Dr Thys Heydenrych
Position
Lecturer
Department
Drama and Theatre Arts
Address
21 48
Drama and Theatre
IB 26
UFS
Telephone
0514013390
Office
Scaena 48
Information

Short CV

He completed his BA degree in Drama and Theatre Arts (Cum Laude) in 2005 and BA Hons degree in Drama and Theatre Arts (Cum Laude) in 2010 at the University of the Free State. During his studies, he performed various roles in festival productions at KKNK, Volksblad Kunstefees, Aardklop Nasionale Kunstefees, and Grahamstown Arts Festival.

In 2013, Thys completed his MA Theatre Directing degree at East 15 Acting School, University of Essex, London, UK. During his studies, he completed modules on Directing Shakespeare, Assistant Directing and Design Collaboration. As part of his studies, he was Assistant Director for George Orwell’s Animal Farm, adapted and directed by Glen Walford, in the Tristan Bates Theatre, Covent Garden. He also completed a module in Meyerholdt & Bio-Mechanics at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS) in Moscow. In 2023, Thys obtained his PhD with specialisation in Drama and Theatre Arts.    

As a professional actor and director, Thys was involved in various productions. In 2008, he directed and acted in Enige Iemand vir Ontbyt?, an Afrikaans translation of Derek Benfield’s Anyone for Breakfast? He also did the translation. In 2009, he directed and acted in Nico Luwes’ My Liewe Meneer Malan; in 2010, he directed and acted in O, Komdoom, Daar’s ‘n Kat in my Boom! with Ilne Fourie.

In 2011, Thys performed in Die Renosters (Afrikaans translation of Ionesco’s Rhinoceros) at the Vrystaat Arts Festival, which won Best Free State Production. In 2012, he directed the musical Hairspray for FACTS, followed by Shakespeare’s Richard III in modern English in 2013, for which he did the adaptation and directing. In 2014, he directed and acted in Hamlet, for which he also did the adaptation. He also performed at the Vryfees in S(t)out en Peper in the same year. He adapted and directed Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in 2015 and performed in Tjekhov Triptiek, which won ‘Beste Vrystaat Produksie’ at the Vrystaat Arts Festival. In 2016, he acted in and directed an improvisation show called #improv-oh-ccasion and acted in the Afrikaans adaptation Suiker at the Vrystaat Arts Festival. In 2017, he acted in Nico Luwes’ Is die bar al oop?, at the Innibos Festival and in 2018 at the Vrystaat Arts Festival). In 2023, he acted in another Nico Luwes Chekov production Die Oudisie.     

In 2017, Thys directed Mark Brown’s adaptation Around the World in 80 Days; in 2018, he directed Michael Frayn’s Noises Off!, and adapted/translated Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in Afrikaans and English. In 2019, he directed Geraldine Aron’s My Brilliant Divorce; in 2020, Niel Simon’s Rumours and Ray Cooney’s Out of Order; in 2022, Nick Payne’s Constellations; and in 2023, Philip Rademeyer’s Huishou.

Thys Heydenrych directed two successful productions for the Vrystaat Arts Festival. In 2022, he directed the popular farce Hoe Later, Hoe Kwater for the miniMARK festival in July and in 2023, he directed Nick Payne’s Incognito. The production was nominated for Best Set DesignBest Costume Design, and Best Marketing. Daniëlle Doubell and DJ Kruger were both nominated for Best Emerging ArtistDJ Kruger was awarded the Kobus Rossouw Prize for Best Emerging Free State Artist.

 Thys Heydenrych is currently the Programme Director and a lecturer at the Drama Department, University of the Free State. As programme director, he was involved in the development of the current Hons programme, the 2019 Department Review process, the UFS Curriculum mapping initiative and serves on several faculty committees such as Academic Advisory Committee, Readmissions Appeals Committee, Communication and Marketing Committee, Teaching and Learning Committee and the Joint Arts Steering Committee. In 2018, he was appointed Chief Marker for Grade 12 Dramatic Arts in the Free State; in 2021, he was appointed the Internal Moderator for Grade 12 Dramatic Arts in the Free State. From 2007, he was the Assistant Technical Co-Ordinator of the then Volksblad Kunstefees and Vryfees, and from 2014 to 2020, he was the Technical Manager of the Vrystaat Arts Festival.  

