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Prof Nico Luwes
Nico Luwes completed his B.A. (Drama and Theatre Arts) in 1976 with majors in Drama and Theatre Arts, Afrikaans and Dutch at the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein. He was a professional actor at PACOFS (1977 and 1978). He completed his B.A Hons. (Drama and Theatre Arts) in 1978 at the same University. In 1979 he was appointed as Drama and Theatre Arts lecturer at the Kroonstad Technical College. In 1980 he was appointed as junior lecturer at the Drama and Theatre Arts Department at UFS, in 1982 promoted to lecturer and after obtaining his M.A. (Drama and Theatre Arts) at UFS in 1987 was promoted to senior lecturer. He was appointed as head of the department from 1990 to 2019 and filled the post of Program Director as well from 2002 to 2014. He was promoted to associate professor in 2002 and to full professor in 2018. He obtained his Ph.D. (Drama and Theatre Arts) in 2012 that were rewarded with the D.F. Malan Prize for best Post-graduate thesis.
As study leader and promotor, he delivered 35 candidates with M.A. theses and 6 PhD dissertation candidates. He acted as external examiner for 29 M.A. and Ph.D. candidates from other Universities. He published five chapters in academic books, articles in SATJ and reviewed various articles for SATJ. He delivered a keynote speech at TUT, presented various workshops and delivered papers at SA Akademie conferences, the Erfenisstigting among others.
He serves as panel member for the NRF for ratings and as panel member for evaluation DHET 2016 Research Outputs. He is Chair of the Arts Commission of the S.A. Academy for Arts, Science and Culture, Internal moderator for Dramatic Arts for Dept. of Education and board member of the Free State Arts Festival. He served on the panels for artistic evaluation of new dramas for the Sanlam Spat prize, the Nagtegaal Prize and Vryfees productions. As head of the department he obtained third stream income of R 6 279 320 from the NAC, NLDTF and ATKV for student bursaries, seed money for new productions and as chair for numerous professional productions by Free State Theatre Acts (FACTS), a professional theatre group he initiated in 2005.
Nico Luwes is professional actor and playwright with 6 published plays and more than 34 plays and various translations of plays to his credit performed at Arts Councils in SA and at National Arts Festivals, including KKNK, Aardklop, Suid-Ooster, Vryfstaatkunstefees, Woordfees, Grahamstown Festival and Innibos Kunstefees and the Chekhov Theatre in Pavlodar, Kazaksthan. As professional director of more than 100 productions, including 2 international productions, various of his new plays and other productions directed were rewarded at National Arts festivals. Awards include a Vita award for playwriting, Sanlam Prize for best drama, Zollie in 2006, best directing award for Lewensreg in 2007, best Free State Festival productions like Renosters in 2011, Tsjekof-triptiek in 2015 and Suiker in 2016. Awards include the Piers Nicolson for his contribution to theatre in 1992, as Volksblad Free State Artist of the Year in 2004 and nominated as Bloemfontein Citizen of the Year in 2006.
Third stream grants obtained: Since 1979 to date Nico obtained R 8 173 320 (Last 5 years R1 055 260 and last 3 years R 595 000) third stream grants for the Drama department. These include bursaries for graduate and post-graduate drama students, post-graduate academic internships, departmental and professional artistic theatre projects undertaken by the department, National Artistic prizes won with departmental productions, personal NAC grants for writing new plays and/or for directing student and semi-professional productions in the drama department and for community service work initiated from within the drama department at UFS. Grants were obtained from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (LDTF), the National Arts Council (NAC) National Research Foundation (NRF), the Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuurvereninging (ATKV), the S.A. Akademie, the Department of Health (FS Government) and Glaxo/Welcome
BACCALAUREUS ARTIUM HONORES
as outstanding S.A. Playwright
Piers Nicolson Award
for his contribution to theatre
Sanlam Prize for Afrikaans Theatre
Nomination: Knorries en die Krisis
Klein Karoo National Arts Festival / Sanlam
Best Production – Zollie
Best Production – Lewensreg
Best Debut Production
Nomination: Die Kaskenades van Kees Kieswetter
– Die dooie ou dônner
Best Free State Production
Best Production:Die Renosters
Best Free State Debut Production
Best Production: Tsjechof triptiek
Compiler and director
Best Production: Suiker
Artistic Research Outputs
El Grando de Coco-Cola
Charlie se Tante
Kalkoen se kind
The effect of gamma rays on man on the moon marigolds
Adaptation / Director / Designer
Aag Gee Visser ‘n kans!
