Amanda Botha

(1943-) South African journalist, publicist, theatre manager, arts researcher and text writer for TV. Born in Johannesburg , studies art and journalism at the Stellenbosch University. As a journalist wrote numerous articles on writers and artists, publisheing locally and internationally. A contributor to St James Dictionary of Contemporary Composers, Dance and Dancers en Opera Companies of the World. In the period 1970 – 1988 Amanda worked in theatre. Initially as theatre publicist for CAPAB, under the leadership of Pieter Fourie as artistic director. Then became involved with Brian Astbury, Athol Fugard and others in the founding of the the Space Theatre in 1973. She was the co-founder of the Space Children’s Theatre and co-founder, with Chris Pretorius, of Die Glasteater (The Glass Theatre). Between 1982 – 1988 she worked for CAPAB-Opera alongside prof. Murray Dickie. She was also involved with CAPAB-Ballet. In 1988 she published a biography of prima ballerina Phyllis Spira, with a foreword by Margot Fonteyn. In the period 1978 – 1994 she was also involved as researcher and writer in the production of numerous documentary programmes about the arts for the SABC TV, including profiles of many writers and performers and a series on the history and achievements of the Performing Arts Councils in South Africa. Since the founding of the Afrikaanse Woordfees in Stellenbosch, she has been an annual collaborator, particularly on arts exhibitions and discussions with writers.