The Playwright: Athol Fugard

Athol Fugard: The Playwright

• Full Name: Harold Athol Lanigan Fugard
• Profession: South African playwright, director, actor, and novelist
• Birthplace: Middleburg, South Africa
• Upbringing: Grew up in Port Elizabeth; mother was Afrikaner, father was of English, Irish, and French Huguenot descent

Fugard's Writing and Themes

• Known for political themes in his plays
• A key figure in anti-apartheid "protest theatre"
• Highlighted social injustices, particularly Bantu Education and racial segregation
• His plays often focused on the resistance against apartheid, with young people leading the fight.

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Inspiration Behind My Children! My Africa!

• Based on a real 1985 newspaper article about a teacher who was necklaced (killed) for being suspected of working with the government
• Explores the question of whether violent protests were justified
• First performed in 1989, as apartheid was ending

Fugard's Personal Experience and Influence

• Grew up among black South Africans, as his family worked with them
• Witnessed how his friendships with black individuals were viewed negatively by others
• Worked with amateur black actors in a Johannesburg ghetto, which deepened his understanding of activism and segregation

Fugard's Perspective on Apartheid

• Opposed apartheid policies and the injustices of the government
• However, he disagreed with the disruption of black education as a form of protest

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Key Vocabulary

• Playwright: A person who writes plays
• Protest Theatre: Drama used to challenge political and social injustices
• Bantu Education: A discriminatory education system for black South Africans under apartheid
• Necklacing: A violent form of execution used during political unrest in South Africa