Difference between revisions of "Bartho Smit"

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Born Bartholomeus ("Bartho") Jacobus Smit in Klerkskraal on 15 July 1924, he matriculated in Standerton and then completed a bachelor's degree at the University of Pretoria in 1949, followed by  a Master of Arts degree in 1951.  
 
Born Bartholomeus ("Bartho") Jacobus Smit in Klerkskraal on 15 July 1924, he matriculated in Standerton and then completed a bachelor's degree at the University of Pretoria in 1949, followed by  a Master of Arts degree in 1951.  
  
He met the actress [[Kita Redelinghuys]] while a student and they married in 1949and they toured Paris, Munich and London between 1952 and 1957, where  he immersed himself in drama and philosophy. While in Europe they met and became close friends with South African author [[Jan Rabie]] and others.  
+
He met the actress [[Kita Redelinghuys]] while a student and they married in 1949 and they toured Paris, Munich and London between 1952 and 1957, where  he immersed himself in drama and philosophy. While in Europe they met and became close friends with South African author [[Jan Rabie]] and others.  
  
When they returned to South Africa, Smit initially worked as an arts editor for publications like ''[[Dagbreek]]'' and ''[[Sondagnuus]]'', before beoming a publisher at the [[Afrikaanse Pers-Boekhandel]]. Founder and key member of the [[Sestigers]] movement, he was successively also the editor of magazines such as ''[[60]]'', ''[[Kol]]'' and ''[[Sestiger]]''. Later, in the 1980s, he was also an influential founding member of the [[Skrywersgilde]].
+
When they returned to South Africa, Smit initially worked as an arts editor for publications like ''[[Dagbreek]]'' and ''[[Sondagnuus]]'', before becoming a publisher at the [[Afrikaanse Pers-Boekhandel]]. Founder and key member of the [[Sestigers]] movement, he was successively also the editor of magazines such as ''[[60]]'', ''[[Kol]]'' and ''[[Sestiger]]''. Later, in the 1980s, he was also an influential founding member of the [[Afrikaanse Skrywersgilde]] ("Afrikaans writers' guild")
  
He was finally awarded the [[Hertzog Prize]] for Drama in 1978 in recognition of his work as dramatist, with special mention being made of his plays ''[[Christine]]'', ''[[Moeder Hanna]]'', ''[[Putsonderwater]]'' and ''[[Die Verminktes]]'' (''Beeld'', 29 Apr 1978).  
+
He was finally awarded the [[Hertzog Prize]] for Drama in 1978 in recognition of his work as dramatist, with special mention being made of his plays ''[[Christine]]'', ''[[Moeder Hanna]]'', ''[[Putsonderwater]]'' and ''[[Die Verminktes]]'' (''[[Beeld]]'', 29 Apr 1978).  
  
He died of cancer in Johannesburg on 31 December 1986.
+
In the year he turned 60 (1984),  three compilations of essays were published by Perskor to celebrate his life and contribution to [[Afrikaans]] literature and theatre: ''Bartho'' edited by [[Chris Barnard]]; ''Sestigers in Woord en Beeld: Bartho Smit'' and ''Spel en Spieël. Besprekings van die modern Afrikaanse drama en teater'', the latter two edited by [[Charles Malan]].
  
Over the years a three compilations of essays have appeared celebrating his life and contribution, while his adventurous spirit would live on in a new generation of [[Afrikaans]] writers, including [[Reza de Wet]], [[Deon Opperman]] and [[Charles Fourie]].
+
Sadly, he died of cancer in Johannesburg on 31 December 1986.
  
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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An intellectual and  highly experimental writer with a respect for theatrical tradition and a flair for the dramatic and metaphoric, Smit’s work is vastly eclectic and frequently controversial, the writing at times slightly cumbersome – yet always memorable.  
 
An intellectual and  highly experimental writer with a respect for theatrical tradition and a flair for the dramatic and metaphoric, Smit’s work is vastly eclectic and frequently controversial, the writing at times slightly cumbersome – yet always memorable.  
  
