Huis van sand
Huis van sand by Dianne du Toit Albertze (19**-)
Huis van sand ("House of sand") is an Afrikaans drama set in a caravan park outside Springbok in Namaqualand. Sandy has given up a wandering life along the N7 to raise Babs in Rodney's caravan; years later Babs, a teacher at the local primary school, cannot escape what she has inherited. The play deals with poverty, violence and the trauma passed from mother to daughter.
Contents
The original text
The material began as the author's second novel before she reworked it for the stage. She wrote the central role of Sandy for Tinarie van Wyk Loots, to whom the play is dedicated. Huis van sand won the inaugural Reinet Nagtegaal Text Prize in 2025, the largest text-writing competition in South Africa, revived in 2024 in collaboration with the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees; the award carried prize money*, mentorship and support in finalising the text, and a performance run at that year's festival. The judging panel, which included the playwright Nico Scheepers, cited the text's use of theatrical technique, its minimal set design and its physical performance. First published by Human & Rousseau, Cape Town, 2025. In 2026 the text was nominated for a kykNET Fiësta for best newly created Afrikaans or South African text. The play forms part of a projected Namaqualand trilogy.
Translations and adaptations
None traced*.
Performance history in South Africa
2025: First staged at the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, 11-17 October, at kykNET Rhenish Girls' High, running 90 minutes; a Woordfees production supported by NATi. Directed and lit by Wolf Britz, with set and properties by Stefan Benade, costumes by Birrie le Roux, stage management by Morag Tison, assistant stage management by Eddie Newman and production management by Brechmari van Wyk. The cast was Tinarie van Wyk Loots (Sandy), René Cloete, Kristen Raath and Jefferson J. Dirks-Korkee. The run sold out. At the 2025 Woordtrofees, René Cloete was named best supporting actress and Jefferson J. Dirks-Korkee best supporting actor; both went on to win the equivalent kykNET Fiësta awards.
2026: Performed at the Suidoosterfees, kykNET Teater, Cape Town, 30 April and 1 May.
Sources
Griebenow, Marina. 2025. 'Ons change die narrative van Namakwaland', INK (Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees), 16 October 2025.
'Persverklaring: Nagtegaal-tekspryswenner Dianne du Toit Albertze betower met "uitmuntende tegniek"', LitNet, 6 May 2025.
'Woordtrofees-wenners vir 2025 bekend', Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, 14 November 2025.
'Bekroonde produksies volop by Suidoosterfees', Maroela Media, 29 April 2026.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to H in Plays I Original SA Plays
Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