Writer / Director / Actor / Designer
Aku vang ‘n ster
Die buite-egtelike ouma
Drie bruide vir Jan Ramdam
‘n Kwessie van verbeelding
My liewe Meneer Malan
Die huis van Maria Malan
Translator / Director / Designer
‘n Lam vir die Pase
Die Mure van Jerigo
Adaptation / Director / Designer / Actor
Die Premier se Toedeldoe
Semumu – die Stomme
Limerieke Sonder Brieke
Adaptation / Director / Actor / Designer
Music composition, Writer / Director / Designer
Die wind sal nooit weer ophou waai nie
Director / Actor / Designer
Seder val in Waterkloof
Romeo and Juliet in Russian
Co-Translator / Director / Designer
Limerieke Sonder brieke 2
Lam vir die Pase,
Writer, Director / Designer
Adaptation, Director / Designer
Die Knorries en die krisis
Buite-egtelike Ouma - In Russian
The Silent Harmonica
Disciplinary Hearings (Video text)
Maaltyd vir een
Translator / Director / Actor
Die Bobaas van die Boendoe
Kaskenades van Kees Kieswetter – Die dooie ou dônner
The Fantastics (Huckelbee)
Die skadelike effek van twak
‘n Tragiese kêrel - teen wil en dank
n Snoekie vir my Sweetheart
Is die ‘bar’ al oop?
Written Research Output
? Vyf-en-twintig jaar perspektief op die impak van veranderende omstandighede vir die Afrikaanse teater.
Lenz, R & Moloi, K
Finding identity and meaning in the face of despair: Athol Fugard`s Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act
Early African Entertainments Abroad in SATJ: South African Theatre Journal, Jan 2018, Vol 31, Issue 2-3
Jollie Patrollie – ‘n Komedie
Pieter Fourie se stormjare by Kruik
‘n Post mortem rondom Post Mortem
Artist Management as a Career
Die troue – ‘n Komedie
Karen Meiring - dromer en doener: profile in Plus 50, Mar 2016, Vol 11
Is die bar al oop?
Finding your tongue as cook and playwright: the case of Ryk Hattingh’s Eensnaar in The Translator, 21:3
‘n Snoekie vir my sweetheart – ‘n komiese vertaling en verwerking
Portrait of an Afrikaner revolutionary: Harry Kalmer`s The Bram Fischer Waltz"
‘n Boudjie van my vroutjie! - ‘n Kort, komiese, tong-in-die-kies eenbedryf
Die tandetrekker - ‘n Kort eenbedryf
Swanesang - ? Eenbedryf
Tragiese kêrel - teen wil en dank!
Pieter Fourie (1940-) se bydrae as Afrikaanse dramaturg en kunstebestuurder: 1965-2010
Reality Check - An HIV/AIDS prevention play
Die kaskenades van Koos Kieswetter (die dooie ou donner) - `n kort klug
Die draaijakkalse! - `n kort klug vir twee
Die nag van die hiëna – ‘n moordriller
Luwes, N. &
van Jaarsveld, A
Deon Opperman in Perspektief en Profiel: ‘n Afrikaanse Literatuurgeskiedenis. Deel 3
Deon Opperman (1962 -) in Perspektief en Profiel: ‘n Afrikaanse literatuurgeskiedenis. Tweede Uitgawe Deel 2
Aku vang `n ster
Limericke sonder brieke
Die Knorries en die Krisis - ‘n Komedie in 8 tonele
Maaltyd vir een - ? Klug
Crisis in Golden Years
Waaihoek se Vinkel en Koljander - `n komedie met musiek
Piet se tante / komedie
Skroot - `n historiese oorlogsdrama
Alfie-Romeo en Prinses Julietta - Die Mare en die Vette
Ipekonders - `n komedie
The illegitimate granny
My liewe Meneer Malan - `n komedie
Die waterwyser - `n boereklug
`n Kwessie van verbeelding! - `n komedie van tieners of studente
Tameletjie op Tamatiespoort, of Drie bruide vir Jan Ramdam - `n klug
International Theatreschool Festival in South African Theatre Journal; January 1997, Vol. 11 Issue: 1
Oepsie - ‘n Komedie
Du Plessis, H &
Van Rensburg, M
Is daar Muse? in Lantern Vol. 44, Iss 3, Spring, 1, 1995
Oepsie!! - `n politieke komedie
`n Lam vir die pase
Visuele kommunikasie tydens `n toneelopvoering
Die buite-egtelike ouma - `n Komedie
Graswewenaar – ‘n Komedie
B.A. (Drama and Theatre Arts)
DRAT1605 – Theories of the Performing Arts 1
Unit – Eastern Theatre
THEP2606 – Performance Art 2
THEP3700 – Performance Art 3
B.A. Hons (Drama and Theatre Arts)
DTHPW 6808 - Playwriting
M.A. (Drama and Theatre Arts)
DRMM8900 – Dissertation Drama and Theatre Arts
Ph.D. (Drama and Theatre Arts)
Post-graduate Supervision [M.A. & Ph.D.]
