Wêla Kapêla Productions is proud to announce that Die Siel van Eugene Marais (The Soul of Eugène Marais) will be making its Gauteng debut, following a successful National tour, at the Centurion Theatre for 2 shows only on 24 and 25 July.
Starring the award-winning young actor Daniel Anderson, accompanied on piano by Paul Ferreira, Die Siel van Eugene Marais takes audiences on a compelling journey through the life of one of South Africa’s most fascinating literary figures.
Through Marais’ poetry, set to music by several South African composers, a profoundly human story unfolds.
Audiences witness Eugène Marais’s remarkable transformation: from a charming young journalist and charismatic law student who moved among London’s elite, to the legendary “Wonder Dokter” of the Waterberg, the pioneering naturalist and poet; and finally to the desolate old man, caught between genius and self-destruction.
“We didn’t want to simply tell Eugène Marais’s life story,” says writer and director Amanda Bothma. “We wanted to reveal his soul—his brilliance, his suffering, his love of nature, and his inability to escape his demons. This is not merely the story of a poet; it is the story of a human being.”
Die Siel van Eugene Marais weaves together poetry, original music and drama to create an intimate theatrical experience—a tribute to one of the greatest minds in Afrikaans literature, whose words and legacy continue to resonate deeply today.
Don’t miss this unique tribute to Eugène Marais.
Performance Information
Venue: Centurion Theatre
Friday, 24 July 2026
7:30 p.m.
Saturday, 25 July 2026
4:15 p.m.
Tickets: From R200
Tickets are available through Quicket
Production Team
- Performer: Daniel Anderson
- Piano Accompaniment: Paul Ferreira
- Set Design: Wilhelm Disbergen
- Lighting Design: Barry Strydom
- Written and Directed by: Amanda Bothma
REVIEWS
“Third time’s the charm,” goes the saying. In the case of 25-year-old Daniel Anderson’s first Afrikaans production, The Soul of Eugène Marais, presented at the Woordfees, it is undoubtedly a direct hit. — Marina Griebenow, Woordfees
Anderson brings Marais’s words to life and captures the impact of his poetry with a quiet conviction… Marais suddenly stands among us again in modern life – and he has much to say to our time. His poems remain some of the most powerful and unforgettable works in Afrikaans. — Laetitia Pople, Media24
The music forms the emotional heartbeat of the production. Pianist Paul Ferreira accompanies with great sensitivity and becomes far more than an accompanist – rather a co-narrator of this story.
Daniel Anderson delivers a performance that will be remembered for a long time. With fine control, vulnerability and emotional intensity, he takes the audience on the poet’s journey through hope, loss and eventual decline. It is a performance that bears witness to a young actor who has earned his place among the country’s leading stage performers. — Karen van der Berg, Vrystaat Arts Festival
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