Pieter Fourie

As in the case of "Johan", Pieter is one of the most commonly found first names in Afrikaans, and Fourie is equally widespread as a surname in South Africa, thus there are a number of individuals involved in theatre known as Pieter Fourie.

Pieter Fourie, Playwright

(1940-) Actor, director, playwright, producer and manager.

Biography

Born in Phillipolis in the Orange Free State on 3 April, 1940, grew up in Luckhoff. Left school at 15, to become a postal worker in Bloemfontein and Koffiefontein. Then he returned to school in Phillipolis, before going to the University of Stellenbosch, initially doing Drama, but after an argument with the professor, Fred Engelen, he left to finish with a BA and a BA Honours degree in Afrikaans Literature (1964). A founding member of D.J. Opperman’s literary laboratory, he initially published poetry in Afrikaans journals like Stiebeuel, Standpunte, Sestiger and Tydskrif vir Letterkunde. He was also a radical student leader at the time and a founding member of **.

In 1965 he started his own touring production company, the Pieter Fourie Genootskap, with and in 1966 he joined the CAPAB Drama Company, in 1967 becoming company manager of the Afrikaans Company. He would later be a resident dramatist for CAPAB and PACT, a free-lance writer, owner of a number of guest houses, and the Artistic Director of the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (or KKNK) and the founding owner of Rooderandt Produksies (see further below).

Married the actress Liz Dick, with whom he had two daughters, Tanya and Mashinka and after his divorce, married Marlize Herselmann in 1983, with whom he also had two daughters, Natasha en Nandi.

His contribution to South African Theatre, Film, Media and Performance

While a final year student in 1963 he wrote a play called Tjaka and in his honours year (1964) translated the play Close Quarters (originally Attentat by Somin) into Afrikaans as Wie is die Moordenaar? ("Who is the murderer?"), directed it and performed in it with fellow students Marie Pentz, Fanie Smit and Peter Grobbelaar during the vacations.

In 1965 he started his own touring production company, the Pieter Fourie Genootskap ("Pieter Fourie Association"), with actresses such as Christine Basson en Marie Pentz, writing and directing the work himself.

In 1966 he joined the CAPAB Drama Company as the company manager of the Afrikaans Company and in 1967 he was made Artistic Director for Afrikaans Drama, and in 1968 Artistic Director for Drama, a position he held for sixteen years (from 1968-1983), though he was fired three times and then reinstated. In this period he wrote his first significant work.

Then in 1983 became Playwright in Residence with CAPAB for 3 years and in 1985 with PACT, a post he held for 2 years.

He moved to Oudtshoorn and was one of the founders, and in 1997 became Director of, the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK).

In 1999 he resigned to return to writing and producing on a freelance basis, founding a production company, Rooderandt Produksies, in 2000, which produced a number of his works.

Over the years he was also involved as advisor, judge etc. with ATKV Kampustoneel,Logan Toneelfees.

His career as actor

Stage:

He began his professional career with performances in Wie is die Moordenaar? ("Who is the murderer?", 1964), Die Onbegraafde Lyk ("The unburied corpse", 1965), Die Wakker Wewenaar ("The spry bachelor", 1965), Vergewe Ons Ons Skulde ("Forgive us our trespasses", 1966), Gee Terug My Pen ("Give me back my pen") and Ester die Maltrap ("Ester the madcap").

Film:

He had roles in Dr Kalie (1968), My Broer se Bril (1972), Vlug van die Seemeeu (1972),

Television

His career as director

He initially wrote and directed his own work for his travelling company, the Pieter Fourie Genootskap (see names of the plays below).

In 1969 he directed his first piece for CAPAB, namely Fando and Lis by Arrabal. He went on to direct a large number of translated plays in the sixties and seventies, including Die Selfmoordenaar (Erdmann), Die Twee Laksmanne (Arrabal), 1971, 'n Kop vir die Strop (Feydeau), Die Huwelik van Mnr. Mississippi (Dürrenmatt), Shakespeare's Othello, So 'n Liefde, Roulette and Arme moordenaar (all by Pavel Kohout), .

His career as playwright

He began by translating or writing plays for his travelling company between 1964-1966, and the works include Wie is die Moordenaar? ("Who is the murderer?", 1964), Die Onbegraafde Lyk ("The unburied corpse", 1965), Die Wakker Wewenaar ("The spry bachelor", 1965), Vergewe Ons Ons Skulde ("Forgive us our trespasses", 1966), Gee Terug My Pen ("Give me back my pen") and Ester die Maltrap ("Ester the madcap"). These texts have apparently all been lost.

He then went on to write many more works over the years, including The Parents (an English work, written 1966, performed 1980), Hansie die Hanslam: ’n toneelstuk vir kinders (1969, an immensely popular children's play), Husse met Lang Ore (1969), Luilummel en Flenterpiet (1971), Faan se Trein (written 1971, performed 1975), Faan se Stasie (1976), Tsjaka (written 1963, but published 1976, as both Tsjaka and Shaka), Die Joiner (1976), Die Plaasvervangers (1978) Mooi Maria (1980), Ek, Anna van Wyk (1986), Die Proponentjie (1987), Die Koggelaar (1988), Donderdag se Mense (1989/1990); Die Groot Wit Roos (1989); Vat hom, Flaffie! (1989) Naelstring (’n band tussen twee teaterstrominge) (2001 - also done in English as Fuck thy Father), Elke duim 'n koning ("Every inch a king", 2001), Gert Garries – 'n baaisiekel babelas (2002), Koggelmanderman (2003), Jasmyn (2008), Post Mortem (2016)

Faan se Trein was filmed in 2013 and released in January, 2014.

Awards

Received the Three Leaves Award as best director for So 'n Liefde (Pavel Kohout) (19**).

Other awards include Johan Nell Prize for his contribution to local theatre, Dawie Malan/DALRO prize for the best new play; the SACPAC Prize for the best new South African text (Die Koggelaar); winner Nagtegaal/KKNK-competition for a new text, 2002;

In 199* awarded an Erepenning (=Honorary Penant) for his contribution to the performing arts by the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns and in 2003 received the prestigious Hertzog Prize for Drama for his plays. In 2011 an Honorary Doctorate was awarded to him by the University of the Free State[1]

Sources

Percy Tucker, 1997

https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieter_Fourie

Nico Luwes 2012. Pieter Fourie (1940-) se bydrae as Afrikaanse dramaturg en kunsbestuurder: 1965-2010. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Bloemfontein: University of the Free State, pp. [2]

https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieter_Fourie

Erica Terblanche in LitNet [3]

Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

Pieter Fourie, Arts Administrator

(194*-) Hugely influential organisor of the ATKV drama programmes, festivals and so on (1980**-19**). Perhaps best remembered for his pivotal role in initiating and managing the Kampustoneel playwriting project (198*-198*). Later a publicist for PACOFS.

Pieter J.Fourie, Academic

An influential lecturer, theorist and academic writer specialising in the field of Communication Studies, and a part-time drama and film critic

See Pieter J. Fourie

Pieter-Paul Fourie, playwright

A playwright and literary advisor for PACT

See Pieter-Paul Fourie

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