Pieter-Dirk Uys

2025-10-16T22:15:39Z

2A0A:EF40:127F:CA01:48EE:31D2:E9A:32B2:

{{Short description|South African comedian (born 1945)}}
{{Use South African English|date=August 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Pieter-Dirk Uys
| image = Pdu.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|9|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Cape Town]], South Africa
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = [[University of Cape Town]]
| occupation = Satirist, performer, author, social activist
| awards = }}

'''Pieter-Dirk Uys''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|eɪ|s}}; born 28 September 1945) is a South African performer, author, satirist, and social activist. One of his best known roles is as '''Evita Bezuidenhout''', an [[Afrikaner]] socialite.

==Background and early life==
Uys was born in Cape Town on 28 September 1945, to Hannes Uys, a [[Calvinist]] [[Afrikaner]] father, and [[Helga Uys|Helga Bassel]], a [[Berlin]]-born Jewish mother.<ref name=tallmer>{{cite journal|last=Tallmer|first=Jerry|title=South African performer hands a shovel to the head-buried president|url=http://thevillager.com/villager_27/southafricanperformer.html|journal=The Villager|access-date=9 August 2012|volume=73|issue=27|date= 5–11 November 2003|location=New York, NY|quote=The word is mainly associated with the Nazi extermination of millions of Jews, gays, gypsies, and others during World War II", said Uys, gay and the son of a Berlin-born Jewish mother. "But does genocide always have to be at the end of a machine gun? Do we have to kill six million and one people to be worse than the Nazis? [Mbeki’s] strategy is starting to look like a systematic planned extermination of those who are poor, unemployed, in prison, on the streets, and hopeless. The new apartheid has already established itself. Black and white South Africans will live. Those without money will have no access to medication and drugs. They will die.}}</ref> Hannes Uys, a fourth-generation South African of Dutch and Belgian [[Huguenot]] stock,<ref name=tallmer/> was a musician and organist in his local church.<ref name=nytimes>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/25/arts/piano-returns-to-berlin-releasing-family-secret.html|title=Piano Returns To Berlin, Releasing Family Secret|author=Alan Cowell|newspaper=The New York Times|date=25 March 2004}}</ref> Bassel was a German concert pianist, whom the Nazis expelled from the [[Reichsmusikkammer]] in 1935 as part of their campaign to root out Jewish artists.<ref name=aviva>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviva-berlin.de/aviva/content_Juedisches%20Leben_Juedinnen.php?id=5354|title=Interview with Tessa Uys|author=Jennifer Gallagher|publisher=AVIVA-Berlin |date= 8 November 2004}}</ref> She later escaped to South Africa and managed to take her grand piano with her, with which she taught her daughter, [[Tessa Uys]] (b. 1948), now a concert pianist based in London.<ref name=tallmer/><ref name=nytimes/><ref name=aviva/> Bassel spoke little about her Jewish past to her children. It was only after her suicide that they discovered she was Jewish.<ref name=tallmer/><ref name=nytimes/><ref name=aviva/> Uys and his sister had an [[NG Kerk]] upbringing and their mother encouraged them to embrace [[Afrikaner culture]].<ref name=nytimes/><ref name=fv>{{cite book|year=1983|last=Allan|first=Jani|title=[[Face Value (book)|Face Value]] |publisher=Longstreet Publishers|location=Cape Town|isbn=9780620070133}}</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140821004138/http://janiallan.com/facetoface/ PIETER-DIRK UYS: ‘I'm just the dumb blonde with the jewellery’]}} janiallan.com. Retrieved on 23 June 2014</ref>

==Career==
Uys received a B.A. from the [[University of Cape Town]] where he began his dramatic career as an actor under the tutelage of Rosalie van der Gught, Mavis Taylor and Robert Mohr, among others. His performances at this time included roles in [[Little Malcolm|''Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs'']], ''[[The Fantasticks]],'' and ''[[Once Upon a Mattress]]''. He later went on to study at the [[London Film School]] during the early 1970s. It was in one of his student films, an advertisement for milk, that he performed in [[Drag (clothing)|drag]] for the first time (as a [[milkmaid]]).{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} He then began a period in his dramatic career as a serious playwright. Several of his plays were performed at the [[Space Theatre (Cape Town)|Space Theatre, Cape Town]], and his 1979 play ''Paradise is Closing Down'' was performed in London, at the [[Edinburgh Festival]] (co-produced by [[William Burdett-Coutts]]),<ref name="Uys2005">{{Cite book|author=Pieter-Dirk Uys|title=Between the Devil and the Deep: A Memoir of Acting and Reacting|date=1 January 2005|publisher=Zebra|isbn=978-1-77007-100-1|page=184}}</ref> and later produced for [[Granada Television]] in 1981.<ref>{{IMDb title|id=1048896|title=Paradise is Closing Down}}</ref> He subsequently switched to performing one-man revues at the height of the [[History of South Africa in the apartheid era|Apartheid]] era. His show ''Adapt or Dye'' started at the [[Market Theatre (Johannesburg)|Market Theatre]] in [[Johannesburg]] in 1981 and ran for 280 performances to sellout crowds.<ref name=nytuys>Lelyveld, Joseph (5 July 1983). [https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/05/theater/afrikaner-s-satire-a-box-office-hit.html?searchResultPosition=25 Afrikaner's Satire a Box Office Hit] ''The New York Times''. Retrieved on 11 February 2025</ref> He followed this up with ''Farce about Uys: A Legal Assembly in Two Riotous Acts'', quickly selling out tickets for its initial five-week run.<ref name=nytuys/>

