Marlene van Niekerk

VAN NIEKERK, Marlene (1954- ). Poet, novelist and dramatist.

Biography
As a student at the University of Stellenbosch she was part of D.J. Opperman’s famous poetry laboratory and made her name as poet with her collection Sprokkelster, published in 1977.

Career
On her return from Germany to teach at the University of the Witwatersrand she very successfully turned her hand to the novel as medium, producing the award-winning novel Triomf in 1994.

In 2000 she joined the staff of the University of Stellenbosch as professor in Afrikaans.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As a student she also wrote and directed some interesting one-act plays for the annual student play competition. These include Die Duiwel, sy handlanger en die drie ligtekooie and Vrolike Frans. Dissuaded from publishing them by Opperman, she went to Germany to study philosophy and become involved in theatre.

Her novel Triomf was adapted for the stage and produced in 1997 and a film version was released in 2008.

She wrote the play Die kortstondige raklewe van Anastasia W..

Awards, etc
She was awarded the Hertzog Prize for her novel Agaat in 2007.

She won the Anglo-Gold Ashanti Prize (Aardklop-Smeltkroes) for Die kortstondige raklewe van Anastasia W. in 2010.

Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities V

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page