Complete Works of Athol Fugard

 

COMPLETE WORKS OF ATHOL FUGARD

 

For those encountering Athol Fugard for the first time, here is an introduction to his remarkable body of work. Athol Fugard (OIS, HonFRSL) was born on June 11, 1932, and passed away on March 8, 2025. A South African playwright, novelist, actor, and director, Fugard is widely regarded as South Africa’s greatest playwright. In 1985, Time magazine hailed him as "the greatest active playwright in the English-speaking world."

Throughout his illustrious career, Fugard published over thirty plays, gaining international acclaim for his profound impact on theater and his ability to address the complex social and political issues of his time. His works remain a testament to his mastery of storytelling and his unwavering commitment to human rights, justice, and the struggles of oppressed peoples.

Below is a comprehensive list of his complete works, as compiled by the International Writers Association (IWA International):

1. Klaas and the Devil (1956)
2. The Cell (1957)
3. No-Good Friday (1958)
4. Non-Gogo (1959)
5. The Blood Knot (1961); later revised and entitled Blood Knot (1987)
6. Hello and Goodbye (1965)
7. The Coat (1966)
8. People Are Living There (1968)
9. The Last Bus (1969)
10. Boesman and Lena (1969)
11. Friday's Bread on Monday (1970)
12. Sizwe Banzi Is Dead (1972) (developed with John Kani, and Winston Ntshona in workshops)
13. The Island (1972) (developed with John Kani, and Winston Ntshona in workshops)
14. Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act (1972)
15. Dimetos (1975)
16. Orestes (1978)
17. A Lesson from Aloes (1978)
18. The Drummer (1980)
19. "Master Harold"...and the Boys (1982)
20. The Road to Mecca (1984)
21. A Place with the Pigs: a personal parable (1987)
22. My Children! My Africa! (1989)
23. My Life (1992)
24. Playland (1993)
25. Valley Song (1996)
26. The Captain's Tiger: a memoir for the stage (1997)
27. Sorrows and Rejoicings (2001)
28. Exits and Entrances (2004)
29. Booitjie and the Oubaas (2006)
30. Victory (2007)
31. Coming Home (2009)
32. Have You Seen Us (2009)
33. The Train Driver (2010)
34. The Shadow of the Hummingbird (2014)
35. The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek (2016)
36. Concerning the Life of Babyboy Kleintjies (2022) (co-written with Paula Fourie)

Here is the arranged bibliography in chronological order:

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Statements: [Three Plays]
   Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press (OUP), 1974. ISBN 0-19-211385-2 (10). ISBN 978-0-19-211385-6 (13). ISBN 0-19-281170-3 (10). ISBN 978-0-19-281170-7 (13).
   (Co-authored with John Kani and Winston Ntshona)
2. Three Port Elizabeth Plays: Blood Knot; Hello and Goodbye; and Boesman and Lena
   Oxford and New York, 1974. ISBN 0-19-211366-6.
3. Sizwe Bansi Is Dead and The Island
   New York: Viking Press, 1976. ISBN 0-670-64784-5.
4. Dimetos and Two Early Plays
   Oxford and New York: OUP, 1977. ISBN 0-19-211390-9.
5. Boesman and Lena and Other Plays
   Oxford and New York: OUP, 1980. ISBN 0-19-570197-6.
6. Selected Plays of Fugard: Notes. Ed. Dennis Walder
   London: Longman, 1980. Beirut: York Press, 1980. ISBN 0-582-78129-9.
7. Tsotsi: a novel
   New York: Random House, 1980. ISBN 978-0-394-51384-3.
8. A Lesson from Aloes: A Play
   Oxford and New York: OUP, 1981.
9. Marigolds in August
   A.D. Donker, 1982. ISBN 0-86852-008-X.
10. Boesman and Lena
    Oxford and New York: OUP, 1983. ISBN 0-19-570331-6.
11. People Are Living There
    Oxford and New York: OUP, 1983. ISBN 0-19-570332-4.
12. "Master Harold"...and the Boys
    New York and London: Penguin, 1984. ISBN 0-14-048187-7.
13. Notebooks 1960–1977
    New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984. ISBN 0-394-53755-6.
14. The Road to Mecca: A Play in Two Acts
    London: Faber and Faber, 1985. ISBN 0-571-13691-5.
    (Suggested by the life and work of Helen Martins of New Bethesda, Eastern Cape, South Africa.)
15. Selected Plays
    Oxford and New York: OUP, 1987. ISBN 0-19-281929-1.
    (Includes: "Master Harold"...and the Boys; Blood Knot (new version); Hello and Goodbye; Boesman and Lena.)
16. A Place with the Pigs: a personal parable
    London: Faber and Faber, 1988. ISBN 0-571-15114-0.
17. My Children! My Africa! and Selected Shorter Plays
    Ed. and introd. Stephen Gray. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand UP, 1990. ISBN 1-86814-117-9.
18. Blood Knot and Other Plays
    New York: Theatre Communications Group, 1991. ISBN 1-55936-019-4.
19. Playland and Other Worlds
    Johannesburg: University of the Witwatersrand UP, 1992. ISBN 1-86814-219-1.
20. The Township Plays. Ed. and introd. Dennis Walder
    Oxford and New York: Oxford UP, 1993. ISBN 0-19-282925-4 (10). ISBN 978-0-19-282925-2 (13).
    (Includes: No-good Friday, Nongogo, The Coat, Sizwe Bansi Is Dead, and The Island.)
21. Cousins: A Memoir
    Johannesburg: Witwatersrand UP, 1994. ISBN 1-86814-278-7.
22. Hello and Goodbye
    Oxford and New York: OUP, 1994. ISBN 0-19-571099-1.
23. Valley Song
    London: Faber and Faber, 1996. ISBN 0-571-17908-8.
24. The Captain's Tiger: A Memoir for the Stage
    Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press, 1997. ISBN 1-86814-324-4.
25. Athol Fugard: Plays
    London: Faber and Faber, 1998. ISBN 0-571-19093-6.
26. Interior Plays
    Oxford and New York: OUP, 2000. ISBN 0-19-288035-7.
27. Port Elizabeth Plays
    Oxford and New York: OUP, 2000. ISBN 0-19-282529-1.
28. Sorrows and Rejoicings
    New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2002. ISBN 1-55936-208-1.
29. Exits and Entrances
    New York: Dramatists Play Service, 2004. ISBN 0-8222-2041-5.