Qualification(s)

Education and Qualifications

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY WITH SPECIALISATION IN DRAMA AND THEATRE ARTS [PhD]

 

 

[Title: Reimagining Desire and Identity in the title characters of Hamlet and Richard III in a South African context ]

2023

UFS

MAGISTER ARTIUM [MA]

 

 

[Theatre Directing] – with Merit

2013

University of Essex, UK

BACCALAUREUS ARTIUM HONORES (BAHons)

 

 

[Drama and Theatre Arts] – Cum Laude

2010

UFS

BACCALAUREUS ATRIUM [BA]

 

 

[Drama and Theatre Arts] – Cum Laude

2005

UFS

  

Prizes and Awards

Prizes and Awards

YEAR

AWARD

SPONSOR

2022

BEST SET DESIGN, BEST COSTUME DESIGN, AND BEST MARKETING
Director of Incognito

Vrystaat Arts Festival

2011

BEST FREE STATE PRODUCTION
Actor in “Die Renosters”

Vrystaat Arts Festival

2007

BEN DE KOKER PRIZE
Best Postgraduate Student In Drama And Theatre Arts

Department Drama and Theatre Arts
University of the Free State

2006

SANLAM PRIZE FOR AFRIKAANS THEATRE
Best Production – Zollie
Stage Manager & Lighting

Klein Karoo National Arts Festival / Sanlam

2006

HONORARY UNIVERSITY COLOURS
In Drama and Theatre Arts

University of the Free State

2006

ANDRE DU PLESSIS PRIZE
Best third-year drama student

Department Drama and Theatre Arts
University of the Free State

2005

ELSA KRANTZ MEDAL
for Best Artistic Achievement

Department Drama and Theatre Arts
University of the Free State


Publications


Workshops, Courses and Seminars presented

PRESENT

TITLE

 

YEAR

Colloquium Presentation

“Decolonising Shakespeare?” Contestations and re-imagining for a post-liberation South Africa

Present paper “Reflection on a contemporary adaptation of Hamlet

University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban

2016

Publications

JOURNAL

TITLE

 

YEAR

Shakespeare in Southern Africa
Vol. 30, 2017, 43–55

To tell our Storie”: Reflections on a Queer Adaptation of Hamlet in Twenty-first Century South Africa
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/sisa.v30i1.5S

2017

 

 

 

Research


Artistic Research Outputs

TITLE OF PRODUCTION

INVOLVEMENT

EXPOSURE

YEAR

Tjiff & Tjaff 2/3

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

National (Various)

2016 - present

Caesar

Afrikaans and English adaptation of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2018

Noises Off!

by Michael Frayn

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2018

Is die bar al oop?

by Nico Luwes, directed by Nico Luwes

Actor

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

National (Innibos)

2018

2017

My Liewe Meneer Malan

by Nico Luwes, directed by Nico Luwes

Actor

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2017

Around the World in 80 Days

Script by Mark Brown

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2017

Woman of Troy

Based on Euripides’ Trojan Woman

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2017

Familiest(r)eke

Afrikaans translation of Ray Cooney’s “It Runs in the Family), Translated by Wim Vorster

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2016

#improv-oh-ccasion

Improvisation show

Director

Actor

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2016

Suiker

by Hugo Claus, translation by Hennie van Coller

Actor

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2016

‘n Kwessie van Verbeelding

One act by Nico Luwes

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2016

Johanna, O, Johannes

One act by Louis de Villiers

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2016

Romeo & Juliet

by William Shakespeare

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2015

Tjiff & Tjaff

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2015

Repelsteeltjie

Afrikaans translation of Rumpelstiltskin

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2015

Tjekhov Triptiek

one act play (Swan Song) by Anton Chekhov

Translated by Nico Luwes

Actor

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2015

Brushstroke

10 min play

Director

Actor

 

Local (UFS)

2015

Two into One

by Ray Cooney

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2015

Hamlet

by William Shakespeare

Adaptation

Actor

Co-Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

National (Scaena Rehearsal Room , UFS)

2014

Die Gestewelde Kat

Puss In Boots

Translation and Adaptation

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2014

S(T)out en Peper

Adaptation

Actor

 

Set, lighting and sound design

National (Vrystaat Arts Festival)

2014

Richard III

by William Shakespeare adapted in modern English

Adaptation

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2013

Animal Farm

adapted and directed by Glen Walford

Assistant Director

International

(Tristan Bates Theatre, Covent Garden, London, UK)

2013

Hairspray (The Musical)

Book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan

Music by Marc Shaiman

Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman

Director

 

Set, costume and lighting design

National (Wynand Mouton Theatre, UFS)

2012

Waar Is Markgraaf? (Comedy)

Original Translation: Mariechen Naudè

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2012

Die Graswewenaar

Written and directed by Nico Luwes

Actor

National (Vryfees, Bloemfontein, SA)

2012

Chekhov in Yalta

by John Driver en Jeffrey Haddow

Directed by Gerben Kamper

Actor

Character: Stanislavski

Local (UFS)

2012

Die Avonture van Alice in Wonderland

Children’s play adapted and translated by Thys Heydenrych

Translation and adaptation

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2011

Onnies En Ouers (Comedy)

by John Dighton,

translated by AJB de Klerk

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2011

The Final Dress Rehearsal (Comedy)

by Jack Frakes

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2011

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

by William Shakespeare. Directed by Gerben Kamper

Actor

Character: Oberon

National (Wynand Mouton Theatre, UFS, SA)

2011

Die Renosters (The Rhinoceros)

by Eugene Ionesco.

