View source for H.A. Fagan

'''Henry Allan (H.A.) Fagan''' (1889-1963) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Allan_Fagan] was a well-known South African judge, journalist, politician, academic and a respected poet and playwright. He was awarded the [[Hertzog Prize]] for [[Afrikaans]] Drama in 1935.

== Biography ==
Born in Tulbagh in the Cape Province, where his father was a prominent lawyer.

=== Youth ===
His early years were spent in Tulbagh, where he started his schooling. His father was also an amateur poet and had a very large private library at home. While the family lived in Tulbagh he completed his schooling in Somerset West.

=== Training ===
In 1905 he went to [[Victoria College]] (later to become [[Stellenbosch University]]), where he completed a BA in Literature, after which he studied Law at the University of London where he completed his LLB degree.

=== Career ===
He was at one time assistant editor of  ''[[Die Burger]]'' and during 1938/9 a member of JBM Hertzog’s [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._B._M._Hertzog] cabinet (as minister for Native Affairs, Education and Social Welfare). Later objected to and wrote books protesting the inhumanity and impracticality of the segregationist policies of the Nationalist Party.

==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
'''H.A.Fagan''' is considered, along with [[J.F.W. Grosskopf|Grosskopf]], as the founder of the drama of social realism in [[Afrikaans]]. In August 1926 he was one of the founding members and first chairman of the [[Afrikaanse Toneelvereniging]] in Cape Town, a society which did two of his one-act plays – ''[[Rooibruin Blare]]'' and ''[[Ruwe Erts]]'' - in their first programme and later an early production of his play ''[[Lenie]]''. Wrote six full-length and seven one-act plays, and they include Lenie (1924), ''[[Die Ouderling]]'' (“The Church Elder”) and ''[[Ousus]]'' (published in one volume in 1934). His one-act plays have also been very influential through their clearly delineated  dramatic intrigue, naturalistic dialogue and tight structure. [TH, JH]

== Awards, etc ==
Awarded the 1935 [[Hertzogprys|Hertzog Prize]] for [[Afrikaans]] Drama for the collection of plays entitled ''[[Die Ouderling]] en ander toneelstukke'' (“The Church Elder and other plays”).

== Sources ==
Beukes and Lategan, 1961

Kannemeyer 1978

Binge, 1969

Du Toit,  1988

''LitNet'' [http://www.litnet.co.za/ha-fagan-18891963/]

Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

== Return to ==

Return to [[ESAT Personalities  F]] 

Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]

Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]

Return to [[Main Page]]