Uys is particularly well known for his character ''Evita Bezuidenhout'' (also known as '''[[wiktionary:tannie|Tannie]] Evita''', Afrikaans for "Auntie Evita"), a white Afrikaner socialite and self-proclaimed political activist. The character was inspired by Australian comedian [[Barry Humphries]]'s character [[Dame Edna Everage]]. Evita is the former ambassadress of Bapetikosweti – a fictitious [[Bantustan]] or black homeland located outside her home in the affluent, formerly whites-only suburbs of [[Johannesburg]]. Evita Bezuidenhout is named in honour of [[Eva Perón]]. Under Apartheid, Uys used the medium of humour and comedy to criticise and expose the absurdity of the South African government's [[Race (classification of human beings)|racial]] policies. Much of his work was not censored, indicating a tacit approval of his views by many members of the ruling party, who were not so bold as to openly admit mistakes and criticise the policies themselves.<ref>{{Citation|last=Julian Shaw|title=DARLING! THE PIETER-DIRK UYS STORY|date=2011-11-04|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEuLFlvX-KE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/pEuLFlvX-KE |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-11-15}}{{cbignore}}</ref> For many years Uys lampooned the South African regime and its leaders, as well as the sometimes hypocritical attitudes of white liberals. One of his characters, a ''kugel'' ([[social climber|social climbing]] Jewish woman) once said, "There are two things wrong with South Africa: one's apartheid and the other's black people".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teddyaward.tv/2006/popup/video.asp?OzIID=8278&ObjKatID=113&ThemaKatID=1019|title=Teddy Award – The official queer award at the Berlin International Film Festival|website=teddyaward.tv|access-date=4 May 2018|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924113822/http://www.teddyaward.tv/2006/popup/video.asp?OzIID=8278&ObjKatID=113&ThemaKatID=1019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/node/153644 www.newstatesman.com]</ref> This was later erroneously attributed to Uys himself.

Following South Africa's first non-racial elections in 1994, Uys starred in a TV series, ''Funigalore'', in which Evita interviewed [[Nelson Mandela]] and other prominent politicians of the day. In the theatre, Uys/Evita's performances include ''You ANC Nothing Yet''. He and his character are known for their tireless work in the frontline of [[HIV/AIDS in South Africa|HIV/AIDS]] activism and education. He is currently involved in teaching AIDS awareness to children and education in the use of [[condoms]], travelling to schools all over South Africa to spread the message of safe, [[responsible sex]]. Uys also serves on the board of directors for the [[Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation]], a non-profit organisation founded to provide treatment for and conduct research relating to HIV.
[[File:Darling1.jpg|thumb|right|Art and Craft market at ''Evita se Perron'']]
Uys converted the old, disused railway station at [[Darling, Western Cape|Darling]], where he lives, into a cabaret venue called ''Evita se Perron'' (Perron is [[Afrikaans]] for ''station platform'') and performs there regularly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-20-video-evitas-free-speech-ep-27-evita-shows-gupta-fashion-and-denies-gupta-fact/#.WgwfzhP-mvM|title=Video: Evita's Free Speech, Ep 26 – Evita shows Gupta fashion and denies Gupta fact |website=[[Daily Maverick]]|location=South Africa|date=20 March 2016 |language=en|access-date=2017-11-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.discoversouthafrica.co.za/leisure/evita-se-perron/|title=Evita se Perron – Things do to in Darling |website=Discover South Africa |language=en|access-date=2017-11-15}}</ref> During 2004, Pieter-Dirk Uys took part in a Carte Blanche story, dealing with genetics and unlocking the mysteries of race and ethnicity, entitled "So, Where Do We Come From?". Uys discovered that he has [[Central Africa]]n heritage from his mother's side.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/SA-one-big-family-20040919|title=SA 'one big family'|access-date=4 May 2018}}</ref> Uys received the [[Teddy Awards|Special Teddy Award 2011]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.teddyaward.tv/en/aboutteddy/special_teddy_award/|title=The Special Teddy Award|access-date=4 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809133810/http://news.teddyaward.tv/en/aboutteddy/special_teddy_award/|archive-date=9 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> at the [[Berlin International Film Festival]] (Berlinale) for his commitment to AIDS education at South African schools and for his on-stage [[alter ego]], Evita Bezuidenhout. An independent jury presents the ''Teddy Award'' to individuals for lifetime achievements for films with [[LGBT]] (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) topics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/uys-to-bear-it-and-grin-in-berlin-1.1027324|title=Uys to bear it and grin in Berlin – IOL Entertainment|access-date=4 May 2018}}</ref>