Directed by Nico Luwes

Actor

National (Vryfees, Bloemfontein, SA)

2011

Playland (Drama)

by Athol Fugard

Producer

Director

Actor

Character: Gideon le Roux

 

Set and lighting design

Media Liaison

National (Athol Fugard Festival, Nieu-Bethesda, SA)

2010

Tintinyane - The girl with the voice of a magicbird

Performed by the Free State Symphony orchestra

Written by Corlia Fourie

Orchestration by Peter Klatzow

Conducted by Chris Dowdswell

Narrator

National (Oranje Girls’ High School)

2010

Riekie Rhinoceros

Children’s play written by Wilma de Beer and Niel van Niekerk

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2010

Pillars of Society (Drama)

by Henrik Ibsen

Director

Actor

Character: Karsten Bernick

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2010

O, Komdoom, Daar’s ‘n Kat in My Boom (Comedy)

A comedy (farce) by Wim Beukes & Peet van Rensburg

Producer

Director

Actor

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Media liaison

National

(Claerhout Festival, Excelsior, SA)

(Ernest Oppenheimer theatre, Welkom, SA)

(Witteberg High school, Bethlehem, SA)

(Scaena Theatre, UFS)

(The Andre Huguenet Theatre - PACOFS)

2009 - 2011

My Liewe Meneer Malan (Comedy)

by Nico Luwes

Producer

Director

Actor

Set, lighting and sound design

Media liaison

National (Wynand Mouton Theatre, UFS)

2009 - 2010

Brakanjan

Children’s production directed by Gerben Kamper

Actor

Character: Cardinal Richelieu

National (Volksblad Festival, Bloemfontein, SA)

2009

Repelsteeltjie (Rumpelstiltskin)

Adapted by Thys Heydenrych

Translation and adaptation

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2009

Enige Iemand vir Ontbyt? (Comedy)

Translation of the play Anyone for Breakfast? by Derek Benfield into Afrikaans by Thys Heydenrych

Translation

Producer

Director

Actor

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Media Liaison

National (Wynand Mouton Theatre, UFS)

2008 - 2009

Die Dokumente (Comedy)

by Hennie van Coller

Directed by Nico Luwes

Actor

National (Wynand Mouton Theatre, UFS)

National (Woordpoort Festival, Pretoria, SA)

2008 - 2009

Maaltyd vir Een (Dinner For One)

Adapted and directed by Nico Luwes

Stage manager

Lighting and Sound operator

National

(Claerhout Festival, Excelsior, SA)

National (KKNK, Oudshoorn, SA)

National (Aardklop National Arts Festival, SA)

2007 - 2008

Doringrosie (Sleeping Beauty)

Adapted by Thys Heydenrych

Adaptation

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2008

Little Shop of Horrors (Musical)

Book and lyrics by Howard Ashman

Music by Alan Menken

Directed by Hennie van Greunen

Stage manager

Local (UFS)

2007

Soetlief en die Ondier (Beauty and the Beast)

Adapted by Karin Combrinck

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2007

Demea

by Guy Butler

Directed by Leendert de Jager

Actor

Local (UFS)

2007

Wielie Walie

Stage adaptation of children’s television programme, written and directed by Louise Smit

Actor

Character: Sarel Seemonster

National (Gariep Arts Festival, Kimberley, SA)

2007

Breinbliksem

adaptation of Fanie Viljoen’s youth novel by Thys Heydenrych

Adaptation

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

National (Aardklop National Arts Festival, SA)

 

Adaptation was finalist for Best Text (SANLAM Theatre prize)

2006

Nataniël (Cabaret)

Stage manager

National (Scaena Theatre, UFS)

2006

Onbesny

Stand up performance by Rian van Heerden

Stage manager

Lighting technician and operator

National (Scaena Theatre, UFS)

2006

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

by Jean Mann

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2006

Nag Van Die Lang Messe

Radio drama written by Tom Gouws.

