UKOVS Dramatiese Vereniging

Acronym for Die Universiteits Kollege van die Oranje Vrystaat Dramatiese Vereniging ("The University College of the Orange Free State Dramatic Society").

Grey Universiteits Kollege Toneelvereniging (GUK Toneelvereniging)

A dramatic society for staff and students founded at the Grey University College in 1911 "to promote social life among Afrikaans students in Bloemfontein", under the leadership of Prof A. Francken. In 1913 for example they did a production of Francken's play Susanna Reyniers, with three professors taking part as actors. One of them was the author D.F Malherbe.

GUK Dramatic Society

In 1919 it came under leadership of Eric Moortens (Maartens?*) and took the name the GUK Dramatic Society. The main aim was ostensibly to promote Afrikaans and English theatre, but a real purpose proved to be the recruiting of students for the almost insolvent College at the time. Their first production (1920) was Die Koerantskrywers ("The Newspaper Reporters" by Gustav Freitag, translated by J.F.W Grosskopf), which undertook a tour through the Orange Free State and the Transvaal accompanied by a 9-member orchestra. In 1929 members like D.F. Malherbe, Benedictus Kok, Abraham Fischer, Bailey Bekker and P.J. Meyer appeared in plays such as Meester (by D.F. Malherbe), As die tuig skawe (J.W.Grosskopf) en Die Swart Kat (D.C. Postma) under the guidance of H. van der Merwe-Scholz, again touring the province.

UKOVS Dramatiese Vereniging

In 1937, when the college changed its name to the University College of the Orange Free State, the society became the UKOVS Dramatiese Vereniging ("UCOFS Dramatic Society")

Universiteits Toneelbeweging (UTB)

in 1950 when the college became a fully fledged university, the dramatic Organisation became known simply as the UTB (Universiteits Toneelbeweging = "University Theatre Movement"). With the inauguration of the UOFS Drama Department under Jo Gevers in 1965 the UTB initially flourished because directors could be drawn from its ranks and tours undertaken. Memorable directors from this period were Jo Gevers and Henk Hugo with plays such as Jakkalstreke van Scapino ("Fox tricks of Scapin": Moliere) and Charley's Aunt (Brandon Thomas). The UTB ceased to exist just after 1970. (AW)

Return to

Return to South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page