I am profoundly saddened by the passing of Athol Fugard. He was an icon of the South African theatre fraternity who was a gifted playwright, actor and director. As a committed anti-apartheid activist, he used the platform of the theatre to bring attention to the atrocities of apartheid.
Athol captured global attention in 1961 with his stage play ‘Blood Knot’ which was followed by the acclaimed classics ‘Boesman and Lena’, ‘Sizwe Banzi is Dead’, ‘Master Harold and the Boys’, ‘The Island’, ‘Tsotsi’ and ‘The Road to Mecca’.
Several of his plays were adapted into films including ‘Boesman and Lena’, ‘Master Harold and the Boys’, ‘Tsotsi’ and ‘The Road to Mecca’. Athol also gave an incredible performance in the role of General Jan Smuts in Richard Attenborough’s film, ‘Gandhi’.
I was inspired by Athol when I started in the film industry in the 1980s, as he was a role model through his work in protest theatre. As a long-time admirer of his, I was thrilled to collaborate with him on the film adaptation of ‘The Road to Mecca’, in which he also starred alongside Yvonne Bryceland and Academy Award® winner, Kathy Bates.
Athol’s passing leaves a huge void in the South African theatre landscape, but he leaves a rich legacy of thought-provoking works for generations to come. South Africa has truly lost a national treasure.
My sincere condolences go to the Fugard family and Athol’s many friends, and I send them strength during these difficult days.
May his soul rest in peace.
Anant Singh Durban