Directed by Nico Luwes

Actor

National (KKNK, Oudshoorn, SA)

2006

DIE GESTEWELDE KAT (Puss In Boots)

by Rowena Bennet and translated by Thys Heydenrych

Translation

Director

 

Set, lighting and sound design

Local (UFS)

2006

Zollie

Written by Nico Luwes. Directed by Gerben Kamper

Stage manager

Lighting operator

National (KKNK, Oudshoorn, SA)

National (Aardklop National Arts Festival, SA)

 

Production won Best Production (SANLAM Theatre prize)

2005

The Twelve Disciples Of Nelson Mandela

a new film by Thomas Allen Harris and directed by Thomas Allen Harris

Actor

National (premiered at Macufe Arts Festival, PACOFS, SA)

2005

My Sad Inheritance

Cabaret performance written and performed by Sandra Ferreira

Stage manager

Lighting operator

National (Sceana Theatre, UFS)

2005

Slym

Stage adaptation of the children’s book by Fanie Viljoen; Adaptation by Thys Heydenrych

Adaptation

Director

 

Set, lighting & sound design

Local (UFS)

National (Volksblad Festival, Bloemfontein, SA)

National (Gariep Arts Festival, Kimberley, SA)

2005

Enkelspel

A cabaret compiled by Thys Heydenrych

Directed by Stéphanie Brink and DeBeer Cloete

Producer

Text

Actor

 

Media Liaison

National (Macufe Arts Festival, PACOFS, SA)

National (Gariep Arts Festival, Kimberley, SA)

National (Scaena Theatre, UFS, SA)

2004 - 2006

Paddas En Prinse

Children’s production by Wendy Kleinhans

Director

Local (UFS)

2004 - 2005

1954 - a Workshop Production

Directed by Nico Luwes

Actor

Local (UFS)

National (Grahamstown National Arts Festival, SA)

2005

Knorries en die Krisis

Written and directed by Nico Luwes

Actor

Local (UFS)

National (Volksblad Festival, Bloemfontein, SA)

National (KKNK, Oudshoorn, SA)

National (Aardklop National Arts Festival, SA)

Text was finalist for Best Text (SANLAM Theatre prize)

2004 - 2005

Maretha Maartens Se Woesklip

Children’s production written by Maretha Maartens

Directed by DeBeer Cloete

Actor

Local (UFS)

2004

Blood Wedding

by Federico García Lorca

Directed by Stéphanie Brink

Musician

Local (UFS)

2004

The Caucasian Chalk Circle

by Berthold Brecht.

Directed by Nico Luwes

Actor

Assistant director

Local (UFS)

National (Macufe Arts Festival, PACOFS, SA)

2004

Matewis En Maraai

by Mikro

Directed by Stéphanie Brink

Actor

Local (UFS)

National (Volksblad Festival, Bloemfontein, SA)

2003

Equus

by Peter Shaffer.

Directed by Gerben Kamper

Actor

Character: Harry Dalton

Local (UFS)

2003

Bobaas Van Die Boendoes

Afrikaans translation by André P. Brink of J.M Synge’s Playboy of the Western World

Directed by Niel van Niekerk

Actor

Local (UFS)

2003

Die Laaste Aand

A musical written and directed by Hennie van Greunen and Pedro Kruger

Actor

Local (UFS)

2003

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Wendy Stone

Actor

Character: Doc Baugh

National (PACOFS, Bloemfontein, SA)

2003

 

 

 

Courses Presented


Undergraduate Program(s)

B.A. (Drama and Theatre Arts)

1ST YEAR MODULES

THET1504 - Technical Aspects of the Performing Arts 1

NQF Level:

5

Credits:

16

Unit – Theatre Safety

Unit – Stage Management

Unit – Lighting, Sound, Props, Decor

 

2ND YEAR MODULES

DRAT2707 - Theories of the Performing Arts 2

NQF Level:

7

Credits:

28

Unit – Script Analysis (Shakespeare)

Unit – Script Analysis (Realism)

Unit – Acting Techniques

Unit – Children’s theatre theory

 

THEP2606 – Performance Art 2

NQF Level:

6

Credits:

24

Unit – Acting techniques

 

THET2605 - Technical Aspects of the Performing Arts 2

NQF Level:

6

Credits:

20

Unit – Stage management

Unit – Lighting, Sound, Props, Decor

Unit – Practical implementation

 

3RD YEAR MODULES

DRAT3700 – Theories of the Performing Arts 3

NQF Level:

7

Credits:

44

Unit – Theatre directing

 

THEP3700 – Performance Art 3

NQF Level:

7

Credits:

40

Production

Unit – Acting techniques

 

THET3700 – Technical Aspects of the Performing Arts 2

NQF Level:

7

Credits:

40

Unit – Stage & Production Management

Unit – Lighting & Sound Design

Unit – Practical lighting & sound

 

Postgraduate Program(s)

B.A. Hons (Drama and Theatre Arts)

MODULES

THEP6808 – Acting

NQF Level:

8

Credits:

32

Unit – Acting

 

THTD6808 – Directing

NQF Level:

8

Credits:

32

Unit – Stage directing

 

THET6808 – Technical theatre management

NQF Level:

8

Credits:

32

Unit – Stage & Production management

Unit – Practical lighting and Sound

 

DRMP6808 – Research Report

NQF Level:

8

Credits:

32

Research Report

 

 

 


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

Humanities photo next to contact block

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