Fugard, Sheila (1932–)

views updated

Fugard, Sheila (1932–)

South African novelist and poet. Born Sheila Meiring, 1932, in Birmingham, England; m. Athol Fugard (playwright), 1956; children: Lisa Fugard (actress).

Migrated to South Africa (1937); studied speech and drama at University of Cape Town; began career as an actress; with husband, founded Circle Players in Cape Town; novels include The Castaways (1972), Rite of Passage (1976), and the wellknown A Revolutionary Woman (1983); her dense and visionary poetry, which explores despair and social injustice, includes Threshold (1975) and Mythic Things (1981). Received CNA Prize (1972) and Olive Schreiner Prize (1973).