Charles J. Fourie
Encyclopedia
Born in 1965 in South Africa Charles J. Fourie is an acclaimed South Africa
n playwright
and director. Fourie staged his first play as drama-student at the Windybrow Theatre in 1985, and went on to receive the Henk Wybenga bursary as most promising student in the same year.
Since, he has written more than 50 works for the stage presented in South Africa and the United Kingdom
over the past twenty five years. As a director and producer he has also worked with well-known South African and British actor
s such as Linda Marlowe, Samantha Bond, Tobie Cronje, Chris Gxalaba, Albert Maritz, Michelle Burgess, Jamie Bartlett
, Trix Pienaar and more recently with Deon Lotz and Deirdre Wolhuter.
In 1994 he established the independent theatre company Cape Theatre Ensemble based in Cape Town, as an ad-hoc theatre production company. To date Cape Theatre Ensemble has staged over thirty productions including collaborations with other production companies.
Fourie's writing has been compared by literary and theater critics with that of Athol Fugard
.
“Comparisons with Athol Fugard - the granddaddy of South African theater - are inevitable, and indeed that towering presence lurks behind this drama in which black meets white at close quarters during the final years of apartheid.” (Mark Cook – This Is London
– review of ‘Big Boys’)
“Unlike his compatriot, Athol Fugard, he has the knack of simplification, a major talent in this country these days.” – (Paul Nelson – Time Out – review of ‘Big Boys’)
With heart rending stories which engage socio-political themes in award-winning plays like Big Boys, Vrygrond, Stander, Vrededorp, Kurtz, The Parrot Woman, Goddess of Song, The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife, and more recently his acclaimed play Agterplaas, Charles J. Fourie has not only established himself as a playwright in his own right, but as one of South Africa’s leading theatre voices.
“Florence Jenkins must rate pretty high on the all-time best list and writer Charles J. Fourie has done grandly in devising a show which leaves little unturned in his depiction of the life and times of the American opera
diva Florence Foster Jenkins
, a character if ever there was one.” (Wilhelm Snyman – The Cape Times – review of ‘Goddes of Song’)
Big Boys was staged by the LA Ensemble in Los Angeles
in 1993 and at the Warehouse Theatre
(London
) in 2002, and was a 'Time-Out Critics' choice. The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife was presented at the John Caird
'New Director's initiative at the Gatehouse theatre and at the Old Vic
’s ‘New Voices’ season (London) and has since been adapted for television.
Two of his other plays, Stander and Vrededorp, were adapted as television feature films and broadcast on M-Net
during 2006/07. More recently his play The Parrot Woman was staged at the Finborough Theatre
in London and the Burton Taylor Studio Theater in Oxford
.
During 2007 he translated and staged the British comedy “Noises Off
” by sir Michael Frayn
as Lawwe Geluide with a stellar cast. The production had a sell out tour of South Africa. His play Ella’s Horses (Ella se Perde) opened at the Aardklop
festival in 2007, and was nominated for a Best Actress award. His most recent play, Agterplaas, a searing depiction of a new generation of poverty stricken white South Africans opened in 2011 at the Karoo national Arts festival and has since been on tour and will continue with productions scheduled for 2012.
He has also been actively involved with promoting plays by fellow South African writers abroad and collaborated on 'A Season in South Africa' staged-readings at The Old Vic Theater with British director Jeremy Bond; hosted by sir Anthony Sher, John Kani
and Janet Suzman
. During 2006 he also acted as editor for the British publication 'New South African Plays' published in the UK by Aurora Metro Publishers.
As a television screenwriter he worked as a script editor
on various projects. Recent scriptwriting credits include Binnelanders (M-Net) and Deeltitel Dames for Penguin Films to be broadcast on KykNET
in 2010. He also wrote a 40 episode radio drama series titled Inferno for RSG which was broadcasted in 2010, and is currently writing a new 60 part series titled 'Seisoene' to be broadcasted in 2012. His latest plays Fragmente and Die Soet Trane van Petrus Pansegrouw are also scheduled for production in 2012.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and director. Fourie staged his first play as drama-student at the Windybrow Theatre in 1985, and went on to receive the Henk Wybenga bursary as most promising student in the same year.
