Reza de Wet(1952-2012)

Reza de Wet's plays have been produced and performed around the world and prizes and awards for scripts added to her reputation as the most awarded South African playwright. Theatre figure, Professor Temple Hauptfleisch wrote of her: "Reza de Wet is an internationally renowned playwright and a remarkable phenomenon in the South African theatrical landscape. Since her debut in 1981, de Wet has written plays of outstanding merit: compelling and imaginative works which are highly regarded by academics for their literary qualities and loved by audiences and performers for their sparkling vitality in performance". She is a prolific writer who has written 12 plays in 15 years (five in English and seven in Afrikaans). She has won nine awards for her scripts (five Vita Awards, three Fleur du Cap Awards and a Dalro Award) as well as every prestigious literary award (a CNA Prize, a Rapport Prize and twice the Herzog Prize) and productions of her plays have won more than 40 theatre awards. Most recently "Yelena" won the Vita Award for Best Script (1998-99) while "Drie Susters Twee" (Three Sisters), was named Best Production for the same year. In Open Space, an anthology of new African plays, she is the only woman represented and one of two South African dramatists. In 1986 she wrote "Diepe Grond" (Deep Ground) a play on the Afrikaans version of the saying "Still waters run deep". A disturbing metaphoric look at the Afrikaner psyche, this Gothic style story of incest, apparent madness and murder on a secluded farm caused a sensation when it was first performed at the Kampustoneel festival (directed by Denys Webb, with de Wet playing "Soekie"). Several performances of "Deep Ground" have been on stage around the world also with the title "African Gothic". Recently a Feature Film has been completed (African Gothic (2013)) directed by Gabriel Bologna, starring Damon Shalit, Chella Ferrow and Jonny Coyne. Sadly Reza de Wet died on January 27, 2012 from Leukaemia at her home. She is survived by her husband Lindsay Reardon and daughter Nina.