Ian Fraser (columnist)
Encyclopedia
Ian Fraser is a South Africa
n playwright, writer, comedian, anti-Apartheid activist, artist, anarchist, and social agitator, now living in the USA.
He began as South Africa's first street-level stand up comedian, 'ranting-verse' poet, and extremely acerbic anti-government satirist. He has consistently been a pro-democracy, anti-establishment voice, both under Apartheid and under the new dispensation in South Africa.
Fraser did not finish high school, or have any formal training. After being conscripted in the then South African Defense Force, for a 2-year period (1981 - 1982), he began to write and perform his own material from 1985 onwards.
Fraser has won many awards for his plays, including the 1992 Amstel Playwright of the Year Award
and the 1992 Tonight-AA Life Vita Award for Comedy. His consistently anti-establishment approach has meant that he remains relatively unacknowledged in South Africa today. His comedic work has been compared with that of Americans Lenny Bruce
and Bill Hicks
, and his dramatic writing to that of Charles Bukowski
, William Burroughs and Tom Stoppard
. Critics characterized Fraser's work as alternatively swinging between brutality and violence, and delicacy, sensitivity and grace. (See references below).
Two of his plays were performed in the USA by the First Banana Theater Company of Madison, Wisconsin
, as well as being staged by the Village Playhouse of Wauwatosa in 1999. The latter production won first place at the Wisconsin State AACTFest.
Alongside his plays, Fraser also performed eight 'one-man' satire shows, primarily at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival in South Africa, Africa's largest Arts Festival. His works repeatedly won the coveted "Pick of the Fringe" award. (see references below).
His experiences in the South African Defense Force, provided much of the background for his first novel, published by Penguin Books [My Own Private Orchestra ISBN 0-14-023050-5]. In 1994 he began writing as an internet technology columnist for the Johannesburg daily newspaper The Star. He later wrote a weekly "Fraser's Razor" column for the Mail and Guardian newspaper.
From 1994, he began to move away from much of the public performance - with sidesteps into Comedy Improv. Around that time, he also began doing voice-over work for TV, radio, and movie advertisements. In a quietly parallel career, he gradually became regarded as one of the leading voice-over talents in South Africa. He was an official on-air 'voice' for the South African Broadcasting Corporation
and their TV 2 channel. ( One of his popular TV ads for a hotel chain in South Africa, has emerged on YouTube.)
He briefly hosted a midnight talk show on '702 Radio' station, in Johannesburg. He was fired for his Howard Stern-like on-air comments and behavior. (See South African Broadcasting Complaints Commission annual report for 1997)
Fraser was threatened with police and legal action, because of one of his fictional blog postings, "Killing the President." This short work stands as one of the harshest satiric attacks ever on the ruling African National Congress
government and Deputy President Jacob Zuma
. Despite its scandalous language and appalling concept, critics classed it as a satire, similar to Jonathan Swift
's A Modest Proposal
. The government was not amused, and only timely intervention by the Freedom of Expression Institute on Fraser's behalf, prevented charges of treason and sedition.
In April 2006, Fraser relocated to the United States, where he is now a legal resident. He is writing plays and screenplays. The University of Wisconsin's Oshkosh Theater, staged 'Dogs of the Blue Gods' and 'The Sugar Plum Fairy' in early 2008
He has won the AcidTheatre's 'Freedom of Speech Monologue Competition 2007', in the UK, for his scathing dissection of modern America, titled ('Putting the Fun Back into School Shootings'). It is to be staged in London, England in 2008.
The National English Literary Museum
in Grahamstown, South Africa, contains a large collection of Fraser's papers and writings, as part of their collection of South African writers and playwrights.
Most recently, in July 2009, his Dogs of the Blue Gods play was staged at Brown University at Brown/Trinity Playwrights Repertory Theatre
(Staged by the Performing Arts Council Transvaal. PACT. South Africa)
Amstel Playwright of the Year Award
(Staged by the Cape Performing Arts Council CAPAB.
(Staged at the Market Theatre
, Johannesburg.
(Writing in America)
the Fun Back into School Shootings')
Amstel Playwright of the Year nomination.
('Charles Manson')
Amstel Playwright of the Year nomination.
('Butterfly Jam')
Amstel Playwright of the Year Award winner.
('Heart Like a Stomach')
Tonight AA-Life Vita Award for Comedy.
('Dogs of the Blue Gods')
First Place winner in the 1999 Wisconsin State AACTFest (USA)
('Dogs of the Blue Gods')
Amstel Playwright of the Year nomination.
('Blitzbreeker and the Chicken From Hell')
Pick of the Fringe Award Grahamstown Arts Festival, South Africa.
('Blitzbreeker and the Chicken From Hell')
Pick of the Fringe Award Grahamstown Arts Festival. South Africa.
('The Sugar Plum Fairy')
Pick of the Fringe Award Grahamstown Arts Festival. South Africa.
('Gospel According to the Mafia')
CNA Literary Awards nominee Debut section, for
My Own Private Orchestra'.
