Playwright | Willem van der Walt
Willem has written a number of musicals and radio plays in English and Afrikaans. Two of his plays were performed at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown (“Kaapse Blues” and “Jonah”) and “Animals” (based on Orwell’s classic) that is doing the rounds in South African schools.
16 of Willem’s radio plays have been broadcast by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). One of his radio plays, “The Edge of Silence”, dealing with the first man in space, has been broadcast many times since 1986. Another, “Mwindo”, dramatizing an ancient Congolese ritual, won the Best Production prize.
The musical Animals was conceived and first performed in the early-1980s. It is based on George Orwell’s Animal Farm and is arguably the most relevant satire of our time. In the year 2000 Animals was refurbished and has been performed by many schools in South Africa including Bloemhopf Meisies Skool (Stellenbosch), Hottentots-Holland High School (Somerset West), Rustenburg Girls High School (Rondebosch), High School for Girls (Potchefstroom) and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa in September 2012:
Musically, it has a wide range of styles.
Dramatically, there is rhythmic choral speech and movement sequences. There is opportunity for imaginative costume design.
For more detail: www.musicals-sa.co.za
(The radio play was awarded Best Production of the Year by the South African Broadcasting Corporation, but is unperformed on stage)
The Nyanga tribe in the Kivu Province of the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, annually perform the ancient ritual-narrative of the epic of Mwindo. This ritual, performed at regular intervals over six months, portrays the magical boy-child who will inherit the kingdom from his father. The play may be seen as an appeal for the wholehearted acceptance of the rising generation. Figures of women – feminine energy – play a big role in the narrative. The play is a free adaptation of the epic.
Source: A.M. Josephy (ed.): The Horizon History of Africa [American Heritage Publishing Co. Inc. New York, 1971]
There are 25 speaking roles in the play. The play may be produced with more performers or with fewer – some of the roles may be doubled by performers. The king Shemwindo and Mwindo are the main roles.
There is opportunity for sequences of stylized movement, choral verse and of dancing. There is singing and the creating of sound effects with voice and percussive instruments. The play may be produced in ritual form; that is, the cast retires to the edge of the playing area and do not disappear into the wings. Throughout the play the cast contributes to the atmosphere in various ways from the sidelines, when not taking part.
The play portrays scenes of magic and scenes of domestic realism. The duration of 30 to 40 minutes depends on production decisions; for example, the length of songs or movement sequences.
The story of Jonah has been adapted for the stage with music and lyrics by Willem van der Walt. The music varies from the rollicking to the elegaic. There is rhythmic choral speech and opportunity for creative movement. As a 25-minute play it may be rehearsed for a month and form part of a service. It is light-hearted without being flippant and has been an inspiration to audiences and players alike.
Jonah premiered at the Kalfie Fees at Onrus, Hermanus, Cape, in August, 2004. It was performed by students of the Northlink Drama Department, Tygerberg campus, in the cathedral at the Grahamstown Festival during July 2005 and at many church services. This was directed by Helen van Eeden.
Gideon, a tale of a sceptic, has been adapted for stage with lyrics and music by Willem van der Walt. The music varies from beat to hymnal. There is choral verse together with opportunities for movement sequences.
As a 25-minute play it may be rehearsed for a month and performed as part of a service. The tone varies from the comic (without being shallow) to the serious.
In die Land van die Blindes (unperformed)
Op soek na ‘n musiekspel?
Hierdie is ‘n vrye verwerking van die klassieke / satiriese kortverhaal deur H.G. Wells. Die stuk is ryk aan dramatiese moontlikhede, met spanning, humor en patos. Dit bied ‘n uitdaging vir ‘n regisseur en vir jong verhoogkunstenaars.
Kortliks: die stuk gaan oor Nuñez, ‘n berggids uit Peru, wat van sy klimgroep tydens ‘n storm in die verradelike Andes-gebergtes wegdwaal. Hy beland in die legendariese land van die Blindes wat deur die eeue weens ‘n ongewone siekte blind gelaat is. Hier, meen hy, sal hy koning kan word, maar hy word gou ontnugter. Intussen raak hy verlief op die jong vrou Medina, wat kritiek van die inwoners uitlok en hom in ‘n onmoontlike dilemma plaas.
Die temas wat die stuk bestryk is Enkeling teenoor Samelewing; self-tevredenheid en nederigheid; die perke van die Wetenskap; xenofobie; tradisie en vernuwing; waardering vir die skepping.
Die musiek sluit in ‘n tango, ‘n “beat”-hooftema, liefdes- en spotliedere, asook ‘n ritmiese spraakkoor. Daar is geleentheid vir spelers om hul kreatiwieteit uit te leef by wyse van ‘n slag- instrumente-toneel, beweging en choreografie, kostumering en grimering.
Die oorspronklike musiek en lirieke is geskryf deur Willem van der Walt wat ook die Afrikaanse verwerking van die verhaal vir die verhoog gedoen het. Die musiek is genoteer en verwerk deur Allan Stephenson wat ook bykomende musiek verskaf het.
Willem van der Walt is ‘n afgetrede drama- en taalonderwyser. Hy het ‘n geruime tyd aan jeugteater in skole toegewy en het self op die professionele verhoog opgetree. Sy ander skryfwerk sluit in kortverhale, radio-dramas en ‘n jeug-roman. “In die Land van die Blindes” is sy vierde musiekspel.
Allan Stephenson is een van Suid-Afrika se welbekenste komponiste en dirigente. Hy het jare as lid van Kruik- en Kaapse Simfonie-orkeste opgetree. Sy werke word ook in Britanje, Europa en Amerika opgevoer.
Willem van der Walt ©
Swart-en-Wit: enkele beelde
Twee gedigte uit die Franse Weerstand
Paul Éluard (1895 – 1952)