On the couch with Pieter-Dirk Uys
SS: In a nutshell, could you briefly explain what audiences can expect from your latest show, Desperate First Ladies?
PDU: It's a celebration of women we know, love, fear and fantasize about. I have a chorusline of women since 1982, some well known like Evita and Nowell, some new. There will be 14 women with me. And PW just for fun.
SS: How has the experience been working on this performance?
PDU: It's always theatrically rewarding to start as a 66 year old man and become a female character who won't admit to age. The show is also unashamedly entertaining. The politics is the petticoat, the fun is the dress.
SS: You use the country’s political background as inspiration for your material. Have you ever had a less than enthused political figure or member in the audience take offence?
PDU: I have always said if politicians don't like being made fun of, they can resign. I apologize to no one who has been elected to work for me.
SS: How and where did it all begin for you in terms of writing and performing your own shows?
PDU: Started at UCT Drama in the late 60's, through the London Film School in early 70s, then the Space Theatre CT and eventually on my own since 1975. PW Botha became my bread and botha, the censors my PR department and the audience my shrinks!
SS: In your personal opinion, what has been your greatest achievement?
PDU: Surviving the minefield of anger and disappointment and turning it into a funfair of hope.
SS: What has been your funniest on stage moment?
PDU: When my elastic snapped and my broeks fell down. It got such a good laugh that I kept it in the show. That's what's called topicality!
SS: You converted an old railway station in Darling into a cabaret venue called Evita se Perron. It is said to be famous for its satirical garden, Boerassic Park, and the domain of Evita Bezuidenhout, the 'most famous white woman in South Africa'. What sparked this initiative?
PDU: Let us remember where we come from, so we can celebrate where we are going. We're 18 years into our democracy. There is a generation or two who don't even know what we mean by The Struggle against apartheid. And apartheid will never come back under the same name. But bad politics reinvents itself and so let us share with the future what was so deadly and successful in the past. With humour.
SS: I wanted to briefly chat about your involvement campaigning for HIV and Aids awareness and education, freedom of speech and expression, and voter education and registration, which are obviously issues close to your heart. What is your opinion on the state of these issues in our country?
PDU: Our era of official denial is over. Thabo is gone. There is focus on testing and treatments. But not enough on prevention. My show to the schoolkids is funny, rude and challenging: it treats them as adults even though they are 12. They also have sex, if we like that fact or not. And again humour helps remember facts. the show is called 'For Facts Sake'. I still do it wherever and whenever I can. It is free to all.
SS: How do you think we, as a nation, can make a difference?
PDU: We as citizens must make a difference and then we will have a nation of note. We are still too brainwashed by third-rate politicians with their fourth-rate ideas. 2012 will be a year of political paralysis. The ANC is fighting each other for wealth and power. So let's get on with sorting the country out without them. Talk to neighbours and friends. Children. What must we do? And then do it properly.
SS: What are your plans for 2012?
PDU: A new one man show called 'Adapt or Fly' at the Sneddon in March, and a new play 'The Merry Wives of Zuma' inspired by .... Shakespeare and JZ.
Just for fun:
SS: New years resolutions?
PDU: Never be late
SS: If you could be a political leader for a day, who would you be and why?
PDU: Julius Malema - and emigrate to North Korea
SS: And if you were president, what would your first law passed be?
PDU: put orphanages and creches into old age homes
SS: How would you describe yourself in three words?
PDU: Pieter Dirk Uys
SS: If you were not a performer, what would you have been?
PDU: a teacher
SS: What is Tannie’s favourite traditional SA dish?
PDU: Bobotie
SS: And Pieter’s?
PDU: Not bobotie.
SS: What is tannie’s favourite SA holiday destination?
PDU: The Kruger National Park
SS: And Pieter’s?
PDU: My back garden
PDU: It's a celebration of women we know, love, fear and fantasize about. I have a chorusline of women since 1982, some well known like Evita and Nowell, some new. There will be 14 women with me. And PW just for fun.
SS: How has the experience been working on this performance?
PDU: It's always theatrically rewarding to start as a 66 year old man and become a female character who won't admit to age. The show is also unashamedly entertaining. The politics is the petticoat, the fun is the dress.
SS: You use the country’s political background as inspiration for your material. Have you ever had a less than enthused political figure or member in the audience take offence?
PDU: I have always said if politicians don't like being made fun of, they can resign. I apologize to no one who has been elected to work for me.
SS: How and where did it all begin for you in terms of writing and performing your own shows?
PDU: Started at UCT Drama in the late 60's, through the London Film School in early 70s, then the Space Theatre CT and eventually on my own since 1975. PW Botha became my bread and botha, the censors my PR department and the audience my shrinks!
SS: In your personal opinion, what has been your greatest achievement?
PDU: Surviving the minefield of anger and disappointment and turning it into a funfair of hope.
SS: What has been your funniest on stage moment?
PDU: When my elastic snapped and my broeks fell down. It got such a good laugh that I kept it in the show. That's what's called topicality!
SS: You converted an old railway station in Darling into a cabaret venue called Evita se Perron. It is said to be famous for its satirical garden, Boerassic Park, and the domain of Evita Bezuidenhout, the 'most famous white woman in South Africa'. What sparked this initiative?
PDU: Let us remember where we come from, so we can celebrate where we are going. We're 18 years into our democracy. There is a generation or two who don't even know what we mean by The Struggle against apartheid. And apartheid will never come back under the same name. But bad politics reinvents itself and so let us share with the future what was so deadly and successful in the past. With humour.
SS: I wanted to briefly chat about your involvement campaigning for HIV and Aids awareness and education, freedom of speech and expression, and voter education and registration, which are obviously issues close to your heart. What is your opinion on the state of these issues in our country?
PDU: Our era of official denial is over. Thabo is gone. There is focus on testing and treatments. But not enough on prevention. My show to the schoolkids is funny, rude and challenging: it treats them as adults even though they are 12. They also have sex, if we like that fact or not. And again humour helps remember facts. the show is called 'For Facts Sake'. I still do it wherever and whenever I can. It is free to all.
SS: How do you think we, as a nation, can make a difference?
PDU: We as citizens must make a difference and then we will have a nation of note. We are still too brainwashed by third-rate politicians with their fourth-rate ideas. 2012 will be a year of political paralysis. The ANC is fighting each other for wealth and power. So let's get on with sorting the country out without them. Talk to neighbours and friends. Children. What must we do? And then do it properly.
SS: What are your plans for 2012?
PDU: A new one man show called 'Adapt or Fly' at the Sneddon in March, and a new play 'The Merry Wives of Zuma' inspired by .... Shakespeare and JZ.
Just for fun:
SS: New years resolutions?
PDU: Never be late
SS: If you could be a political leader for a day, who would you be and why?
PDU: Julius Malema - and emigrate to North Korea
SS: And if you were president, what would your first law passed be?
PDU: put orphanages and creches into old age homes
SS: How would you describe yourself in three words?
PDU: Pieter Dirk Uys
SS: If you were not a performer, what would you have been?
PDU: a teacher
SS: What is Tannie’s favourite traditional SA dish?
PDU: Bobotie
SS: And Pieter’s?
PDU: Not bobotie.
SS: What is tannie’s favourite SA holiday destination?
PDU: The Kruger National Park
SS: And Pieter’s?
PDU: My back garden
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