Mario Schiess

Mario Schiess (1933-1998) was quantity surveyor, playwright, translator, theatre and film director and producer.

Biography

Born and raised in Switzerland, he emigrated to South Africa to practice as a quantity surveyor in Pretoria.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

He worked in South African theatre and film from the early 1970's. He had a strong interest in Jung, and used the psychologist's theories as the basis of his work with actors.

His most memorable achievement was perhaps his translation (from German), adaptation and direction of Marius Weyers in Kafka's Report to an Academy which played at The Laager in 1979.

He directed Pous Johanna II (Vilar), Miracle Man, Woman Alone, The Colossus of Brooklyn, Appassionata, My Son, My Son, The Glass Menagerie (1971).

He directed an Afrikaans translation of Equus Upstairs at the Market in 1978.

He wrote at least ten plays, among others Nemesis, Iscariot, The Chosen, Charade, Easter Bells, a play for two, The Revenge, Encounters at Midnight.

Mario Schiess also directed some South African feature films, including: Die Vervlakste Tweeling (1969), with Marius Weyers, Jana Cilliers, Bill Brewer and others; Onwettige Huwelik (1970), with Marius Weyers, Pieter Geldenhuys, Enone van den Bergh and others; Bait (1974), with Marius Weyers, Richard Loring, Diane Ridler and others;

[TH, JH]

Sources

See Gosher, 1988

National Arts Festival programme, 1990.

Correspondence with Michèle Schiess, his daughter. (2 June, 2018)

Commentary by Paul Boekkooi, cited in a draft article on Reza de Wet (2018), based on an unpublished interview with Schiess, which he had done in 1989.

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