ATHOL FUGARD DIES

Widely acclaimed as one of South Africa’s greatest playwrights, Athol Fugard, has died. He was 92.

Fugard’s career spanned more than 70 years with 30 plays under his belt.

In 1961 people first took notice of him when The Blood Knot hit the stage. It was the first play in South Africa that featured a black and a white actor performing in front of a multiracial audience. Fugard was the white actor.

The Blood Knot was such a hit in South Africa that it was shown in the United States and eventually adapted for British television.

Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s arts and culture minister, paid tribute to Fugard calling him “a fearless storyteller who laid bare the harsh realities of apartheid through his plays”.

“We were cursed with apartheid, but blessed with great artists who shone a light on its impact and helped to guide us out of it. We owe a huge debt to this late, wonderful man.”

Fugard was no stranger to Hollywood. His play, Boesman and Lena was made into a 2000 Hollywood film that starred Angela Bassett and Danny Glover, while his novel Tsotsi, was made into a film by Gavin Hood.

Tsotsi won the Oscar for best foreign language movie in 2006.

Image credit: Los Angeles Times