Always a political maverick, he then moved on to the more highly charged and serious political work, perhaps making him the most banned playwright in South African history, with virtually all his plays running into trouble (see entries on the individual plays).  
+
Always a political maverick, he - like his contemporary [[Athol Fugard]] - soon moved on to highly charged and serious political work, perhaps making him the most banned playwright in South African history, with virtually all his plays running into trouble with the authorities (see entries on the individual plays).  
  
His spirit lives on in a new generation of [[Afrikaans]] writers that came to the fore in the 1980s, e.g. [[Reza de Wet]], [[Deon Opperman]] and [[Charles Fourie]].
+
He influenced and acted as mentor for a number of his contemporaries and after his early death his spirit has lived on in a new generation of [[Afrikaans]] writers that came to the fore in the 1980s, e.g. [[Reza de Wet]], [[Deon Opperman]] and [[Charles Fourie]].
  
SMIT, Bartho. Afrikaans playwright. He wrote ''[[Moeder Hanna]]'' which the [[National Theatre]] staged in 1959. His Afrikaans translation of [[Friedrich Dürrenmatt]]’s ''[[The Visit]]'', directed by [[Fred Engelen]] with [[Anna Neethling-Pohl]], was staged at the [[Johannesburg Civic Theatre]] in 1962.
 
  
 +
'''''THE PLAYS'''''
  
'''''The plays'''''
+
'''''For details on the plays, click on the titles to go to the individual entries'''''
  
''[[Meisies van Vervloë Dae]]''  (Written early 1950s, performed by the [[National Theatre Organization]] in 1959)
+
''[[Meisies van Vervloë Dae]]''  ("Girls of bygone days"), written early 1950s, performed 1959.
  
''[[Moeder Hanna]]'' (Published 1956, performed by the [[National Theatre Organization]] in 1959).  
+
''[[Moeder Hanna]]'', published 1956, performed by the [[National Theatre Organization]] in 1959).  
  
''[[Die Verminktes]]'' (Translated as ''[[The Maimed]]'') S: in English in London: 1960, in Afrikaans by [[PACT]]:  1977; Tr: 1960, P: 1960??**),
+
''[[Don Juan onder die Boere]]'' ("Don Juan among the Farmers/Boers"), 1960
  
''[[Putsonderwater]]'' (Translated as ''[[Well-without-water, or The ''Virgin and the Vultures]]'' - S: [[PACOFS]]: 1969, Tr: 19**, P: 1962),  
+
''[[Die Verminktes]]'' (also an English translation: ''[[The Maimed]]''), 1960
  
''[[Christine]]'' (S: 19**, P: 19**)
+
''[[Putsonderwater]]'' (later translated into English as ''[[Well-without-water, or The Virgin and the Vultures]]''), 1962
  
''[[Don Juan onder die Boere]]'' (“Don Juan among the Farmers/Boers” - S: 1960, P: 1960??**),
+
''[[Die Man met 'n Lyk om sy Nek]]'' ("The man with a corpse around his neck"), 1967
 
 
''[[Bacchus in die Boland]]'' (“Bacchus in the Boland” -S: 19**, P: 19**)and
 
 
 
''[[Die Keiser]]'' (“The Emperor”- S: 19**, P: 19**)
 
 
 
''[[Die Man met 'n Lyk om sy Nek]]''. (“Man with a corpse around his neck” - S: 19**, P: 19**).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
''[[Moeder Hanna]]'', 1955
 
 
 
''[[Don Juan onder die Boere]]'', 1960
 
 
 
''[[Die Verminktes]]'', 1960
 
 
 
''[[Putsonderwater]]: ’n toneelstuk in vier dele'', 1962
 
 
 
''[[Die Man met 'n Lyk om sy Nek]]: ’n moord-komedie'', 1967
 
  
 
''[[Christine]]'', 1971
 
''[[Christine]]'', 1971
  
''[[Die Man met die Alibi]]'', 1971
+
''[[Die Man met die Alibi]]'' ("The man with an alibi"), 1971
  
 
''[[Bacchus in die Boland]]'', 1974
 
''[[Bacchus in die Boland]]'', 1974
  
''[[Die Keiser]]: variasies op ’n sprokie van Hans Andersen'', 1977
+
''[[Die Keiser]]'', "variasies op ’n sprokie van Hans Andersen", ("The emperor, variations on a theme by Hans Andersen"), 1977
 +
 
 +
''[[Hagar]]'', written in 1977-8, but not performed or published.
  