Special FNB-Vita Award for ‘Most Outstanding New Production.’
('The Accidental Antichrist')
FNB-Vita Award nomination for ‘Playwright of the Year.’ South Africa, 1994.
(The Accidental Antichrist')
Staged at Brown University at Brown/Trinity Playwrights Repertory Theatre
A Dead Soldier in the Family
Staged by Playwrights Round Table, Florida
(Published by One Act Play Depot, Canada)
'Dogs of the Blue Gods'
(University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh Theatre) 2008
'The Sugar Plum Fairy'
(University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh Theatre) 2008
(#2 script, April 2007, on Zoetrope
film script site)
(quarter finalist Slamdance
Screenplay competition)
The Depths of Deception e-book
The Nog Sisters (novella) e-book
Flies for the Mayans (novella) e-book.
Pigman's Fingers (short story) online
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n playwright, writer, comedian, anti-Apartheid activist, artist, anarchist, and social agitator, now living in the USA.
He began as South Africa's first street-level stand up comedian, 'ranting-verse' poet, and extremely acerbic anti-government satirist. He has consistently been a pro-democracy, anti-establishment voice, both under Apartheid and under the new dispensation in South Africa.
Fraser did not finish high school, or have any formal training. After being conscripted in the then South African Defense Force, for a 2-year period (1981 - 1982), he began to write and perform his own material from 1985 onwards.
Fraser has won many awards for his plays, including the 1992 Amstel Playwright of the Year Award
Amstel Playwright of the Year Award
The Amstel Playwright of the Year Award, an independent non-governmental prize, was launched in South Africa in 1978. It recognised South African playwrights. The prize was awarded to many of South Africa's anti-apartheid playwrights....
and the 1992 Tonight-AA Life Vita Award for Comedy. His consistently anti-establishment approach has meant that he remains relatively unacknowledged in South Africa today. His comedic work has been compared with that of Americans Lenny Bruce
Lenny Bruce
Leonard Alfred Schneider , better known by the stage name Lenny Bruce, was a Jewish-American comedian, social critic and satirist...
and Bill Hicks
Bill Hicks
William Melvin "Bill" Hicks was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. His material largely consisted of general discussions about society, religion, politics, philosophy, and personal issues. Hicks' material was often controversial and steeped in dark comedy...
, and his dramatic writing to that of Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski
Henry Charles Bukowski was an American poet, novelist and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural and economic ambience of his home city of Los Angeles...
, William Burroughs and Tom Stoppard
Tom Stoppard
Sir Tom Stoppard OM, CBE, FRSL is a British playwright, knighted in 1997. He has written prolifically for TV, radio, film and stage, finding prominence with plays such as Arcadia, The Coast of Utopia, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Professional Foul, The Real Thing, and Rosencrantz and...
. Critics characterized Fraser's work as alternatively swinging between brutality and violence, and delicacy, sensitivity and grace. (See references below).
Two of his plays were performed in the USA by the First Banana Theater Company of Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, as well as being staged by the Village Playhouse of Wauwatosa in 1999. The latter production won first place at the Wisconsin State AACTFest.
Alongside his plays, Fraser also performed eight 'one-man' satire shows, primarily at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival in South Africa, Africa's largest Arts Festival. His works repeatedly won the coveted "Pick of the Fringe" award. (see references below).
His experiences in the South African Defense Force, provided much of the background for his first novel, published by Penguin Books [My Own Private Orchestra ISBN 0-14-023050-5]. In 1994 he began writing as an internet technology columnist for the Johannesburg daily newspaper The Star. He later wrote a weekly "Fraser's Razor" column for the Mail and Guardian newspaper.
From 1994, he began to move away from much of the public performance - with sidesteps into Comedy Improv. Around that time, he also began doing voice-over work for TV, radio, and movie advertisements. In a quietly parallel career, he gradually became regarded as one of the leading voice-over talents in South Africa. He was an official on-air 'voice' for the South African Broadcasting Corporation
South African Broadcasting Corporation
The South African Broadcasting Corporation is the state-owned broadcaster in South Africa and provides 18 radio stations as well as 3 television broadcasts to the general public.-Early years:Radio broadcasting began in South Africa in 1923...
and their TV 2 channel. ( One of his popular TV ads for a hotel chain in South Africa, has emerged on YouTube.)
He briefly hosted a midnight talk show on '702 Radio' station, in Johannesburg. He was fired for his Howard Stern-like on-air comments and behavior. (See South African Broadcasting Complaints Commission annual report for 1997)
Fraser was threatened with police and legal action, because of one of his fictional blog postings, "Killing the President." This short work stands as one of the harshest satiric attacks ever on the ruling African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
government and Deputy President Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
. Despite its scandalous language and appalling concept, critics classed it as a satire, similar to Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
's A Modest Proposal
A Modest Proposal
A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland From Being a Burden on Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick, commonly referred to as A Modest Proposal, is a Juvenalian satirical essay written and published anonymously by Jonathan Swift in...
