Difference between revisions of "Mary Benson"
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| − | (1919-2000) Author, dramatist and anti-apartheid campaigner.Born in Pretoria on 8 December 1919 | + | '''Mary Benson''' (1919-2000) Author, dramatist and anti-apartheid campaigner. |
| + | |||
| + | == Biography == | ||
| + | Born in Pretoria on 8 December 1919. She died in London in 2000 at the age of 80. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Youth === | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Training === | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Career === | ||
| + | She originally went to Hollywood to become a film star, then joined up with the Union Defence Force for service in the north. After a time with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation fund, she worked for film director David Lean. In 1948, on reading [[Alan Paton]]’s ''[[Cry the Beloved Country]]'', she became politically of age and between 1952 and 1956 helped Rev. Michael Scott found the Africa Bureau in London, became the Treason Trials Defence Fund secretary in 1956, in 1963 testified before the UN Committee on Apartheid. Placed under house arrest when she returned to the RSA in 1965, and then went into exile till 1990. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
| + | Wrote a number of radio plays and documentaries, including ''[[Robben Island]]'', ''[[Red Clay]]'', ''[[Journey to the Interior of the Eastern Cape]]''. A close friend of [[Athol Fugard]] and [[Barney Simon]], she has written two books based on those friendships: She has edited Fugard’s journals for Ad Donker and in 1997 wrote ''Athol Fugard and Barney Simon: Bare Stage, a few props, great theatre'', a personal account of her relationship with them. Her autobiography is entitled ''A Far Cry'' (1990) | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Awards, etc == | ||
| + | |||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
| − | |||
| − | Return to [[ESAT Personalities B]] | + | [[ESAT Bibliography Bat-Bet| Mary Benson]], 1997. |
| + | |||
| + | [[ESAT Bibliography Dea-Deu|Mona De Beer]], 1995. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Obituary written by Barry Streek published in ''[[Mail and Guardian]]'', 23-29 June 2000. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Return to == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[ESAT Personalities B]] | ||
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]] | Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] | ||
Return to [[Main Page]] | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:48, 12 July 2018
Mary Benson (1919-2000) Author, dramatist and anti-apartheid campaigner.
Contents
Biography
Born in Pretoria on 8 December 1919. She died in London in 2000 at the age of 80.
Youth
Training
Career
She originally went to Hollywood to become a film star, then joined up with the Union Defence Force for service in the north. After a time with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation fund, she worked for film director David Lean. In 1948, on reading Alan Paton’s Cry the Beloved Country, she became politically of age and between 1952 and 1956 helped Rev. Michael Scott found the Africa Bureau in London, became the Treason Trials Defence Fund secretary in 1956, in 1963 testified before the UN Committee on Apartheid. Placed under house arrest when she returned to the RSA in 1965, and then went into exile till 1990.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Wrote a number of radio plays and documentaries, including Robben Island, Red Clay, Journey to the Interior of the Eastern Cape. A close friend of Athol Fugard and Barney Simon, she has written two books based on those friendships: She has edited Fugard’s journals for Ad Donker and in 1997 wrote Athol Fugard and Barney Simon: Bare Stage, a few props, great theatre, a personal account of her relationship with them. Her autobiography is entitled A Far Cry (1990)
Awards, etc
Sources
Mary Benson, 1997.
Mona De Beer, 1995.
Obituary written by Barry Streek published in Mail and Guardian, 23-29 June 2000.
Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities B
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