 
===As adaptor===
 
===As adaptor===
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At the same time his superb translations of  a wide range of European writers, including Moliére, Ionesco, Dürrenmatt, *** and *** were published in 19** and brought him many awards, including the **** Award.  
 
At the same time his superb translations of  a wide range of European writers, including Moliére, Ionesco, Dürrenmatt, *** and *** were published in 19** and brought him many awards, including the **** Award.  
  
'''''The [[Afrikaans]] translations'''''
+
His [[Afrikaans]] translations include:
  
 +
''[[Die Besoek van die Ou Dame]]'', 1962 (''[[Der Besuch Der Alten Dame]]'' by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, 1956)
  
''[[Die Besoek van die Ou Dame]]'' by Friedrich Durrenmatt (''[[Der Besuch Der Alten Dame]]'', 1956) .
+
''[[Teenspoed]]'', 1971  (''[[Die Panne]]'' by  Friedrich Friedrich Dürrenmatt, 1966).
  
 
===As director===
 
===As director===
  
Smit directed many of his own plays over the years, making his name with a few experiments with the realistic one act play, including his earliest work – ''[[Meisies van Vervloë Dae]]'' - and the play that established his reputation as dramatist, the haunting ''[[Moeder Hanna]]''. Both produced by  [[NTO]] in their [[NTO Kamertoneel]] in 1959, directed by Smit himself.  
+
Smit directed many of his own plays over the years, making his name with a few experiments with the realistic one act play, including his earliest work – ''[[Meisies van Vervloë Dae]]'' - and the play that established his reputation as dramatist, the haunting ''[[Moeder Hanna]]''. Both produced by  [[NTO]] in their [[NTO Kamertoneel]] in 1959, directed by Smit himself. He was also appointed as director of both ''[[Putsonderwater]]'' (1970) and ''[[Christine]]'' (1971) for [[CAPAB]], but both plays were withdrawn just before rehearsals were to start.
  
Other plays directed by Smit over the years include ''[[Sagmoedige Neelsie]]'' (1973), ''[[Christene]]'' ()
+
Other plays directed by Smit over the years include ''[[Sagmoedige Neelsie]]'' (1973).
  
 
===As publisher and mentor===
 
===As publisher and mentor===
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1978: [[Hertzog Prize]] for [[Afrikaans]] drama for ''[[Putsonderwater]]'', ''[[Moeder Hanna]]'', ''[[Christine]]'' and ''[[Die Verminktes]]''.
 
1978: [[Hertzog Prize]] for [[Afrikaans]] drama for ''[[Putsonderwater]]'', ''[[Moeder Hanna]]'', ''[[Christine]]'' and ''[[Die Verminktes]]''.
  
1979: Preskor Prize for Literature for his play ''[[Die Keiser]]''.
+
1979: [[Perskor Prys vir Letterkunde]] ("Perskor Prize for Literature") for his play ''[[Die Keiser]]''.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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[[Chris Barnard]]. 1984. ''Bartho''. Johannesburg: Perskor.  
 
[[Chris Barnard]]. 1984. ''Bartho''. Johannesburg: Perskor.  
  
[[Charles Malan]]. 1984. ''Sestigers in Woord en Beeld: Bartho Smit'' Johannesburg: Perskor.
+
[[Temple Hauptfleisch]] and [[Ian Steadman]]. 1984. ''South African Theatre. Four Plays and an Introduction''. Pretoria: [[HAUM]] Educational Publishers
  
 
[[John Christoffel Kannemeyer|J.C. Kannemeyer]] 1978. ''Geskiedenis van die Afrikaanse Literatuur'' I. Pretoria: Academica. (Second edition, 1984[http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/kann003gesk01_01/kann003gesk01_01_0012.php].
 
