Mario Schiess
Mario Schiess (1933-1998) was a Swiss born playwright, director and producer who worked in South African theatre and film from the early 1970's.
Contents
Biography
Training
Career
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
His most memorable achievement was perhaps his translation (from German), adaptation and direction of Marius Weyers in Kafka's Report to an Academy which played at The Laager in 1979.
He directed Pous Johanna II, Miracle Man, Woman Alone, The Colossus of Brooklyn, Appassionata, My Son, My Son, The Glass Menagerie (1971).
He directed an Afrikaans translation of Equus Upstairs at the Market in 1978.
He wrote at least ten plays, among others Nemesis, Iscariot, The Chosen, Charade, Easter Bells, a play for two, The Revenge, Encounters at Midnight.
Mario Schiess also directed some South African feature films, including: Die Vervlakste Tweeling (1969), with Marius Weyers, Jana Cilliers, Bill Brewer and others; Onwettige Huwelik (1970), with Marius Weyers, Pieter Geldenhuys, Enone van den Bergh and others; Bait (1974), with Marius Weyers, Richard Loring, Diane Ridler and others;
[TH, JH]
Sources
See Gosher, 1988
National Arts Festival programme, 1990.
Correspondence with Michèle Schiess, his daughter. (2 June, 2018)
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities S
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page