van Fiela se Kind in Engels. Vertaal Trainspotting (Irvine Welsh,) The Gypsy's Revenge (Michael Lambe) en Miss Margarida's Way (Roberto Athayde) in Afrikaans. Beoordeel jaarliks nuutgeskrewe tekste vir ATKV se CR Swart-prys (tot en met 2012)
April 2005 : Finalis in SANLAM Prys vir Afrikaanse Toneel met Skimmespel aangebied deur Tshwane Universiteit van Tegnologie te KKNK. Word beskermheer van EADS (Edenvale Acting & Drama Society) en beoordeel jaarliks hulle eenbedryf kompetisies vir skole. Gee ook werkswinkels vir die skole se regisseurs.
2006 Finalis in SANLAM Prys vir Afrikaanse Toneel met Waterman aangebied by Aardklop in September 2006 Potchefstroom
2007 : Finalis in SPAT met Terugkere aangebied by KKNK. Skryf eenbedryf vir ATKV Tienertoneel te wete Smeltkroeg.
2008 : Skryf eenbedryf vir solospeler te wete Pretpark. Dit word deur Hoërskool Jeugland aangebied in April 2008 by Reza de Wet-fees te Bloemfontein (wenner) en in Augustus vir ATKV Tienertoneel. Vertaling van Jean Genet se Les Bonnes (Diensmeisies) word by KKNK, Volksbladfees en Aardklop opgevoer . Dien op Performing Arts & Music Panel for Gauteng Province.
2009 : Verwerk Tippex Dit Uit (Annemarie Conradie) as eenbedryf vir tieners onder titel Skraap. Dien op ATKV se beoordelaarpaneel vir finaal van Tienertoneel te Aardklop.Skryf nuwe drama Kruispad. 31 Desember 2009 tree amptelik af by DALRO.
2010 : Kontrak by DALRO tot einde Mei om nuwe persoon op te lei. Skryf Nagmaal vir Tienertoneel. Repeteer hierna aan Kruispad. Voorskou te Wits en dan 11 aanbiedings by Grahamstad Nasionale Kunstefees. Tema is die vervlakking en vermorsing van Afrikaans as taal.Dien op ATKV se paneel beoordelaars van Tienertoneel vir streke en met finaal tydens. Aardklop. Skryf Vaas in opdrag van Hoërskool Jan Viljoen. Skryf eenbedryf Steriel vir twee matriekseuns. November begin as Admin Hoof by Kosie House of Theatre. Skryf dialoogteks vir Mr Gay South Africa pageant. Dien op KKNK Kunstekabinet en Kannapaneel 2011 : Dien weer op KKNK Kunstekabinet en Kannapaneel,Tree op as ATKV beoordelaar. Skryf en tree op in Kuifman – vertellings oor eie lewe – by verskeie feeste en venues. Skryf verskeie tekste, persverklarings ens. Vir Kosie House of Theatre Werksaam by Art & Framing vanaf September. Skryf weer teks vir Mnr Gay Suid-Afrika pageant. 2012 : Skryf nuwe teks vir 3 spelers Alleensaam. Dien weer op KKNK Kunstekabinet en Kannapaneel. September verlaat Art & Framing. Verhuis na Heidelberg, WesKaap 2013 : Begin Wim Vorster Toneelskool te Heidelberg
He has also acted on television, radio and film.
Translated the Russian play Chase me, Comrade! into Afrikaans as Vat So!
Sources
Correspondence from Wim Vorster
https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wim_Vorster
Go to the ESAT Bibliography
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