Charles Fryer

(1946-2014) Publisher, editor, author, playwright and critic.

Biography

Born on 5 Maart 1946 in Calvinia in what is today known as the Hantamhuis. He was one of five children. He later married Lorreine, a free lance editor and translator and two daughters Charleinne and Andrea, and a son, William.

Training

Having completed school, he went to the University of Stellenbosch, where he completed a BA degree in Afrikaans and Drama, being a member of D.J. Opperman's famous "letterkundige laboratorium" (a literary laboratory for aspiring authors). His drama lecturers included Fred Engelen and Rina Botha.

Career

Having finished his studies, he taught high school at the Hoërskool DF Malan in Bellville and in 1975joined the publishing firm Tafelberg Uitgewers, initially as a book editor and later as a publisher. In the 1980s he was also popular as a TV critic.

He wrote and published one book of poems (Rooiwielwa, 1978), wrote some short stories and unpublished plays, and collated a number of collections, including a book of one-act plays.

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

As editor

He edited a book of one-act plays called Kollig: vyf eenbedrywe ("Spotlight: five one-act plays") , published in Cape Town by Tafelberg Uitgewers in 1982, reprinted 1987.

Awards, etc

In 1997 he received the Piet Cillié medal for creative work.

In 2008 the Woordfees in Stellenbosch presented Rooiwielwa, a special program compiled by Alwena van der Vyver, dedicated to Charles Fryer, consisting of readings of selected compilation from his poems, prose and unpublished works.

In the same year he received aspecial award from the ATKV in recognition of his life-long contribution to Afrikaans literature.

Sources

Erika Terblanche: Charles Fryer (1946-2014), LitNet Skrywersalbum[1]

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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