The clown that changed a town
Obituary
Andre Steyl
February 25, 1945– February 6, 2025
Patricia Gill, Denmark Bulletin
Denmark Arts founder Andre Steyl, who died at 78 two weeks short of his 79 birthday, had estimated that he had clocked up ‘roughly’ 40 years involvement in community arts.
The South African-born and raised life member and a ‘legend’ of Denmark Arts suffered and survived poliomyelitis in his adolescence, and was left with partial paralysis.
He graduated from The University of Cape Town in 1969 with an arts degree and a burning urge to do things his way.
This was even the title of a book, Done My Way, which he wrote about his life and published in 2008.
Andre and then wife Avril were among a Hippie wave which arrived in Denmark in the 1970s, with the couple playing a big part in laying the foundations of Denmark as an arts town.
The huge success of a 1983 Clowns Convention, hosting more than 100 clowns, put the town on the map forever as a place of artistic endeavour.
Along the way during those days were a film club, markets, Brave New Works festivals, etc, so much so that: “It took over my life and I don’t regret any of it”, Andre told the Denmark Bulletin in 2022. At the time, Andre, as a filmmaker and visual artist had hoped to tell his story, with a studio and exhibition in his home at the Mia Mia Housing Cooperative.
In typical artistic flair, he and a friend had painted the walls in his house, and painted a screen to create a cinema.
“I’ve got a really good sound system, short-throw projector though I can’t have more than 12 people here,” the irrepressible arts entrepreneur said.
But the project was put on hold as he pondered his own mortality.
Then 77 years, he told of how had not expected to live past 55.
“Why” I asked, “because of the polio?”
“No, I just thought when I was younger that’s how long you live,” Andre’s characteristic cackling laughter ensued. Andre never owned a vehicle until he was 65 but by 2017 after nine years on the road and numerous repairs, the car, a red footcontrolled Ford engine on a Jeep body, was kaput. Andre had bought the car for $1500 and had relished the freedom of motoring.
“I can’t get rid of it, it just sits there,” he said nodding toward the rusting wreck in the carport.
“I’m thinking of putting it on a pole on the front lawn – like they do at second-hand car dealers – as an installation.”
Before car ownership, Andre walked everywhere.
However the one-time regular in Denmark Village Theatre performances, usually as a villain, bunyip, or similar, in recent years had found walking to rehearsals ‘a drag’.
“But I loved it and enjoyed filming it too,” he said.
“They were talking about doing a rehash of all the pantos and now they’re going to do Snow White – Snow White?” Andre said incredulous.
“I said I’d be in it if I could be Snow White.
“I reckon I could pull that off! Don’t you think so?” Andre let out another demonic cackle.
In recent times Andre had relished Denmark Arts’ re-focus on circus.
He described a Bounce Back Circus performance: “It was f**king fantastic!”
“It’s like clowns went on hold for a while, but it’s always been there.
“Whatever you do, it has to be new.
“That what BNW is all about.
“There’s a whole new wave.
“It’s exciting and it’s no longer Denmark Arts, it’s the whole town, which has got it’s own galleries, youth theatre group and young people now moving in.”
Andre is survived by Avril and his four children, Gunther, Anna and Griffin Steyl and Amina Watts. He has three grandsons – Tyson, Braedon and Sam.
See all the pictures in the issue.
This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 22 February 2024.
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