DR NIEL VAN NIEKERK – Harrismith Eisteddfod
Beoordelaar: Engels Spraak & Drama /
Adjudicator: English Speech & Drama
Dr Niel van Niekerk behaal in 1989 sy BA Drama en Toneelkunde graad aan die UVS met Afrikaans, Engels en Sang by Margaret van der Post. In 1990 behaal hy sy BA Honneurs in Engels by dieselfde instansie en in 1991 sy BA Honneurs in Drama en Toneelkunde (cum laude). In 1992 terwyl hy besig is met sy Meestersgraad in Drama aanvaar hy ‘n pos by Vista Universiteit in die Engelse department. In 1997 behaal hy sy Meestersgraad (cum laude) onder leiding van Professor Nico Luwes. In 2003 behaal hy sy Ph.D in Drama ook aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat. As student behaal hy ook Ereklere van die UVS vir sy bydrae op klulturele vlak en hy sing ook in die Universiteitskoor, was lid van die Vrystaatse jeugkoor en Kroonstad Hoërskool se koor vir vyf jaar.
As akteur speel Niel in verskeie produksies maar hoogtepunte sluit in Die Huweliksaansoek van Tsechkov wat geregisseur word deur ‘n besoekende Russiese regisseur Igor Merkulof, die naamrol in Noag onder die regie van James Blankenberg en Die Kersieboord onder spelleiding van Nico Luwes. Hy tree ook op by die KKNK in ‘n Aand by die Oprah en by die Volksblad kunstefees in Koskaskenades en Vincent van Gogga. In 2011 word hy genomineer as beste Vrystaatse kunstenaar en beste Vrystaatse produksie, Ama Requeim, by die Vryfees.
As regisseur het het wye ondervinding in verskillende genres en regisseur produksies vir Grahamstad, die KKNK en Volksblad kunstefees/Vryfees, asook verskeie produksies vir SUKOVS/PACOFS.
In 2005 is Niel die dryfkrag agter die bou van Eunice Hoerskool se teater, hier is sedertdien meer as 70 produksies onder sy leiding opgevoer. In dieselfde jaar tree hy as regisseur vir Grey Primere skool op met 1060 seuns in die produksie A Grey’t Celebration.
Verskeie musikale blyspele volg om Eunice se trotse tradisie van kultuur en musiekteater te laat voortleef soos Fiddler on the Roof (300 kinders), Oklahoma! Die immergewilde Nunsense I en II asook meer onlangs Beauty and the Beast wat in die Sand du Plessis uitverkoop met meer as 700 karakters in die massatonele.
Niel het ook vir 4 jaar radio werk gedoen by die gemeenskap radiostadie Radio Hoogland en bied die oggend program Hoogland Kontrei aan asook verskeie poësie programme.
Niel skryf ook graag en het ‘n gereelde kosrubriek, Lekkerbek, vir Die Volksblad gedoen, asook boek en teater resensies. Tydens sy klasgee jare by Vista Universiteit lewer hy verskeie referate oor drama en dien ook in die destydse Pierce Nicholson teaterpaneel asook lid van die FNB teaterpaneel vir die Vrystaat. Hy tree as beoordelaar by kunswedstryde oor die land op en was ook sedert 1997- 2016 die eksaminator vir Dramatiese Kunste in die Vrystaat.
Niel is die afgelope 18 die Drama onderwyser by Eunice Hoerskool en is passievol oor drama en om Drama as vak te vestig en uit te brei.
Dr Niel van Niekerk achieves in 1989 his BA Drama degree at the UFS with Afrikaans, English and singing with renowned lecturer Margaret van der Post. In 1990 he achieves his BA Honours degree in English and in 1991 his BA Honours in drama. In 1992 whilst busy with his MA degree in Drama he accepts a junior lecturer position at Vista University in the English department. In 1997 he achieves his Masters degree in Drama (cum laude). In 2003 he receives his Ph.D in Drama also from UFS. As student he receives colours for cultural contribution and he also sings in the University choir. At school he also sang in the school choir and in 1985 in the Free State Youth Choir.
As an actor Niel appears in several productions with highlights including The Proposal by Tsechkov directed by visiting Russian director Igor Merkulof. The name role in Noah directed by James Blankenberg and The Cherry Orchard directed by Prof. Nico Luwes. He also appears at the KKNK in A Night at the Oprah and at DieVolksblad Kunstefees in Koskaskenades and Vincent Van Gogga. In 2011 he is nominated as best Free State artist and best Free State production with the experimental production, Amarequiem.
As director he has exceptional experience in a variety of genres and directs productions for Grahamstown, the KKNK Vryfees as well as numerous productions for Pacofs.
In 2005 he is the driving force behind the building of Eunice High School’s theatre. Since then more than 70 productions took place under his guidance. In the same year he directs Grey Primary Schools production A Greyt Celebration with 1060 boys.
Several musicals follow to establish Eunice proud history of culture and musical theatre such as Fiddler on the Roof – 300 children – Oklahoma!, the incredibly popular Nunsense I and Nunsense II as well as Beauty and the Beast in the Sand du Plessis theatre sold out performances with more than 700 people in the crowd scenes.
Niel did radio work for 4 years at the community radio station Radio Hoogland and does the morning slot Hoogland Kontrei, as well as many other programmes. He also likes writing and wrote a regular food coloumn, Lekkerbek, for Die Volksblad as well as many theatre and book reviews. He delivers several papers on Drama theory whilst being a lecturer for 9 years at Vista University and was on the panel for the Pierce Nicholson prize as well as the FNB Theatre panel for the Free State. He adjudicates at several Eistedfodds and was the examiner for Matric drama from 1997 until 2016.
He is the head of the drama Department at Eunice High School for the past 19 years and is passionate about Drama and theatre.