Mr Walter Strydom
Position
Lecturer
Department
Drama and Theatre Arts
Address
21 46B
Drama and Theatre
IB 26
UFS
Telephone
0514012916
Office
Scaena 46B
Information

Short CV

Walter Strydom is an award-winning artist, theatre academic, and educator who is passionate about the possibilities for arts and education to empower individuality, establish and strengthen cross-cultural bonds, and promote social cohesion and social justice. Walter has proven experience in scholarly research and teaching, as well as administration at a tertiary level, producing, directing, and acting in professional and amateur theatre, and local and international experience marketing, producing, and managing professional theatre work. His experience includes three years working in indie-theatre in Toronto, Canada. Walter completed his Masters degree in 2014, specialising in Performance Analysis, and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. He is currently working on a PhD study, a joint-degree between the UFS and the University of Regina in Canada. The study investigates alternative forms of ethical social justice allyship for collaborative theatre making. Walter lectures Modern and Postdramatic Theatre, Performance Analysis, and Theatre Making.

 

His personal pedagogical philosophy envisions research and learning-facilitation that is respectful of, yet strives beyond logocentrism, is constantly renegotiating the legacy and impact of colonialism, underscores the value of bridging theory and praxis, endeavours to cultivate critical consciousness in an environment that encourages co-creation of knowledge, and aims to find direct correlation between what is studied and the immediately relevant world of those involved.

 

An award-winning theatre artist, Walter is also known for creating multi-layered, engaging and intriguing theatre productions with a strong social conscience and sense of responsibility towards community. With a passion for experimentation and pushing boundaries, his theatre oeuvre covers a wide range of genres and styles, and often subverts convention while striving to unite form and content. As an actor, producer, and director, Walter has participated in numerous local and nationally acclaimed works.

 

Qualification(s)

MAGISTER ARTIUM [MA]

 

 

[Drama and Theatre Arts]

2014

UFS

BACCALAUREUS ATRIUM HONORES [BA HONS]

 

 

[Drama and Theatre Arts]

2009

UFS

POST GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATION [PGCE]

 

 

[FET phase] [Drama and Theatre Arts & English]

2008

UFS

BACCALAUREUS ATRIUM [BA]

 

 

[Drama and Theatre Arts]

2007

UFS

 

Awards and Prizes

YEAR

AWARD

SPONSOR
 2024

Best Theatre Production Award

Best Ensemble Award

Ons wag vir Godot (producer, sound design)

 Vrystaat Arts Festival

2022

Standard Bank Bronze Ovation Award

SwaRingana (director, co-creator)

National Arts Festival Fringe

Standard Bank

2022

Best Debut Theatre Production Award

Tom Gaan Plaas Toe (director, producer)

Vrystaat Arts Festival

2022

Best Vrynge Theatre Production Award

muit.sê sy (producer)

Vrystaat Arts Festival

2017

Best Debut Theatre Production Award

Sarah (co-director, producer)

Vrystaat Arts Festival

2016

Best Debut Theatre Production Award

Suiker (actor)

Vrystaat Arts Festival

2015

Best Debut Theatre Production Award

Best Free State Debut Production

Don Juan onder die Boere (producer)

Vrystaat Arts Festival

2013

Best Paradigm-Shifting Theatre Production Award

VREK (director)

Vrystaat Arts Festival

2007

Elsa Krantz-prize for best artistic contribution (nomination)

Department of Drama and Theatre Arts [UFS]

2005

Elsa Krantz-prize for most promising student

Department of Drama and Theatre Arts [UFS]

 

 

 

Publications

Making Paper: Theatre as a Model for Social Cohesion

The Shift of Emancipation: Visual Arts, Cohesion, Transformation, South Africa. Volume 1, Issue 1: State of Affairs, 2016, University of the Free State.


Research

Creative Research Outputs

TITLE OF PRODUCTION

INVOLVEMENT

EXPOSURE

YEAR
How to W.U.Z.zzzCo-director / Co-creatorLocal (UFS)  2023

Pooling Echo

Co-director

Local (UFS)

2021

The Hamletmachine

Director

Local (UFS)

2021

Idomeneus

Director

Local (UFS)

2020

SwaRingana

Director

Local (UFS)

2020

Sarah

Co-director / Dramaturgy

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2017

Red Riding Hood

Director / Playwright

Local (UFS)

2016

Suiker

Actor

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2016

Christine

Script Adaptation

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2016

Gouelokkies en die Drie Bere

Actor

Provincial (Performing Arts Centre of the Free State, PACOFS)

2016

Empty Promises: Movement Against Human Trafficking

Co-director / Co-creator

National (Various high schools; National Freedom Exhibition, Freedom Park; National Arts Festival; Vrystaat Arts Festival; UFS Arts and Social Justice Week; Grahamstown School’s Festival)

2012-2015

Aartappels en Ammo

Director / Design

National (Aardklop National Arts Festival; Woordfees; Klein Karoo National Arts Festival)

