Drama for Life is looking forward to hosting their longtime friend and patron Pieter-Dirk Uys in his public lecture “You ANC nothing yet – on the road to Mangaung”. Inspired by the politics of third-rate people with fourth-rate ideas, as well as the great passions of those who take long walks to freedom, Uys will reflect the state of the nation through his cracked mirror of recognition - with a good sense of humour.
Pieter-Dirk Uys has written and performed plays, revues and one-man shows since the mid-1960s. His alter-ego – Evita Bezuidenhout – has received the Living Legacy 2000 Award in San Diego, USA and has become his most famous creation. Since his satirical work was censored during Apartheid, his growing audience got to know the artist through video tapes that were circulated amongst his multiracial fans. Members of the present democratic parliament remember seeing his videos while in exile and in prison. Until now Pieter-Dirk Uys works on satirical plays and shows and feels “very delighted to still have a government that on a daily basis write his best material”. He also travels around the country to visit schools, prisons and reformatories with his free AIDS-awareness entertainment ‘For Facts Sake!’.

Pieter-Dirk Uys has a close relationship to Drama for Life and Wits University and has recently been appointed the 2012 Wits Carnegie Resident Scholar for the Drama for Life Programme. The Carnegie Residency aims to facilitate dialogue on transformation and introduce the university community to a range of diverse perspectives on topics of institutional and national concern. Academics and students nominate outstanding individuals who contribute in innovative ways to the process of knowledge formation at Wits University.

Starring: Nelson Mandela, Evita Bezuidenhout, Jacob Zuma, Helen Suzman, PW Botha, Nowell Fine, BJ Vorster, Mrs Pietersen, Pik Botha, DF Malan, Julius Malema, HF Verwoerd, Thabo Mbeki, Piet Koornhof, FW de Klerk, Kgalema Motlanthe, Adolf Hitler - Pieter-Dirk Uys also brings his latest one-man show ADAPT OR FLY to the Fringe @ Joburg Theatre from 3 to 29 April, Tuesdays to Saturdays at 20h00, Sundays at 15h00. Bookings can be made at 0861 670 670 or online: http://www.joburgtheatre.com/show_events_list.asp.

For more information please contact the Drama for Life Office on: 011 7174734 or email:Lonwabo.Mavuso@wits.ac.za

For media queries or interview requests please contact Ayob/Vuyo on: 011 788 7631/2 or press@jtcomms.co.za