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Estelle van der Merwe was involved in making
marionettes from the 1920s, and is regarded as a South African
pioneer in this tradition.
The author Dirk J J Mostert wrote the Afrikaans classics Petaljes van
Oom Bart, Moleste in die Moot and Spektakels en Debakels in 1934, 1936
and 1939 respectively. These stories tell about the adventures of Oom
Bart who lives on the farm Verdwaalvlakte, and reveal the life styles
and interests of the Afrikaans farmer during the 1930s in a gently
humorous way. Some of the stories were adapted for the SABC. Having
heard the stories, Estelle created her own marionette versions in
Parys in the Orange Free State.
Separate from Oom Bart and Tant Soesen, Ta seems to have acquired the
role of buffoon in Estelle's marionette plays. (SACHM89/58)
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