Ben Dehaeck

DEHAECK, Benoni (Ben). (29/12/1922 - ) Belgium born lawyer, property owner, actor, mime artist, puppeteer, director, playwright, lecturer in the University of Stellenbosch, Department of Drama (1965 – 1987), founder and director of the Breughel Theatre Group. Born in Roebrugge-Haringhe, trained at Katholieke Universiteit van Leuven as lawyer. An advocate in Ghent till 1965, then came to South Africa as drama lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch.

Author of plays such as Die Ballade van Rama en Mara (first performance 1975); Lucy Strata (Joint winner at the Kellerprinz-Drama Festival, 1986), Die Koningin en die Nar (1987 ATKV Kampustoneel and H.B. Thom Theatre); Commedia Rituale (1991 ATKV Kampustoneel and Breughel Theatre); Die Wraak van Ex-koningin Bobbit (1994, awarded best youth drama in Afrikaans by the Department of Education and Culture in the Western Cape); Die Gangsters (1997, toured Belgium); Die Komiese Danser (1999).

Performed leading roles in many H.B. Thom productions such as Macbeth (1967, directed by Fred Engelen); Legende van die Liefde (1979, directed by Ria Olivier); Germanicus (1971, directed by Ria Olivier); Die Streke van Reinaard die Vos (1977, directed by Herman Pretorius); Noag (1979, directed by Jannie Gildenhuys).

Directed H.B. Thom productions such as Yerma (1966); Koning Ubu (1968); Die Jakkalsstreke van Scapino (1986). For the Libertas Theatre Club he performed in Ionesco's The Lesson (1975). Directed many productions for the Breughel Theatre, including a number of his own works (see above). Received a Vita Award in 1990 for his contribution to drama training and community theatre in the Western Cape and a Fleur du Cap Lifetime Award in 1997 for the same reason. (See also Breughel Theatre Group.)

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