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08 July 2021 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Supplied
For Prof Anthea van Jaarsveld, the balance between science, theoretical and practical experience is important for a balanced industry.

Her unique approach to Drama and Theatre Arts makes Prof Anthea van Jaarsveld the most suitable person to take over the reins as Head of the UFS Department of Drama and Theatre Arts. Prof Van Jaarsveld was officially appointed as head of this special department this year. 

The Department of Drama at the UFS is one of the biggest in the country, and according to Prof Van Jaarsveld it is also the best, because the department produces some of the finest in the industry. Her main goal as head of department is to bring about a subtle change in emphasis that will ultimately make a real contribution to employability, a greater variety of job opportunities, and practice-orientated research. “My ultimate goal is therefore an approach within which academy and practice will find each other for the benefit of both,” says Prof Van Jaarsveld.

Science, theatre and drama collide 

Prof Van Jaarsveld has a scientific approach to drama and theatre arts. She never acted professionally. It is precisely from a scientific perspective that her knowledge of the theorising and contextualisation of drama text, theatre concepts, and the film industry is applied in order to maintain a balance in a profession where the emphasis on practical experience is overwhelming.  

She studied Drama at the UFS and was also employed as Drama teacher at Eunice Girls’ School. Following this, she started working as lecturer in the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch. “There I focused on the Drama genre in Afrikaans; therefore, I never actually left drama and theatre,” says Prof Van Jaarsveld. In 2018, she returned to the Department of Drama. 

Upon her return to the department where she started her studies, her aim is to ensure that the department again complies with the total package of the UFS and to make sure “that our students are prepared for a multifaceted and dynamic industry on a practical level”. 

Prof Van Jaarsveld took over from Prof Nico Luwes who retired in 2019. 

News Archive

“Aren’t auntie and them hungry yet?” Country folk worried about NSH hikers
2014-05-15

About 5 km short of Wortelfontein Guestfarm in the Northern Cape, Rachel Swart is sitting on the porch of her peasant house when four people come walking down the dirt road.

Guests on foot are not a regular sight in this region, because you must understand, Wortelfontein is situated where Hanover lies far behind you and Richmond is still a very long way off.

 

The four people on the dirt road are the hikers from the University of the Free State (UFS) on their way to Cape Town (on foot) to create awareness for food-insecure students at the UFS.

Adele van Aswegen, Ronel Warner, Ntokozo Nkabinde and Nico Piedt are already on the road for more than two weeks as part of the No Student Hungry bursary’s (NSH bursary) fundraising efforts. The bursary provides assistance to students at the UFS who often do not have enough to eat.

On day 12 of their walk, the plan was that our hikers would stay at Wortelfontein Guestfarm, but unfortunately they took the wrong turnoff. It is precisely at this point where they met Rachel.

“I will show you where Wortelfontein lies. One can easily get lost here,” says Rachel decidedly and points to the straight main road. She ties her baby skilfully behind her back with a towel and tackles the next 5 km together with our hikers.

“It is this kind of support and encouragement that keep us on the road,” says Adel.

Everywhere along the road people are stunned and concerned about the four’s trip and immediately offer their help.

Near Trompsburg, an elderly couple who just heard about the hikers at church, stop next to them and offer them a lift to the next town. They are thankful for the gesture, but have to decline the offer.

Between Trompsburg and Springfontein, Doug offers to take them to Springfontein. Once again they decline the offer.

There was also the uncle who wanted to buy them cool drink and the road workers who cheered them on.

In Colesberg a group of children asked worriedly: “Aren’t auntie and them hungry yet?”


These boots are made for walking ... to Cape Town (Article of 02 May 2014)


Daily updates:
(You can also follow us on @UFSweb for daily tweets)

Day 21: 21 May 2014
15:09
42 km
Leeu Gamka Hotel

Day 20: 20 May 2014
13:39
20 km
Alida, Springfontein

Day 19: 19 May 2014
12:31
27.6 km
Teri Moja Game Lodge

Day 18: 18 May 2014
First rest day
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 17: 17 May 2014
19:30
62.3 km
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 16: 16 May 2014
13:00
14 km
Taaibochfontein

Day 15: 15 May 2014
16:03
32 km
Travalia, Three Sisters

Day 14: 14 May 2014
18:33
43 km
Joalani Guest Farm
 
Day 13: 13 May 2014
17:30
33 km
Die Rondawels
 
Day 12: 12 May 2014
16:49
40 km
Aandrus B&B in Richmond
 
Day 11: 11 May 2014
39 km
Wortelfontein (Magdel and Christiaan)
 
Day 10: 10 May 2014
15:44
34 km
Hanover Lodge
 
Day 9: 09 May 2014
40.8 km
Camping between Colesberg and Hanover
 
Day 8: 08 May 2014
15:25
33.7 km
Colesberg, The Lighthouse Guesthouse

Day 7: 07 May 2014
15:08
23 km
Orange River Lodge

Day 6: 06 May 2014
15:57
51.06 km
Gariep Forever Resort

Day 5: 05 May 2014
12:18
28 km
Rondefontein

Day 4: 04 May 2014
15:27
35 km
Trompsburg: Fox Den

Day 3: 03 May 2014
17:30
46.74 km
Edenburg Country Lodge (Hotel)

Day 2: 02 May 2014
11:44 am
15.3 km
Tom's Place

Day 1: 01 May 2014
32 km
Leeuwberg

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