Danie Burger
(1946-) Stage actor, translator and director.
Contents
Biography
Training
Studied Drama at the University of Pretoria, completing a B.A. in Drama. Later did an Honours degree in Directing under Robert Mohr, at the University of Cape Town.
Career
He started working as a male nurse, then worked in the city administration of Pretoria, while doing part-time acting and directing. In this time he and Pieter Brand co-founded Dinkteater ("Think Theatre"), an experimental theatre workshop, in Pretoria in the 1970s, using semi-professional and amateur performers in avant garde productions, heavily influenced by the work of Peter Brooke and Grotowsky.
He then resigned his job and went to Cape Town to do an Hons BA at the University of Cape Town. On completing his studies he joined the PACOFS drama company in 1983 as actor and director, before taking up a permanent administrative position in the Municipality of Durban.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
For Dinkteater he directed a number of Afrikaans versions of Elizabethan and Jacobean plays (e.g. The Duchess of Malfi, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore ), as well more contemporary works by Ionesco (Exit the King), Cristofer (The Shadow Box) and others. He also directed a number of original new Afrikaans plays for them, including Bloedlyn (197*) and Wie is Leopold? (197*) both by Temple Hauptfleisch and Die Duiwel, sy handlanger en die drie ligtekooie by Marlene van Niekerk (197*).
For PACOFS he acted in Julius Caesar, Laat-Februarie 1922, Taraboemdery, Twaalfde Nag, Babbelkous!, Die Hand vol Vere, Vettie, Vettie!. He directed As die Nefie kom Kuier, and assisted as director for Charley se Tante.
He translated and adapted plays such as The Duchess of Malfi, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore and The Shadow Box into Afrikaans.
Awards, etc
Sources
National Arts Festival programme, 1985.
Personal records of Temple Hauptfleisch and Karina Hauptfleisch
Go to the ESAT Bibliography
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