Willie Fritz
Willie Fritz. (19*-) Actor, producer of radio and TV ads, copywriter.
Contents
Biography
Born in 1960, he grew up in a farm in the Free State and matriculated 1979. He went on to complete a National Diploma in Performing Arts at the Pretoria Technicon (1984), a National Higher Diploma in Performing Arts at the same institution (1985), and a Lip Synchronisation Translation Course at the SABC in Johannesburg in the same year. He would later also do an Adobe Creative Suite Course at Concept Interactive, Cape Town, in 2004.
He initially worked as an actor for CAPAB for a number of years (1986-1990), before moving into the filed of copywriting and the production of ads with , PdeV Advertising, Cape Town (1991). This was followed by stints as Copywriter/Broadcast Producer with Y&R in Nairobi, Kenya (1992 - 1995); Senior Copywriter with Bosman Johnson FCB, Cape Town (1996 - 1999); Senior Copywriter with TBSP, Cape Town (1999) and Concept Editor with Forwardslash, Cape Town (2000 - 2003).
He then shifted his focus to become a freelance writer, translator, designer and photographer (2004 - present).
Besides his work as copywriter he also wrote a novel, Fast Forward to Schoonwater, which was published in 2007.
He was married to actress Fiona Coyne (1965-2010).
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As an actor for the Cape Performing Arts Board (CAPAB) between 1986 and 1990 he was involved in numerous productions, including Ubu Roi, Romeo and Juliet, The Good Soldier Shweik; Huise vol Uile, Good, Aap in die Mou, Anatomie Titus Fall of Rome, Blitzbreeker and the Chicken from Hell, Christine, Die Keiser, Vettie, Vettie! (1987), Piekniek by Dingaan, Kinkels innie Kabel, Much Ado about Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, Tartuffe, Huise Vol Uile, Measure for Measure, The Good Soldier Svejk, Thark, James and the Giant Peach, Hond se Gedagte (1988), Twelfth Night, or What You Will (Maynardville 1989) and The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of Macbeth.
As director he did Beyond Therapy and The Zoo Story.
Awards, etc
Sources
https://www.williefritz.co.za/assets/pdfs/Willie%20Fritz%20-%20CV%202017.pdf
National Arts Festival programme, 1985.
Theatre pamphlet 1987 (re Christine).
CAPAB Brochure, Aug-Nov 1989.
Review by Arnold Blumer of Blitzbreeker, Vrye Weekblad, 12 April 1990.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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