==Awards and honours==
*The 2011 TMSA [[Naledi Theatre Awards|Naledi]] Lifetime Achiever Award<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naleditheatreawards.org.za/lifetime.htm|title=The TMSA Naledi Lifetime Achiever Awards|access-date=4 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702213317/http://www.naleditheatreawards.org.za/lifetime.htm|archive-date=2 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Special Teddy Award at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) 2011
*[[Reconciliation Award]] in 2001
*Mrs Evita Bezuidenhout was awarded the Living Legacy 2000 Award in San Diego
*The lifetime achievement award from the [[The Cape Tercentenary Foundation|Cape Tercentenary Foundation]]
*Doctor honoris causa from
**Rhodes University: D.Litt. (Hon.), 1997
**University of Cape Town: D.Litt. for distinguished, socially-responsible creative work in 2003
**University of the Western Cape: D.Ed. (Hon.), 2003
*2018 [[Hertzog Prize]] for drama

==Books==
* ''Farce about Uys : A Legal Assembly in Two Riotous Acts'' (1983) Jonathan Ball and Ad. Donker Publishers {{ISBN|0-86850-077-1}}
* ''Selle ou storie'': A play (1983) Ad. Donker, Johannesburg {{ISBN|0-86852-027-6}}
* ''Paradise Is Closing Down and Other Plays'' (1989) Penguin Books Ltd {{ISBN|0-14-048228-8}}
* ''Funigalore: Evita's Real-Life Adventures in Wonderland'' (1995) The Penguin Group (SA) Pty Ltd {{ISBN|0-14-025313-0}}
* ''The Essential Evita Bezuidenhout'' (1997) David Philip Publishers, Cape Town {{ISBN|0-86486-349-7}}
* ''A Part Hate a Part Love: The Legend of Evita Bezuidenhout'' (1994) Hond, Groenkloof {{ISBN|1-874969-08-6}}
* ''No space on Long Street ; Marshrose'' : two plays (2000) ComPress, Cape Town {{ISBN|978-1-919-83310-1}}
* ''Trekking to Teema'' (2001) Compress, Cape Town {{ISBN|1-919833-10-2}}
* ''Elections & Erections: A Memoir of Fear and Fun'' (2003) Zebra Press, Cape Town {{ISBN|1-86872-665-7}}

==Films and documentaries==
* ''Skating on thin Uys'', a 1985 comedy lampooning [[P.W. Botha]]
* ''Going Down Gorgeous'', (1998-2000) an SABC comedy about post-apartheid South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-05-04 |title=Pieter-Dirk Uys reaches his acme |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2000-05-05-pieter-dirk-uys-reaches-his-acme/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Going Down Gorgeous |url=https://pdu.co.za/gorgeous.html |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=pdu.co.za}}</ref>
* ''Darling! The Pieter–Dirk Uys Story'', a 2007 documentary by [[Julian Shaw]]
* ''How to make Rooibos Rusks with Evita Bezuidenhout'', a 2016 [[YouTube]] by SuzelleDIY<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-09-20|title=SuzelleDIY: HOW TO MAKE ROOIBOS RUSKS WITH EVITA BEZUIDENHOUT|url=https://tastyrecipes.sapeople.com/rooibos-rusks-recipe-suzelle-diy-evita-bezuidenhout/|access-date=2020-06-22|website=SAPeople Tasty Recipes|language=en-US|archive-date=22 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622233333/https://tastyrecipes.sapeople.com/rooibos-rusks-recipe-suzelle-diy-evita-bezuidenhout/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*[http://www.pdu.co.za/ Pieter-Dirk Uys's homepage]
*[http://www.evita.co.za/ Evita's webpage]
*{{IMDb name|1138462|Pieter-Dirk Uys}}
*[http://www.cape300foundation.org.za/archives-awards.htm The Cape Tercentenary Foundation Awards]

{{LGBT in South Africa}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uys, Pieterdirk}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Afrikaner Jews]]
[[Category:Afrikaner people]]
[[Category:South African drag queens]]
[[Category:South African male comedians]]
[[Category:South African people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:South African people of German-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:South African people of Belgian descent]]
[[Category:South African people of French descent]]
[[Category:International Writing Program alumni]]
[[Category:Afrikaner anti-apartheid activists]]
[[Category:South African LGBTQ comedians]]
[[Category:LGBTQ Jews]]
[[Category:University of Cape Town alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century South African Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century South African Jews]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Pieter-Dirk Uys