Peter Krummeck

Last updated

Peter Krummeck
Mr. Peter Krummeck.jpg
Born
Peter Alan Krummeck

4 March 1947
Johannesburg
Died9 November 2013
NationalitySouth African
Occupation(s)actor, theatre designer, director, writer, teacher, and activist
Notable workThe Emissary

Peter Alan Krummeck (4 March 1947 - 9 November 2013) was a South African actor, theatre designer, director, writer, teacher, and activist, who won renown beyond South Africa in his one-man play Bonhoeffer. Pioneering the use of drama as a tool for reconciliation, he founded the African Community Theatre Service with Archbishop Desmond Tutu as patron. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Krummeck was born in Johannesburg. He studied graphic design in East London, South Africa, and he achieved the National Diploma in Graphic Design with distinction in 1967. He was appointed studio manager at the Daily Dispatch newspaper in East London, under the editorship of Donald Woods, before moving to Cape Town in 1969. [1]

A career in theatre and film

Krummeck’s theatre career in Cape Town, spanning more than four decades, included a lectureship at the Drama Department at the University of Cape Town in 1974-6, where he devised modules in stagecraft and design. [1]

In 1973 he appeared in the title role in a translation of P.G. du PlessisPlaston: DNS-kind, [2] and he went on some years later to translate du Plessis’ Siener in die Suburbs (as Seer in the Suburbs). Pre-eminently for CAPAB, at Artscape, but also in other contexts such as Maynardville, and at the Baxter Theatre, Krummeck worked as an actor, director, producer, and writer. He was much involved at the Baxter Theatre from its earliest days, being responsible for the architect’s model prior to its construction. He produced several of his own plays there, including The Evening of our Time, a searing examination of the moral dilemma of whether to leave South Africa or stay at the height of apartheid.

Peter Krummeck performing in Shakespeare's "Cardenio." Peter Alan Krummeck.jpg
Peter Krummeck performing in Shakespeare's "Cardenio."

He founded the company, Compass Productions, and, subsequently, the African Community Theatre Service (ACTS), in order to undertake work in reconciliation. Under Archbishop Desmond Tutu's mentorship he worked as a lay-minister in the Anglican Church from the mid-1980s, being associated with the parishes of St John's in Wynberg and St Paul's in Rondebosch - though latterly with the Rondebosch United Church. Under the banner of ACTS, he wrote and directed The Passion and a nativity play, Lodestar.

In addition to being an acclaimed stage actor and theatre designer in major productions, Krummeck was active as a playwright for radio productions on SAfm in South Africa, and appeared in film and television, notably the screen adaptation of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom starring Idris Elba. Shortly before his death, he completed a radio dramatisation called A Lessons from Aloes, on the history of mission schools in South Africa, and their revival in a project headed by Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane.

Krummeck was artist in residence at St Mark’s Church, Washington D.C. in 2002 and, while there, workshopped a programme for the first anniversary of 9/11, including his one man play Bonhoeffer. Based on the life and witness of the German pastor, theologian, and dissident anti-Nazi, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the play toured in South Africa, the United States, and Canada, where it was televised.

Concerned with issues of gender characterisation and discrimination, Krummeck explored these themes on stage and camera, and in published texts. With encouragement from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, he wrote a guide to gender relationships for the parish of St John’s, Wynberg. His 1994 teleplay Dear and Awkward Courage, directed by Tamara Semevsky, was the first work openly to address the gay issue on South African television, while his award-winning HIV/Aids play iVirgin Boy dealt with themes of male rape and bisexuality. [3] His two novellas, published as Adam & Luke, were reissued by Junkets Publisher as part of their 10th anniversary series. [1]

Final illness and death

Peter Krummeck Versatile performer and social justice advocate.jpg
Peter Krummeck

Krummeck died at St. Luke's Hospice in Cape Town on Saturday, November 9, 2013, six months after being diagnosed with cancer.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986You Gotta Be Crazy!
1986Dada en die FlowerCaptain Anderson
1988 The Emissary Doctor
1988Rage to KillSoldier in JeepUncredited
1989Jewel of the GodsSS Guard
1990That Englishwoman: An Account of the Life of Emily HobhouseLieut. Baker
1998 Ernest in the Army Businessman
1999 After the Rain Minister
2002The Piano PlayerAlex's Father
2003 Citizen Verdict Prison official
2013 Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Magistrate(final film role)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)</span> Restorative justice tribunal in post-apartheid South Africa

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was a court-like restorative justice body assembled in South Africa in 1996 after the end of apartheid. Authorised by Nelson Mandela and chaired by Desmond Tutu, the commission invited witnesses who were identified as victims of gross human rights violations to give statements about their experiences, and selected some for public hearings. Perpetrators of violence could also give testimony and request amnesty from both civil and criminal prosecution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rondebosch</span> Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Rondebosch is one of the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa. It is primarily a residential suburb, with shopping and business districts as well as the main campus of the University of Cape Town.

