Universiteit van Stellenbosch Drama Departement

("University of Stellenbosch Drama Department") Originally called the Universiteit van Stellenbosch Departement Drama ("University of Stellenbosch Department of Drama") , but since 2008 known the University is formally known as Stellenbosch Universiteit or Stellenbosch University, hence the name of the department is now Stellenbosch Universiteit Drama Departement Stellenbosch University Drama Department.

This is the oldest of the three original Afrikaans-language university based drama training institutions in the country, and has played a significant role in the development of the theatre industry in the country. It had its origins in the Stellenbosch Conservatoire of Music, where classes in speech and elocution were introduced in 1913. This gradually developed to formal course in speech under *** in 193*?, with formal plays being put on as part of the training programme. In 19** this evolved into a B.A subject*? Taught by Miss **** and Mr Robert Mohr, with mr Mohr’s fine productions being particularly memorable. It was in fact he who introduced the foirst BA degree with Drama as a subject. In 196*, when Mr Mohr left Stellenbosch for the University of Cape Town, the University appointed the Belgian director and teacher Fred Engelen as first chair of the new Department of Drama. Prof Engelen brought in a number of specialists including his wife, the actress Tine Balder, theatre manager Jos Willemse and director and actor/director Benoni de Haeck. Having originally been housed in the Hollandse Saal (“Dutch Hall”) of the old Chemistry Department, the Department in 1966 acquired the H.B. Thom Theatre complex, with Emile Aucamp as first technician. In 1966* after Prof Engelen’s unexpected death, the Department was briefly run by Prof **Trümpelmann * of the German Department, before Prof Fred le Roux was appointed head and director of the theatre in 196*. He retired in 1979*?, to be replaced by Herman Pretorius, under whose rule the Afrikaans “kabaret” was developed and honed with the help of Hennie Aucamp, educational theatre gained a strong foothold and the Centre for Theatre and Performance Studies was founded by Temple Hauptfleisch. In 1995 Pretorius resigned and was replaced by Hauptfleisch. The Department now began to develop a strong post-graduate and research profile, with the South African Theatre Journal being published there and post-graduate student numbers growing rapidly. In 2001 the Nigerian born theatre academic and writer/director Kole Omotoso was appointed as a second professor in the Department for a three year contract (2001-2003) and in 2002 Julian Smith (a Vice Rector of the University) was also made a professor in the Department. In 2004 Edwin Hees became an associate professor in charge of the theory and film courses and post-graduate supervision. In 2006 Marie Kruger was elected as Chair, while Temple Hauptfleisch became the full-time director of the Centre for Theatre and Performance Studies. The permanent the staff over the years have featured Jo Gevers, Gisela Taeger, Rina Botha, ****, Johann van Heerden, Noel Roos, Christopher Goetsch, Juanita Swanepoel, Marie Kruger, Johan Esterhuizen, Ilona Frege, Kobus Roussouw, Kole Omotoso, Samantha Pienaar, Elrina Marais, Albert Snyman, Abduragman Adams, Mareli Pretorius, Zoettje Hofmeyr, Petrus du Preez, *. The department has always also made use of prominent figures from the industry as lecturers and guest directors. Theatre personalities who have studied there include Limpie Basson, Esther van Ryswyk, Wilma Stockenström, Pieter Fourie, Johann van Heerden, Johan (JJ) Fourie, Franz Marx, Woutrine Theron, Laurika Rauch, Roberta Durrant, Johan Esterhuizen, Antoinette Kellerman, , Dawid Minnaar, Elsabe Daneel, Ilse Roos, Casper de Vries, Herman Binge, Antoinette Pienaar, Charl-Johan Lingenfelder, Paul du Toit, Chris Vorster, Nina Swart, Ilana Africa, Duncan Johnstone, June Van Mersch, Anton Luitingh, Jenny Stead, Gaerin Hauptfleisch, Jaco Bouwer, Neels van Jaarsveld, Stian Bam. Among the later academic alumni are puppetry and voice specialist Marie Kruger, radio specialist Eben Cruywagen, film specialists Keith Bain, Julia Cain , and André Crous, theatre for development specialist Christopher Odhiambo Joseph and the critics and historians Yvette Hutchison, Johann van Heerden and Petrus du Preez.

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