Since, he has written more than 50 works for the stage presented in South Africa and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
over the past twenty five years. As a director and producer he has also worked with well-known South African and British actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s such as Linda Marlowe, Samantha Bond, Tobie Cronje, Chris Gxalaba, Albert Maritz, Michelle Burgess, Jamie Bartlett
Jamie Bartlett
Jamie Bartlett is a South African actor best known for his role as the shady Mike O'Reilly on the soap opera television series Isidingo aired on the SABC 3 television channel and Crawford in Prey.-Career:...
, Trix Pienaar and more recently with Deon Lotz and Deirdre Wolhuter.
In 1994 he established the independent theatre company Cape Theatre Ensemble based in Cape Town, as an ad-hoc theatre production company. To date Cape Theatre Ensemble has staged over thirty productions including collaborations with other production companies.
Fourie's writing has been compared by literary and theater critics with that of Athol Fugard
Athol Fugard
Athol Fugard is a South African playwright, novelist, actor, and director who writes in English, best known for his political plays opposing the South African system of apartheid and for the 2005 Academy-Award winning film of his novel Tsotsi, directed by Gavin Hood...
.
“Comparisons with Athol Fugard - the granddaddy of South African theater - are inevitable, and indeed that towering presence lurks behind this drama in which black meets white at close quarters during the final years of apartheid.” (Mark Cook – This Is London
This Is London
This Is London may refer to:*thisislondon.co.uk, a website belonging to the Evening Standard*"This is London" or "This is London Calling", an opening message on the BBC World Service*This Is London, a 1983 album by The Times...
– review of ‘Big Boys’)
“Unlike his compatriot, Athol Fugard, he has the knack of simplification, a major talent in this country these days.” – (Paul Nelson – Time Out – review of ‘Big Boys’)
With heart rending stories which engage socio-political themes in award-winning plays like Big Boys, Vrygrond, Stander, Vrededorp, Kurtz, The Parrot Woman, Goddess of Song, The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife, and more recently his acclaimed play Agterplaas, Charles J. Fourie has not only established himself as a playwright in his own right, but as one of South Africa’s leading theatre voices.
“Florence Jenkins must rate pretty high on the all-time best list and writer Charles J. Fourie has done grandly in devising a show which leaves little unturned in his depiction of the life and times of the American opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
diva Florence Foster Jenkins
Florence Foster Jenkins
Florence Foster Jenkins was an American amateur operatic soprano who was known, and ridiculed, for her lack of rhythm, pitch, tone, and overall singing ability.-Early years:...
, a character if ever there was one.” (Wilhelm Snyman – The Cape Times – review of ‘Goddes of Song’)
Big Boys was staged by the LA Ensemble in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1993 and at the Warehouse Theatre
Warehouse Theatre
The Warehouse Theatre is a professional producing theatre with one hundred seats in the centre of the London Borough of Croydon, south London, England based in an oak-beamed former cement Victorian warehouse...
(London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) in 2002, and was a 'Time-Out Critics' choice. The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife was presented at the John Caird
John Caird (director)
John Newport Caird is a British stage director and writer of plays, musicals and operas. He is an Honorary Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, a regular director with the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain and the Principal Guest Director of the Royal Dramatic Theatre,...
'New Director's initiative at the Gatehouse theatre and at the Old Vic
Old Vic
The Old Vic is a theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. Established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, it was taken over by Emma Cons in 1880 when it was known formally as the Royal Victoria Hall. In 1898, a niece of Cons, Lilian...
’s ‘New Voices’ season (London) and has since been adapted for television.
Two of his other plays, Stander and Vrededorp, were adapted as television feature films and broadcast on M-Net
M-Net
M-Net is a subscription-funded television channel in South Africa, established in 1986 by Naspers....
during 2006/07. More recently his play The Parrot Woman was staged at the Finborough Theatre
Finborough Theatre
The Finborough Theatre is a fifty seat theatre in the Earls Court area of London, United Kingdom , which presents new British writing, UK and premieres of new plays, primarily from the English speaking world including North America, Canada, Scotland and Ireland, music theatre, and rarely seen...
in London and the Burton Taylor Studio Theater in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
During 2007 he translated and staged the British comedy “Noises Off
Noises Off
Noises Off is a 1982 play by English playwright Michael Frayn. The idea for it was born in 1970, when Frayn was standing in the wings watching a performance of Chinamen, a farce that he had written for Lynn Redgrave...
