Barney Simon Rank
About Barney Simon
The playwright was best identified with the first South African multiracial cultural center Market Theatre. There, he served as the artistic director and wrote the 1981 theatre hit “Woza Albert!”
Early Career
Barney Simon’s interest in theatre was kindled while working in London with director Joan Littlewood, and he returned home to do copywriting for advertisement as well as produce and direct multi-racial plays in random venues like backyards and warehouses.
He visited New York between 1969 and 1970 to edit the New American Review journal. He introduced to Americans the rich plays of South Africa.
Major Stage Plays
From 1972, he wrote and produced such plays as the “Phiri” and “Story Time”. He also staged works from other playwrights, especially Athol Fugard. Though racial laws denied him state subsidies and threats of arrest pressed hard on him for the Market Theatre movement, he continued to cast multiracial players in several venues of multiracial audiences.
Barney Simon also directed Nadine Gordimer’s “City Lovers” for the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) and collaborated with Jean-Claude Carrier on the film adaptation of Can Themba’s “Le Costume” in 1994.
Barney Simon Rank
F.A.Q. about Barney Simon
When is his birthday?
Barney Simon's birthday is on April 13, 1932.
In how many days is his birthday?
Barney's birthday is in 353 days
How old was Barney when he died?
He was 63 years old.
When did he die?
He died in June 30, 1995.
How old would he be today?
Barney Simon would be 92 years old if he was alive today.