Schalk Theron

Schalk Theron (1912-) Actor, playwright, director, theatre administrator and nature conservationist.

Biography

Born Schalk Willem Theron on 2 September 1912, the second child of the headmaster of Mooirivier Primary School in Potchefstroom, and matriculated during the depression years and due to the bad economic situation was unemployed for three years.

In 1935 he joined the civil service and subsequently worked in the departments of Native Affairs, Education and Bantu Affairs in various cities in the Union of South Africa, including Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth.

In 1964 he was appointed by the then administrator of the Orange Free State, Sand du Plessis, as head of drama of PACOFS (Performing Arts Council of the Orange Free State) in 1964 and later become Director (-1978).

Theron retired in 1978 and moved to Oubos in the Eastern Cape, keeping himself busy with nature conservation matters.

The park warden granted him permission to patrol the northern section of the Tsitsikamma National Park on a regular basis and thus he became the first unofficial honorary ranger of SANParks. He never married. At the age of 99 he changed his will on the advice of close family members Mechiel and Rinette Boshoff, stipulating that a trust, the Schalk Theron Trust, be formed and all proceeds be used to benefit students in nature conservation through bursaries.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

In the 1930s he wrote a few plays and went on to found the Sonop Afrikaner Kring with Dirk de Villiers and other friends formed, which led on to the founding of JAATS (Johannesburg Afrikaanse Amateur Spelers) atheatrical company. Founder of the in 1939 and JAATS.

Plays he wrote include Die Goue Tempel (1942); he translated Fadren into Afrikaans entitled Die Vader.

Role of Luke in Die Buffel, FATSSA Play Festival 1951. Other roles include The Happiest Days of Your Life, Die Spaanse Vlieg, Die Laaste van die Takhare, Die Kaskenades van Dokter Kwak, Ampie.

Directed Die Ongeluksvoël (for Sonop Afrikaner Kring), Verkiesing Sonder Politiek!, Die Gebreekte Kruik (1953).

He also acted in a couple of films and did some TV and radio work. Roles included "Mankadan" in Simon Beyers (late 1940s).

Head of Drama for PACOFS (1964-196*) , later Director of PACOFS (196*-196*).

Sources

Die Volksblad, 16 July 1992.

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