2015

poARTry Project / digKUNS Projek

Project Manager / Facilitator / Director

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2015

Blood Wedding

Co-director / Script Adaptation

Provincial (Performing Arts Centre of the Free State, PACOFS)

2015

Jack and the Beanstalk

Director / Designer / Co-playwright

Local (UFS)

2015

Een Kleine Lientjie

Actor

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2015

Erinyes

Director / Designer

Local (UFS)

2014

Acting: The first six lessons (Boleslavski)

Facilitator

Provincial (Performing Arts Centre of the Free State, PACOFS)

2014

Kastreer

Director / Designer

Local (UFS)

2014

VREK

Director / Designer

National (National Arts Festival, Platteland Preview Festival, Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2013

Die Towenaar van Oz

Director / Designer

Local (UFS)

2013

Is it safe to masturbate on an electric blanket?

Co-director / Co-playwright

National (National Arts Festival)

2013

Die Kulkunstenaar, die Koningin en die Kokkenonetjie

Actor

National (Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2012-2013

Die Fragmented Mantswe

Co-director

Local (UFS)

2013

Die Avonture van Robin Hood

Actor

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2013

The Blacks: A Clown Show

Actor

Provincial (Performing Arts Centre of the Free State, PACOFS)

2012

Experimental Theatre Short Performances

Director / Facilitator

Local (UFS)

2012

VREK

Director / Designer

National (National Arts Festival, Platteland Preview Festival, Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2012

Madikizela Verwoerd

Director / Designer

National (National Arts Festival)

2012

Die Mantswe Factory

Co-director

Local (UFS)

2012

Kringe in ‘n Bos

Actor

Provincial (Performing Arts Centre of the Free State, PACOFS)

2012

‘n Midsomernagdroom / A Midsummernight’s Dream

Actor

Local (UFS)

2012

The Laramy Project

Actor

Local (UFS)

2012

Alice in Wonderland

Co-director

Local (UFS)

2011

Die Dorpsmusikante van Bremer

Actor

Provincial (Performing Arts Centre of the Free State, PACOFS)

2011

Loeloe se Liewe, Lawwe, Loskop Ouma

Actor / Co-director

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2011

Die Kaskenades van Liewe Heksie

Actor

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2011

Boer Manie en die Basaar

Actor / Co-director

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival; Aardklop National Arts Festival; Klein Karoo National Arts Festival; Toured to various primary schools, community arts festivals, and special events.)

2010-2011

Lysistrata

Assistant Director

Local (UFS)

2010

Die Plaasvervangers

Actor

Local (UFS)

2010

Boer Manie se Melk word Suur!

Actor / Co-director

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival; Aardklop National Arts Festival’ Klein Karoo National Arts Festival; Innibos Arts Festival; Toured to various primary schools, community arts festivals, and special events)

2009-2010

Die Vlieë

Assistant Director

Local (UFS)

2009

Yerma

Assistant Director

Local (UFS)

2009

The Crucible

Actor

Local (UFS)

2009

The Maids

Actor

Local (UFS)

2008

Deathwatch

Actor

Local (UFS)

2008

Nommerpas / Taylormade

Actor

Local (Various Free State high schools, UFS)

2008

Die Gestewelde Kat

Actor

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2006

Mieliestronk

Actor

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2006

Slym

Actor

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2005

Area(s) of Interest

  • 20th and 21st Century Theatre and Performance History and Theory, including Contemporary, Modern and Postmodern Theatre, Art and Philosophy, and Postdramatic Theatre
  • Theatre Making Theory and Practice, including emergent methodology, training and techniques, and performance; Theatre Directing Theory and Practice; Devised Theatre Practice
  • Performance Analysis, Theatre Semiotics, and Phenomenology
  • Ideology and Methodology for Academic Theatre and Performance Research
  • Arts Management, and Performing Arts Marketing

Courses Presented

 Undergraduate Program
  1st year modules
 DRAT1605 – Performing Arts Studies 1
 Alternative approaches to acting and performance
 
  2nd year modules
  DRAT2707 – Performing Arts Studies 2
 Introduction to Performance Analysis
 
 THEP2606 – Performing Arts 2
 Theatre Making
 
 3rd year modules
 DRHT3700 – Theories of Drama and Performance
 Modernism Theatre and Performance
 Postmodernism and Postdramatic Theatre and Performance
 Current Theatre and Performance Trends
 Performance Analysis
 Prominent Directors from the 20th to the 21st Centuries
 
 THEP3700 – Performing Arts 3 | THEM3700 – Theatre Making
 Theatre Making
 Contemporary/Experimental Theatre Performance


FACULTY CONTACT

T: +27 51 401 2240 or humanities@ufs.ac.za

Postgraduate:
Marizanne Cloete: +27 51 401 2592

Undergraduate:
Neliswa Emeni-Tientcheu: +27 51 401 2536
Phyllis Masilo: +27 51 401 9683

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