[[John Christoffel Kannemeyer|J.C. Kannemeyer]] 1978. ''Geskiedenis van die Afrikaanse Literatuur'' I. Pretoria: Academica. (Second edition, 1984[http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/kann003gesk01_01/kann003gesk01_01_0012.php].
  
 
[[J.C. Kannemeyer]]. 1984. ‘’Geskiedenis van die Afrikaanse Literatuur’’2[http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/kann003gesk02_01/colofon.php].  
 
[[J.C. Kannemeyer]]. 1984. ‘’Geskiedenis van die Afrikaanse Literatuur’’2[http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/kann003gesk02_01/colofon.php].  
 +
 +
[[Charles Malan]]. 1984. ''Sestigers in Woord en Beeld: Bartho Smit''. Johannesburg: Perskor.
 +
 +
[[Charles Malan]]. 1984. ''Spel en Spieël. Besprekings van die modern Afrikaanse drama en teater''.  Johannesburg: Perskor.
  
 
[[Erika Terblanche]]. 2018. "Bartho Smit (1924–1987)" [[ATKV|LitNet-Skrywersalbum]][https://www.litnet.co.za/bartho-smit-1924-1987/]
 
[[Erika Terblanche]]. 2018. "Bartho Smit (1924–1987)" [[ATKV|LitNet-Skrywersalbum]][https://www.litnet.co.za/bartho-smit-1924-1987/]
Line 121: Line 109:
  
 
"Bartho Smit" in ''[[Wikiwand]]''[https://www.wikiwand.com/af/Bartho_Smit]
 
"Bartho Smit" in ''[[Wikiwand]]''[https://www.wikiwand.com/af/Bartho_Smit]
 +
 +
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bartho-Smit
  
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

Revision as of 15:40, 17 March 2021

Bartho Smit (1924–1986) was a South African writer, poet, dramatist, director, translator, editor and publisher.

Biography

Born Bartholomeus ("Bartho") Jacobus Smit in Klerkskraal on 15 July 1924, he matriculated in Standerton and then completed a bachelor's degree at the University of Pretoria in 1949, followed by a Master of Arts degree in 1951.

He met the actress Kita Redelinghuys while a student and they married in 1949 and they toured Paris, Munich and London between 1952 and 1957, where he immersed himself in drama and philosophy. While in Europe they met and became close friends with South African author Jan Rabie and others.

When they returned to South Africa, Smit initially worked as an arts editor for publications like Dagbreek and Sondagnuus, before becoming a publisher at the Afrikaanse Pers-Boekhandel. Founder and key member of the Sestigers movement, he was successively also the editor of magazines such as 60, Kol and Sestiger. Later, in the 1980s, he was also an influential founding member of the Afrikaanse Skrywersgilde ("Afrikaans writers' guild")

He was finally awarded the Hertzog Prize for Drama in 1978 in recognition of his work as dramatist, with special mention being made of his plays Christine, Moeder Hanna, Putsonderwater and Die Verminktes (Beeld, 29 Apr 1978).

In the year he turned 60 (1984), three compilations of essays were published by Perskor to celebrate his life and contribution to Afrikaans literature and theatre: Bartho edited by Chris Barnard; Sestigers in Woord en Beeld: Bartho Smit and Spel en Spieël. Besprekings van die modern Afrikaanse drama en teater, the latter two edited by Charles Malan.

Sadly, he died of cancer in Johannesburg on 31 December 1986.

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

Though he began his writing career as a poet, when he and his actress wife Kita went to Germany to finish his doctorate in philosophy (which he never did), Smit became enamoured with theatre and returned ready to become a dramatist and director.