” by sir Michael Frayn
Michael Frayn
Michael J. Frayn is an English playwright and novelist. He is best known as the author of the farce Noises Off and the dramas Copenhagen and Democracy...
as Lawwe Geluide with a stellar cast. The production had a sell out tour of South Africa. His play Ella’s Horses (Ella se Perde) opened at the Aardklop
Aardklop
Aardklop is an annual South African arts festival held since 1998 in the town of Potchefstroom in the North-West province of South Africa. This cultural festival incorporates predominantly Afrikaans theatre, dance, music, cabaret and visual arts, and is held in a variety of venues in and around the...
festival in 2007, and was nominated for a Best Actress award. His most recent play, Agterplaas, a searing depiction of a new generation of poverty stricken white South Africans opened in 2011 at the Karoo national Arts festival and has since been on tour and will continue with productions scheduled for 2012.
He has also been actively involved with promoting plays by fellow South African writers abroad and collaborated on 'A Season in South Africa' staged-readings at The Old Vic Theater with British director Jeremy Bond; hosted by sir Anthony Sher, John Kani
John Kani
Bonsile John Kani is a South African actor, director and playwright.He was born in New Brighton, South Africa.Kani joined The Serpent Players in Port Elizabeth in 1965 and helped to create many plays that went unpublished but were performed to a resounding reception.These...
and Janet Suzman
Janet Suzman
Dame Janet Suzman, DBE is a South African-born-British actress and director.-Early life:Janet Suzman was born in Johannesburg to a Jewish family, the daughter of Betty and Saul Suzman, a wealthy importer of tobacco....
. During 2006 he also acted as editor for the British publication 'New South African Plays' published in the UK by Aurora Metro Publishers.
As a television screenwriter he worked as a script editor
Script editor
A script editor is a member of the production team of scripted television programmes, usually dramas and comedies. The script editor has many responsibilities including finding new script writers, developing storyline and series ideas with writers, ensuring that scripts are suitable for production...
on various projects. Recent scriptwriting credits include Binnelanders (M-Net) and Deeltitel Dames for Penguin Films to be broadcast on KykNET
KykNet
kykNET is a South African television channel, which broadcasts in Afrikaans. Owned by pay-TV operator M-Net, it was launched on the DStv satellite service in October 1999.-Programs:Some of the programs broadcast on kykNET:*DKNT*Trompie...
in 2010. He also wrote a 40 episode radio drama series titled Inferno for RSG which was broadcasted in 2010, and is currently writing a new 60 part series titled 'Seisoene' to be broadcasted in 2012. His latest plays Fragmente and Die Soet Trane van Petrus Pansegrouw are also scheduled for production in 2012.
Awards
- Amstel Playwright of the year - Big Boys 1988
- Vita Best new play of the year - Big Boys 1989
- Vita Best production of a new play - Big Boys 1989
- Amstel Playwright of the year - Vrygrond 1993
- SACPAC Best new play of the year - Don Gxubane onner die Boere 1994
- Fleur du Cap Best new play award (Finalist) - Sodom 1998
- Sanlam/RSG Radio Drama award - Praatmaar 2000
- KKNK/Nagtegaal Best play award - Vrededorp 2005
- Maskew Miller Longman drama award – The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife 2008
- KKNK/Nagtegaal Best play award (Finalist) - Agterplaas 2009
- ATKV Woordveertjie Drama award (Finalist) - Agterplaas 2010
Publications
- Big Boys/More Market Theater Plays - Jonathan Ball Publishers 1993
- Don Gxubane onner die Boere - New Contrast Publishers 1992
- Vrygrond e.a. Dramas - Tafelberg Publishers 1994
- Vonkfiksie - Human & Rousseau Publishers 1999
- Vrededorp - Genugtig Publishers 2005
- New South African Plays - Aurora Metro Publishers (UK) 2006
- 'Kwintet' Ella se Perde – Maskew Miller Longman 2008
- The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife – Maskew Miller Longman 2008
- Droomskip e.a. Radio dramas - Nasou-Via Afrika 2009
- Vrededorp - Protea Boekehuis 2011