Bartho smit biography of michael

Bartho Smit — was a South African writer, poet, dramatist, director, translator, editor and publisher. Born Bartholomeus Jacobus Smit in Klerkskraal on 15 July , he matriculated in Standerton and then completed a bachelor's degree at the University of Pretoria in , followed by a Master of Arts degree in He met the actress Kita Redelinghuys while a student and they married in The two of them to toured Paris, Munich and London between and , where he immersed himself in drama and philosophy.

While in Europe they also 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.

Bartho smit biography of michael: A highly controversial play about

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 s, he was also an influential founding member of the Afrikaanse Skrywersgilde "Afrikaans writers' guild". He was finally awarded the Hertzog Prize for Drama in 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 Besprekings van die modern Afrikaanse drama en teater , the latter two edited by Charles Malan.

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. 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.