Athol Fugard

Playwright. Internationally acclaimed South African playwright. He began writing plays opposing the system of apartheid 50 years ago, and is writing still. Among his many plays are No-Good Friday; Nongogo; Blood Knot; Boesman and Lena; Sizwe Banzi Is Dead; The Island; A Lesson From Aloes; and Master Harold and the Boys. His plays have been produced all over the world; two of them ran this past season in New York City. He has also been a director and actor. Many of his plays have been adapted for film, most recently Tsotsi, which received the 2005 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Obie, the Tony, NY Drama Critics' Circle, and many honorary degrees.