Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
A special evening honouring the life and legacy of Athol Fugard (11 June 1932 – 8 March 2025), South Africa’s Lifetime Achievement Tony Award-winning playwright and a towering figure in world theatre, held at The Royal Court Theatre in London.
The Royal Court’s relationship with Fugard began over half a century ago, in the early 1970s, when the theatre proudly presented the international premieres of his groundbreaking anti-apartheid plays — Boesman and Lena (1971), Sizwe Banzi is Dead (1973), The Island (1973), and Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act (1974). Sizwe Banzi and The Island later transferred to Broadway, where co-creators and performers John Kani OBE and Winston Ntshona were awarded Best Actor Tony Awards.
Hosted by David Byrne, Artistic Director of the Royal Court, and curated by Greg Karvellas, former Artistic Director of The Fugard Theatre in Cape Town (2010–2021), this celebration will feature John Kani OBE, Dame Janet Suzman, and others on stage, with reflections, live performance extracts, and recorded excerpts from Athol Fugard himself.
Supported by the Common Humanity Arts Trust (CHAT)
The Royal Court Theatre is the writers’ theatre. It is the leading force in world theatre for energetically cultivating writers – undiscovered, emerging and established. The Royal Court is located in London, UK.
Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly/RCTtwitter
Follow us on Instagram: bit.ly/RCTinsta
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: bit.ly/RCTsubscribe
A special evening honouring the life and legacy of Athol Fugard (11 June 1932 – 8 March 2025), South Africa’s Lifetime Achievement Tony Award-winning playwright and a towering figure in world theatre, held at The Royal Court Theatre in London.
The Royal Court’s relationship with Fugard began over half a century ago, in the early 1970s, when the theatre proudly presented the international premieres of his groundbreaking anti-apartheid plays — Boesman and Lena (1971), Sizwe Banzi is Dead (1973), The Island (1973), and Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act (1974). Sizwe Banzi and The Island later transferred to Broadway, where co-creators and performers John Kani OBE and Winston Ntshona were awarded Best Actor Tony Awards.
Hosted by David Byrne, Artistic Director of the Royal Court, and curated by Greg Karvellas, former Artistic Director of The Fugard Theatre in Cape Town (2010–2021), this celebration will feature John Kani OBE, Dame Janet Suzman, and others on stage, with reflections, live performance extracts, and recorded excerpts from Athol Fugard himself.
Supported by the Common Humanity Arts Trust (CHAT)
The Royal Court Theatre is the writers’ theatre. It is the leading force in world theatre for energetically cultivating writers – undiscovered, emerging and established. The Royal Court is located in London, UK.
Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly/RCTtwitter
Follow us on Instagram: bit.ly/RCTinsta
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: bit.ly/RCTsubscribe
