Illustrations
1: Braam Cilliers as Biedermann in the opening scene of Schiess’s Die Brandstigters, 1962. Private collection.
2: Frisch’s chorus of all-seeing firemen (Japie van Niekerk, Peter Ralph, Kobus Barnard, Andries Richter, and Daan Botha) seated at the back of the stage in the first scene of Schiess’s Die Brandstigters, 1962. In the foreground, Schmitz (Johann Geyer) and Biedermann (Braam Cilliers) are waited upon by the maid, Anna (Betty Johnson). Private collection.
3: Biedermann (Braam Cilliers), Eisenring (Jan Strydom), and Schmitz (Johann Geyer) handling a barrel of petrol in Schiess’s Die Brandstigters, 1962. Private collection.
4: The Doctor of Philosophy (Hubertus zu Castell) reading a speech in which he distances himself from the actions of the fireraisers in Schiess’s Die Brandstigters, 1962. Private collection.
5: Beelzebub (Johann Geyer) and Satan (Jan Strydom) heading off to earth to continue their work in the ‘Epiloog’ to Schiess’s Die Brandstigters, 1962. Private collection.
6: The façade of the newly built Johannesburg Civic Theatre, 1962. Johannesburg Civic Theatre Records, Historical Papers Research Archive, University of the Witwatersrand.
7: Anna Neethling-Pohl in the title role of Die besoek van die ou dame at the Johannesburg Civic, 1962. Johannesburg Civic Theatre Records, Historical Papers Research Archive, University of the Witwatersrand.
8: Bartho Smit in his office at Nasionale Pers, 1967. National Afrikaans Literary Museum and Research Centre, Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation.
9: The opening of the Johannesburg Civic Theatre in 1972. Johannesburg Civic Theatre Records, Historical Papers Research Archive, University of the Witwatersrand.
10: The programme for the Volksteater’s production of Andorra at the Little Theatre, Pretoria, 1964. Private collection.
11: A photograph of Max Frisch found among Mario Schiess’s papers. Private collection.
12: Emsie Botha as Anastasia and Reon Meij as her drunk suitor, Graaf Bodo von Übelohe-Zabernsee, in the Volksteater’s 1966 production of Die huwelik van Mnr. Mississippi. Private collection.
13: Lambert Millar during the execution of Saint-Claude in the Volksteater’s Die huwelik van Mnr. Mississippi, 1966. Private collection.
14: The Piet van der Walt Theatre at the Pretoria Showgrounds. Private collection.
15: An informal gathering of some of the actors who played in Schiess’s 1967 production of Die Meteoor – (from left to right) Reon Meij, Boet Dommisse, Christa Zylstra, André Meij, Menno Mennen, Werner Zybrands, (behind) Emsie Botha, Enone van der Bergh, Marina Meij, Heins du Preez. Private collection.
16: Reon Meij as Hugo Nyffenschwander in the Hakahana Players’ Die Meteoor, 1967. Private collection.
17: Mario Schiess in 1967 on the set of Die Meteoor. Private collection.
18: Pieter Fourie, 1988. National Afrikaans Literary Museum and Research Centre, Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation.
19: A rehearsal room photograph of Die huwelik van Mnr. Mississippi featuring Saint-Claude (Johan Botha) and his assassins (Mees Xteen, Pieter Geldenhuys, and Schalk Jacobsz), 1962. Artscape Archive.
20: A page from Fourie’s script of Olympia en haar vryers (1972) reproduced in the programme for the production at PACOFS. Private collection.
21: Black and coloured cleaners mopping the stage of the Nico Malan Theatre in the 1970s. Artscape Archive.
22: Nerina Ferreira photographed by Philip de Vos. National Afrikaans Literary Museum and Research Centre, Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation.
23: Sam Nzima’s iconic photograph of Hector Pieterson carried by Mbuyisa Makhubo and with his sister Antoinette Pieterson running alongside, 16 June 1976. © Estate of Sam Nzima.
24: The programme for Die Brandstigters at CAPAB, 1978. Artscape Archive.
25: The ‘hoofbrandweerman’ (‘chief firefighter’) or chorus leader (Johan Botha) confronting Biedermann (Neels Coetzee) in Die Brandstigters, 1978. Artscape Archive.
26: Set designer Raimond Schoop on the set of Die Brandstigters, 1978. Artscape Archive.
27: Biedermann (Neels Coetzee) handing a box of matches to Schmitz (Marko van der Colff) and Eisenring (Mees Xteen) in Die Brandstigters, 1978. Artscape Archive.
The author and publisher are grateful to all the institutions and individuals listed for permission to reproduce the materials in which they hold copyright. Every effort has been made to trace the copyright holders; apologies are offered for any omission, and the publisher will be pleased to add any necessary acknowledgement in subsequent editions.