South African playwright. She was born
in a small town (Senekal) in the Free State. She has worked extensively
as an actress, has a master's degree in English Literature and
currently lectures in the drama department of Rhodes University
in Grahamstown.
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.
Sadly she died on January 27, 2012 from Leukaemia at her home. She is survived by her husband Lindsay Reardon and daughter Nina. |