As playwright

An intellectual and highly experimental writer with a respect for theatrical tradition and a flair for the dramatic and metaphoric, Smit’s work is vastly eclectic and frequently controversial, the writing at times slightly cumbersome – yet always memorable.

Always a political maverick, he - like his contemporary Athol Fugard - soon moved on to highly charged and serious political work, perhaps making him the most banned playwright in South African history, with virtually all his plays running into trouble with the authorities (see entries on the individual plays).

He influenced and acted as mentor for a number of his contemporaries and after his early death his spirit has lived on in a new generation of Afrikaans writers that came to the fore in the 1980s, e.g. Reza de Wet, Deon Opperman and Charles Fourie.


THE PLAYS

For details on the plays, click on the titles to go to the individual entries

Meisies van Vervloë Dae ("Girls of bygone days"), written early 1950s, performed 1959.

Moeder Hanna, published 1956, performed by the National Theatre Organization in 1959).

Don Juan onder die Boere ("Don Juan among the Farmers/Boers"), 1960

Die Verminktes (also an English translation: The Maimed), 1960

Putsonderwater (later translated into English as Well-without-water, or The Virgin and the Vultures), 1962

Die Man met 'n Lyk om sy Nek ("The man with a corpse around his neck"), 1967

Christine, 1971

Die Man met die Alibi ("The man with an alibi"), 1971

Bacchus in die Boland, 1974

Die Keiser, "variasies op ’n sprokie van Hans Andersen", ("The emperor, variations on a theme by Hans Andersen"), 1977

Hagar, written in 1977-8, but not performed or published.

As adaptor

Sagmoedige Neelsie (1973)

As translator

At the same time his superb translations of a wide range of European writers, including Moliére, Ionesco, Dürrenmatt, *** and *** were published in 19** and brought him many awards, including the **** Award.

His Afrikaans translations include:

Die Besoek van die Ou Dame, 1962 (Der Besuch Der Alten Dame by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, 1956)

Teenspoed, 1971 (Die Panne by Friedrich Friedrich Dürrenmatt, 1966).

As director

Smit directed many of his own plays over the years, making his name with a few experiments with the realistic one act play, including his earliest work – Meisies van Vervloë Dae - and the play that established his reputation as dramatist, the haunting Moeder Hanna. Both produced by NTO in their NTO Kamertoneel in 1959, directed by Smit himself. He was also appointed as director of both Putsonderwater (1970) and Christine (1971) for CAPAB, but both plays were withdrawn just before rehearsals were to start.

Other plays directed by Smit over the years include Sagmoedige Neelsie (1973).

As publisher and mentor

Awards, etc

1960: Encyclopaedia Britannica Award for his English translation of his play Die Verminktes (The Maimed).

1978: Hertzog Prize for Afrikaans drama for Putsonderwater, Moeder Hanna, Christine and Die Verminktes.

1979: Perskor Prys vir Letterkunde ("Perskor Prize for Literature") for his play Die Keiser.

Sources

Chris Barnard. 1984. Bartho. Johannesburg: Perskor.

Temple Hauptfleisch and Ian Steadman. 1984. South African Theatre. Four Plays and an Introduction. Pretoria: HAUM Educational Publishers

J.C. Kannemeyer 1978. Geskiedenis van die Afrikaanse Literatuur I. Pretoria: Academica. (Second edition, 1984[1].

J.C. Kannemeyer. 1984. ‘’Geskiedenis van die Afrikaanse Literatuur’’2[2].

Charles Malan. 1984. Sestigers in Woord en Beeld: Bartho Smit. Johannesburg: Perskor.

Charles Malan. 1984. Spel en Spieël. Besprekings van die modern Afrikaanse drama en teater. Johannesburg: Perskor.

Erika Terblanche. 2018. "Bartho Smit (1924–1987)" LitNet-Skrywersalbum[3]

Percy Tucker. 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

SATJ Sept. 1987

"Bartho Smit" in English Wikipedia [4]

"Bartho Smit" Afrikaans Wikipedia [5]

"Bartho Smit" in Wikiwand[6]

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bartho-Smit

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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