CO-AUTHORED WITH JOHN KANI AND WINSTON NTSHONA

1. Statements: [Three Plays]
   1974. By Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona. Rev. ed. Oxford and New York: OUP, 1978. ISBN 0-19-281170-3 (10). ISBN 978-0-19-281170-7 (13).
   ("Two workshop productions devised by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona, and a new play"; includes: Sizwe Bansi Is Dead and The Island, and Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act.)

CO-AUTHORED WITH ROSS DEVENISH

1. The Guest: an episode in the life of Eugene Marais
   By Athol Fugard and Ross Devenish. Craighall: A. D. Donker, 1977. ISBN 0-949937-36-3.
   (Die besoeker: 'n episode in die lewe van Eugene Marais. Trans. into Afrikaans by Wilma Stockenstrom. Craighall: A. D. Donker, 1977. ISBN 0-949937-43-6.)

FILMOGRAPHY

Films adapted from Fugard's plays and novel

1. Boesman and Lena (1974), dir. Ross Devenish
2. The Guest: An Episode in the Life of Eugene Marais (1977)
3. Marigolds in August (1980), dir. Ross Devenish
4. "Master Harold"...and the Boys (1984), TV movie, dir. Michael Lindsay-Hogg, first broadcast on Showtime
5. The Road to Mecca (1991), co-dir. by Fugard and Peter Goldsmid (screen adapt.)
6. Boesman and Lena (2000), dir. John Berry
7. Tsotsi (2005), screen adapt. and dir. Gavin Hood; 2005 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
8. "Master Harold"...and the Boys (2010), dir. Lonny Price

FILM ROLES

1. Boesman and Lena (1974) as Boesman
2. The Guest: An Episode in the Life of Eugene Marais (1977) as Eugène Marais
3. Meetings with Remarkable Men (1979) as Professor Skridlov
4. Marigolds in August (1980) as Paulus Olifant
5. Gandhi (1982) as General Jan Smuts
6. The Killing Fields (1984) as Doctor Sundesval
7. The Road to Mecca (1991) as Reverend Marius Byleveld

 

International Writers Association Mourns the Passing of Athol Fugard

 

INTERNATIONAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION MOURNS THE PASSING OF ATHOL FUGARD

 

The International Writers Association (IWA International) has joined the global literary community in mourning the loss of the legendary South African playwright, novelist, and director, Harold Athol Lanigan Fugard, who passed away on March 8, 2025, at the age of 92. Fugard, widely regarded as one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century, leaves behind a lasting legacy of courage, activism, and groundbreaking theatre.

In a statement issued by the Acting President of the IWA, Wole Adedoyin, the association expressed profound sorrow over Fugard's death, reflecting on his remarkable contribution to world literature and theatre. "Athol Fugard’s work was not only a mirror to the injustices of apartheid South Africa but also a beacon of hope and resistance for oppressed people everywhere. His writing changed lives and made us confront the injustices that are often silenced in society," Adedoyin remarked.

Fugard’s prolific body of work, which includes iconic plays such as Blood Knot, Master Harold...and the Boys, The Island, and Sizwe Bansi is Dead, earned him international acclaim for his fearless exploration of human rights, freedom, and racial inequality. His plays, often set in the volatile political landscape of South Africa, challenged audiences to engage deeply with the oppressive systems of apartheid and their devastating impact on the lives of ordinary people.

The impact of Fugard's plays extended beyond the stage, with several of his works being adapted into films. One of his most famous works, Tsotsi, was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 2005, directed by Gavin Hood. Fugard’s influence on the world of cinema and literature is indelible, with his writings continuing to inspire generations of writers, filmmakers, and theatre practitioners.

Fugard’s personal life and career also reflected his commitment to social justice. He was an outspoken critic of apartheid and a vocal advocate for the rights of marginalized communities. His work was often banned in South Africa due to its political content, yet it continued to resonate with audiences around the world. He was honored with numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Order of Ikhamanga in Silver from the South African government in 2005, as well as an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Society of Literature.

Athol Fugard’s impact was not confined to his plays. He also served as an adjunct professor of playwriting, acting, and directing at the University of California, San Diego, where he mentored and inspired a new generation of artists. His commitment to education and the nurturing of creative talent ensured that his legacy would continue through the work of those who studied under him.

In recognition of his immeasurable contributions to the arts, the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town was opened in 2010, cementing his status as a national and international cultural icon. His contributions to the theatre were further recognized when he was awarded a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2011.

The International Writers Association extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Athol Fugard, as well as to the many fans and admirers of his work around the world. His voice may have fallen silent, but his plays, his spirit, and his relentless pursuit of justice will continue to inspire and challenge future generations.

As we remember Athol Fugard, the IWA urges all writers, artists, and human rights advocates to carry forward the ideals for which he stood. His legacy will remain a testament to the power of words and the transformative potential of theatre to confront and challenge societal wrongs.