The name Athol Fugard is synonymous with South African theatre. Highly acclaimed as a playwright, though also known for his directing and acting, Fugard has written about topics that affected his life, such as his South African homeland and his fellow countrymen.

Born in Middleburg, South Africa in 1932, he used the country as the basis for most of his works. The subject of apartheid and the repercussions it had on the country’s people resonated heavily in his more popular works. He is responsible for founding the Experimental Space Theater in Cape Town. He also played a vital role in race relations, as he was one of the first white writers to work with black actors.

Some of his most famous (and world-renowned) works include: Sizwe Banzi Is Dead, The Island, The Road to Mecca, and Master Harold...and the Boys, which is a loosely autobiographical story. In addition to this, he wrote one novel - Tsotsi - which became an Academy Award-winning film in 2005.

Fugard was voted to the SABC3’s (South African Broadcasting Corporation) list of the Top 100 Greatest South Africans of all time-rounding out the list of honorees at number 100.

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Text: Dominick Casazza