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa, known until 2006 as the Church of the Province of Southern Africa, is the province of the Anglican Communion in the southern part of Africa. The church has twenty-five dioceses, of which twenty-one are located in South Africa, and one each in Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Saint Helena. In South Africa, there are between 3 and 4 million Anglicans out of an estimated population of 45 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M3 (Cape Town)</span> Expressway in Cape Town, South Africa, between the City Bowl to the Southern Suburbs

The M3 is an expressway in Cape Town, South Africa, connecting the upper part of the City Bowl to the Southern Suburbs and ending in Tokai. For most of its route it parallels - though further to the south and west - the M4, which was the original road connecting central Cape Town with the settlements to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baxter Theatre Centre</span> Performing arts centre in Cape Town, South Africa

The Baxter Theatre Centre is a performing arts complex in Rondebosch, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. The Baxter, as it is often known, is part of the University of Cape Town; it is also the second largest performing arts complex in Cape Town, after the Artscape Theatre Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African College of Music</span> Department of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Cape Town

The South African College of Music, abbreviated as SACM, is a department of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Cape Town. It is located on the university's Lower Campus in Rondebosch, Cape Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Suburbs, Cape Town</span> Sub-region of Cape Town, South Africa

The Southern Suburbs are a group of Anglophone suburbs in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. This group includes, among others, Observatory, Mowbray, Pinelands, Rosebank, Rondebosch, Rondebosch East, Newlands, Claremont, Hanover Park,Lansdowne, Kenilworth, Bishopscourt, Constantia, Wynberg, Ottery, Plumstead, Diep River, Bergvliet and Tokai. The area is also commonly referred to as the Cape Peninsula, often including the towns further South such as Fish Hoek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anglican Diocese of Cape Town</span> Diocese of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa

The Diocese of Cape Town is a diocese of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) which presently covers central Cape Town, some of its suburbs and the island of Tristan da Cunha, though in the past it has covered a much larger territory. The Ordinary of the diocese is Archbishop of Cape Town and ex officio Primate and Metropolitan of the ACSA. His seat is St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desmond Tutu</span> South African bishop and anti-apartheid activist (1931–2021)

Desmond Mpilo Tutu was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996, in both cases being the first black African to hold the position. Theologically, he sought to fuse ideas from black theology with African theology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Line (Cape Town)</span> Metrorail railway line in Cape Town, South Africa

The Southern Line is a commuter rail line operated by Metrorail Western Cape, connecting Cape Town station in central Cape Town, South Africa with the Southern Suburbs and the towns on the west coast of False Bay, terminating in Simon's Town.

Tyrone Appollis is a South African artist and poet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Duncan Baxter</span>

William Duncan Baxter was a businessman, politician, and the Mayor of Cape Town, South Africa, from 1907 to 1908. The theatre, generally known as "The Baxter", a performing arts complex in Rondebosch, a suburb of Cape Town, was named in his honour.

Ashraf Johaardien is a multi-award-winning playwright, actor, and producer. He was the recipient of the inaugural PANSA Jury Award (2002), was listed as one of Mail & Guardian's 'Top 200 Young South Africans' (2008) and he received a Legends Award (2012) for his achievements in arts and culture.

Rowan Quentin Smith was a Dean of St. George's Cathedral, Cape Town.

The following is a timeline of the history of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institute for Justice and Reconciliation</span>

The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) is a non-governmental organisation and think tank based in Cape Town, South Africa. It was forged out of the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2000. The aim was to ensure that lessons learnt from South Africa's transition from apartheid to democracy were taken into account as the nation moved ahead. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was the patron of the IJR.

<i>The Forgiven</i> (2017 film) 0000 South African film

The Forgiven is a 2017 South African drama film directed by Roland Joffé starring Forest Whitaker, Eric Bana and Jeff Gum. Joffé co-wrote the script with Michael Ashton on the basis of the play The Archbishop and the Antichrist by Michael Ashton, which tells a story involving Archbishop Desmond Tutu's search for answers during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and his meetings with the fictional character Piet Blomfeld.

The Arch for Arch is an architectural structure and monument located in Cape Town, South Africa, created to commemorate the life and work of Desmond Tutu. Commissioned by Design Indaba and sponsored by Liberty, its name is a play on Tutu's widely used nickname, "The Arch". A smaller version of the monument is located in Johannesburg, South Africa at Constitution Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Cape Town</span> List of links to articles about Cape Town on Wikipedia

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Cape Town:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M4 (Cape Town)</span> Metropolitan route in the City of Cape Town, South Africa

The M4 is a long metropolitan route in the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa. It connects the Cape Town CBD with the Cape Peninsula via Wynberg, Muizenberg and Fish Hoek. Originally, it was the main route connecting the Cape Town CBD with the Southern Suburbs. From the CBD to Kirstenhof, it is parallel to the M3 Freeway.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Krummeck, P.A. 2012. Adam & Luke. Cape Town: Junkets
  2. Obituary, Die Burger
  3. Bookslive feature on Adam and Luke