MA (Drama and Theatre Arts)
Theatre Safety – a case study
Die opkoms van die die matriarg in geslekteerde dramas van Pieter Fourie
Minimizing limitations associated with the spoken word in theatre through physicality: A theoretical exploration of physicality and theatre semiotics in selected theatre performances
Gerben Kamper’s life, work and contribution to the Theatre 1972 – 2014.
Die neerslag, al dan nie, van geloofsbeskouinge in geselekteerde Afrikaanse dramas (1948 – 1992).
Emblematic features of fictional female Afrikaner characters in selected South African TV and theatre productions
A narrative journey of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder:
the effect of structured drama intervention on functionality in education
Athol Fugard: A Landscape of the Heart – A New Perspective
All-Dimension Surround Sound in the 3D Film Era
Drama-aktiwiteite van KRUIK in 1971 teenoor Kunstekaap in 2011: ‘n Vergelykende studie.
Improving English Literacy within the Deaf community by practicing Deaf Theatre techniques
Why is dance a representation of welcome?
Change of title pending
Die fundamentele grondbeginsels in die skepping van liggaamlike bewustheid vir die akteur.
‘n Kwalitatiewe ondersoek na die dinamiek van teaterkonvensies binne die konteks van metatekstuele analise
Die riller as genre in Afrikaanse dramatekste.
Teoretiese oorwegings by die daarstel van beoordelingskriteria vir Afrikaanse toneelkompetisies. Die Nagtegaalprys as gevallestudie
Die identiteit van die Afrikanerman soos weerspe?l in Afrikaanse dramas: 1904-2004
Black female directors in South African theatres: 1992 -2008
The current state of drama and theatre in Lesotho
Die rol van die demoniese in Den spieghel der salicheit van Elckerlijc, Mariken van Nieumeghen en Sewe dae by die Silbersteins: ‘n Vergelykende studie.
Die verrekening van drama- en teaterteorie by die skryf van `n Afrikaanse teaterteks
Challenges of directing foreign dramas: An analysis of selected contemporary Basotho play- texts.
Theatre as an advocacy tool for a democracy: an assessment of the works of Savanna Trust (Zimbabwe)
Drama strategies for outcomes-based learning in the poetry classroom
? Semiotiese ondersoek na seksuele ritueel in die teater van Jean Genet.
The state of professional drama in the Free State : An investigation into the comparative functionality, artistic output, and cost effectiveness of drama in a pre- and post restructured Free State Performing Arts Council.
Psigodrama en hipnoterapie: ‘n gevallestudie
M.A (Drama and Theatre Arts) structured UFS
‘n Kritiese ondersoek na die stand van professionele jeugteater in S.A. na 1994
Groteske realisme in die dramas van Reza de Wet.
Die rol van die verteller (stem) in dramaliteratuur
The role played by Gibson Kente in the development of black theatre through his innovative form of theatre called, Township Theatre
Dekorontwerpbeginsels en praktiese toepassings in ontwerpe.
The History of the Observatory Theatre. 1910 - 2002
Die geskiedenis en hedendaagse toepassing van religieuse teater in godsdiensbelewing en -bediening.
‘n Prosesgerigte ondersoek na eietydse dekorontwerpproblematiek in die Suid-Afrikaanse teaterkonteks.
The impact of Curriculum 2005 Outcome Bases Education: OBE on Theatre Arts Education in S.A.
Regietendense onder vyftien vooraanstaande Suid- Afrikaanse regisseurs
A proposed model for theatre-for-development in South Africa : a critical study
Versterkte simbolisme in die dekorontwerp en regie van A Streetcar named Desire
Towards a theatre of reconciliation : Athol Fugard`s Playland
Benaderingswyses tot regie: ‘n Intergeneriese studie
Dekorontwerp vir ‘n teater met beperkte fasiliteite
External Moderation and Assessment
External Assessor Reports
Tswane University (ARTS)
EE van Heerden
M.Tech. Drama and Film
G S Moseki
A Jansen van Vuuren
M L Breytenbach, D J van Rensburg, C Johnston, N Mokgware
SA van der Smit
Committees, Boards and Professional Memberships
Scientific Committee – The Arts
Faculty Board – The Humanities
Faculty Committee – The Humanities
Advisory panel of promotion to Associate-professor for Stellenbosch University (Drama Department): Prof P. du Preez
NRF Rating: Prof Petrus du Preez (Stellenbosch)
NRF Rating: Prof M. Keuris (UNISA)
NRF Rating: Prof JL Coetser (UNISA)
NRF Rating: Prof Marie Kruger (Stellenbosch)
Program Review and Evaluation other Universities (Drama departments)