Pieter Fourie (1940-) se bydrae as Afrikaanse dramaturg en kunstebestuurder: 1965-2010

Abstract

English: In this descriptive study, it was found that Pieter Fourie’s development as playwright cannot be separated from the changing socio-political, religious dogma and economic circumstances in South Africa during his childhood years, as a student, and as a creative theatre artist. The influence of fellow artists, lecturers and philosophers, and the situation and development in the world of the theatre to which he was exposed as an artist, including the influence of it on his development as an individual and writer, his involvement as professional theatre artist from 1940 to 2011, as producer and actor (1965-2005), as arts administrator at CAPAB (1957- 1986) and KKNK (1994-1999) are examined chronologically. The research problem, methodology and research design and ethical consideration are explained in short in this study. The playwright’s role as folk theatre and informal historian within time bound, geographical and demographical systems is clarified. How these systems are reflected in the playwright’s work is investigated. In addition, the development and functioning of internal theatre systems within which the theatre artist finds himself is explained. The influence of external systems, such as politics, religion, censorship, etc. on his life as an individual, artist and theatre administrator, is discussed. In this biographical description, Fourie’s personal and artistic career is discussed chronologically. The main corpus of the study undertakes a critical investigation of all his published plays, as well as the professional staging of these plays by several theatre institutions. Fourie’s career, initially as folk theatre writer in the realistic style and later as highly respected playwright, whose experimentation in Afrikaans drama is seen as shifting boundaries, is discussed in detail utilising literary publications, reviews and personal interviews with Fourie and other roleplayers. The study concludes that Fourie was exceptionally successful in writing accessible folk theatre, despite how innovative his work was with regards to style and content. In retrospect, his work was often predictive in nature or he fearlessly placed on stage the true political and social circumstances in the country. His work clearly can be seen as that of an informal historian. Finally, the study mentions the numerous accolades he received, with the highlight being the Hertzog Prize for Drama and the Honorary Doctorate (D.Litt.) in Drama and Theatre Arts from the University of the Free State.

Afrikaans: In hierdie beskrywende studie word bevind dat Pieter Fourie se ontwikkeling as dramaturg nie los gesien kan word van die veranderende sosio-politieke, religieuse dogma en ekonomiese omstandighede in Suid-Afrika tydens sy jare as kind, as student en as skeppende teaterkunstenaar nie. Die invloed van medekunstenaars, dosente en filosowe en die stand en ontwikkeling in die teaterwêreld waaraan hy as kunstenaar blootgestel is, asook die invloed daarvan op sy ontwikkeling as mens en skrywer, sy betrokkenheid as professionele teaterkunstenaar vanaf 1940 tot 2011 as regisseur en speler (1965-2005), as kunste-administrateur by KRUIK (1957-1986) en KKNK (1994-1999) word kronologies onder die loep geneem. Die hoofsaaklik kwalitatiewe en etnografiese navorsing fokus daarop om Pieter Fourie se rol as volksteater- en informele geskiedskrywer, binne tydgebonde-, geografiese- en demografiese sisteme, op te klaar. Hoe hierdie sisteme neerslag vind in die dramaturg se werk word ondersoek. Ook die ontwikkeling van en werkinge van die interne teatersisteme waarbinne die teaterkunstenaar hom bevind word verduidelik. Die invloed van eksterne sisteme soos politiek, religie, sensuur ens. op sy lewe as mens, kunstenaar en teateradministrateur, word bespreek. In dié biografiese beskrywing word Fourie se persoonlike en artistieke loopbaan kronologies bespreek. Die hoofkorpus van die studie onderneem ‘n kritiese ondersoek na al sy gepubliseerde dramas asook die professionele opvoerings daarvan deur verskeie teaterinstansies. Aan die hand van literêre publikasies, resensies en persoonlik onderhoude met Fourie en ander betrokkenes, word Fourie se loopbaan, as aanvanklik volksteaterskrywer in die realistiese styl, tot ‘n mees gerespekteerde dramaturg, wie se eksperimentering in die Afrikaanse drama grensverskuiwend was, in detail bespreek. Die slotsom van die studie is dat Fourie uitstekend daarin geslaag het om, ongeag die vernuwing in sy werk wat styl en inhoud betref, steeds toeganklike volksteater kon skryf. In retrospeksie was sy werk dikwels voorspellend van aard of het hy vreesloos die ware politieke en sosiale omstandighede in die land op die verhoog geplaas. Sy werk kan duidelik as informele geskiedskrywing beskou word. Die studie noem ten laaste die vele bekronings waarmee hy vereer is, waarvan die Hertzogprys vir drama en die eredoktorsgraad (D.Litt.) in Drama en Teaterkuns deur die Universiteit van die Vrystaat die kroon span.