Marita van der Vyver

Marita van der Vyver (1958- ) is an Afrikaans author.

Biography

She was born in Cape Town in 1958 and grew up in Bellville, Menlo Park and got her early education from Hoërskool Nelspruit. In 1975, in a national Afrikaans poetry competition for matric pupils, she won a study bursary for four years at the university of her choice. She chose Stellenbosch University, where she participated in D.J. Opperman's poetry workshops and was awarded a BA degree, majoring in Afrikaans and French, in 1978. The following year, she acquired an honours degree in journalism. She completed a master's degree in journalism several years later. After returning to South Africa after a year of travelling in Europe, van der Vyver worked as a reporter for Die Burger, as a copywriter for Leserskring (a book club) and a feature writer for Sarie.[2]

Married Alain Claisse in 199* and the couple live in France and have four children, three sons and a daughter

The author of several books for both adult and youth readers. [1]

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

In 1978 she played the role of "Isabella" in the Afrikaanse Studiekring (ASK) production of Marlene van Niekerk's one-act play Die Duiwel, Sy Handlanger en die Drie Ligtekooie ("The Devil, his helper and the three prostitutes". (Wrongly billed as Marieta van der Vyver in the programme.)

Her 1992 novel Griet Skryf 'n Sprokie was adapted as a very successful play by Pierre van Pletzen and performed at various theatres and festivals in 1997, directed by Lizz Meiring.