Yanou Pienaar

Yanou graduated from Stellenbosch University with a Bachelors Degree in Drama in 2009 and is currently an educator at Parel Vallei High School in Somerset West. She has written and directed the English plays at the school since 2013. These plays, which include Hyperbole, Life Wish, Dubiosus, Too Bad and Medium Rare have enjoyed many accolades at various festivals and competitions.

She holds a Director’s Ticket at the Playhouse and has directed two shows for the theatre including an adapted version of the acclaimed Hello and Goodbye by Athol Fugard in 2017; this adaptation earned three CATA awards in 2018 (Best Newcomer, Best Director for a play and Best Play). Most recently, she has collaborated with two young actors on a new comedy, Rocket Boys, which was performed at The Drama Factory and Theatre Arts Admin Collective in 2018. The show was also included in the 2019 Woordfees programme and it travelled to Makhanda (Grahamstown) in 2019 for Fringe performances at the National Arts Festival.