Marlene van Niekerk

Marlene van Niekerk (1954- ) is an academic, poet, novelist and dramatist.

Biography

Born on 10 November 1954 on Tygerhoek farm near Caledon in the Western Cape of South Africa. She attended school in Riviersonderend and Stellenbosch, matriculating from Hoërskool Bloemhof.

She did a BA in languages and philosophy at the University of Stellenbosch and was part of D.J. Opperman’s famous poetry laboratory, making a name for herself as a poet with her collection Sprokkelster, published in 1977. In this period she also wrote three plays for amateur theatre.

She completed a Master's degree in 1978 and in 1985 obtained a Dutch doctorandus in philosophy from the University of Amsterdam.

In 1979, between her Master's and her doctorate, she moved to Germany to study directing as an apprentice at theatres in Stuttgart and Mainz.

As lecturer Van Niekerk taught philosophy at the University of Zululand and the University of South Africa, and from 1989 taught Afrikaans and Dutch literature at the University of the Witwatersrand. In 2000 she joined the staff of the University of Stellenbosch as professor in the Afrikaans and Dutch department, where she teaches creative writing.

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

As a student she also wrote and directed some interesting one-act plays for the annual student play competition. These include Die Duiwel, sy handlanger en die drie ligtekooie and Vrolike Frans. Dissuaded from publishing them by Opperman, she went to Germany to study philosophy and become involved in theatre.

Her novel Triomf was adapted for the stage and produced in 1997 and a film version was released in 2008.

She next wrote the contorversial play Die kortstondige raklewe van Anastasia W., which was produced in Stellenbosch and at various festivals by TEATERteater, directed by Marthinus Basson.

Awards, etc

She has won numerous awards, including the Eugène Marais Prize and the Ingrid Jonker Prize for her first volume of poetry.

She was awarded the prestigious Hertzog Prize twice: for her novel Agaat in 2007 and for her poetry collection Kaar in 2014.

She won the Anglo-Gold Ashanti Prize (Aardklop-Smeltkroes) for her play Die kortstondige raklewe van Anastasia W. in 2010.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlene_van_Niekerk

https://www.litnet.co.za/marlene-van-niekerk-1954/

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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