. The government was not amused, and only timely intervention by the Freedom of Expression Institute on Fraser's behalf, prevented charges of treason and sedition.
In April 2006, Fraser relocated to the United States, where he is now a legal resident. He is writing plays and screenplays. The University of Wisconsin's Oshkosh Theater, staged 'Dogs of the Blue Gods' and 'The Sugar Plum Fairy' in early 2008
He has won the AcidTheatre's 'Freedom of Speech Monologue Competition 2007', in the UK, for his scathing dissection of modern America, titled ('Putting the Fun Back into School Shootings'). It is to be staged in London, England in 2008.
The National English Literary Museum
National English Literary Museum
The National English Literary Museum houses extensive archival material relating to Southern African English Literature. It is located in Grahamstown. NELM has principally three collections: manuscripts, books and journals, and press clippings...
in Grahamstown, South Africa, contains a large collection of Fraser's papers and writings, as part of their collection of South African writers and playwrights.
Most recently, in July 2009, his Dogs of the Blue Gods play was staged at Brown University at Brown/Trinity Playwrights Repertory Theatre
Plays
- Bring Me Gandhi
- Lenny Bruce Live
- Like the Pyramid on the Camel Packet
(Staged by the Performing Arts Council Transvaal. PACT. South Africa)
- Charles Manson
- Butterfly Jam
- Heart like a Stomach
Amstel Playwright of the Year Award
- Dogs of the Blue Gods
- Blitzbreeker and the Chicken from Hell
(Staged by the Cape Performing Arts Council CAPAB.
(Staged at the Market Theatre
Market Theatre
The Market Theatre, based in the vibrant inner-city suburb of Newtown in Johannesburg, South Africa, was opened in 1976, operating as an independent, non-racial theatre during the country’s apartheid regime...
, Johannesburg.
- The Sugar Plum Fairy
- The Gospel According to the Mafia
- The Accidental Antichrist
(Writing in America)
- Cat and God
- Like Craigslist on a Friday Night
- Putting the Fun Back into School Shootings
- A Dead Soldier in the Family
- The Family Beef
- For the Love of an Infinite Number of Monkeys
- The Rocket's Red Glare
- Die, the Beloved Country
- The Zombies
Awards
AcidTheatre's Freedom of Speech Play Competition 2007, winner (UK).the Fun Back into School Shootings')
Amstel Playwright of the Year nomination.
('Charles Manson')
Amstel Playwright of the Year nomination.
('Butterfly Jam')
Amstel Playwright of the Year Award winner.
('Heart Like a Stomach')
Tonight AA-Life Vita Award for Comedy.
('Dogs of the Blue Gods')
First Place winner in the 1999 Wisconsin State AACTFest (USA)
('Dogs of the Blue Gods')
Amstel Playwright of the Year nomination.
('Blitzbreeker and the Chicken From Hell')
Pick of the Fringe Award Grahamstown Arts Festival, South Africa.
('Blitzbreeker and the Chicken From Hell')
Pick of the Fringe Award Grahamstown Arts Festival. South Africa.
('The Sugar Plum Fairy')
Pick of the Fringe Award Grahamstown Arts Festival. South Africa.
('Gospel According to the Mafia')
CNA Literary Awards nominee Debut section, for
My Own Private Orchestra'.
Special FNB-Vita Award for ‘Most Outstanding New Production.’
('The Accidental Antichrist')
FNB-Vita Award nomination for ‘Playwright of the Year.’ South Africa, 1994.
(The Accidental Antichrist')
In North America
Dogs of the Blue GodsStaged at Brown University at Brown/Trinity Playwrights Repertory Theatre
A Dead Soldier in the Family
Staged by Playwrights Round Table, Florida
- Cat and God
(Published by One Act Play Depot, Canada)
'Dogs of the Blue Gods'
(University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh Theatre) 2008
'The Sugar Plum Fairy'
(University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh Theatre) 2008
- The Family Beef
- Putting the Fun Back Into School Shootings
- Killing George Lucas (short film)
(#2 script, April 2007, on Zoetrope
Zoetrope
A zoetrope is a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures. The term zoetrope is from the Greek words "ζωή – zoe", "life" and τρόπος – tropos, "turn". It may be taken to mean "wheel of life"....
film script site)
- The Accidental Antichrist (feature film)
(quarter finalist Slamdance
Slamdance
Slamdance may refer to:* Mosh, a form of dance associated with punk rock and other musical genres* Slamdance Film Festival, an annual event featuring the work of independent filmmakers...
Screenplay competition)
- The War of Error' (feature film)
- For the Love of an Infinite Number of Monkeys (play)
- The Rocket's Red Glare (play)
- Die, the Beloved Country (play)
- The Zombies (play)
Books
My Own Private Orchestra Penguin Books [ISBN 0-14-023050-5]The Depths of Deception e-book
The Nog Sisters (novella) e-book
Flies for the Mayans (novella) e-book.
Pigman's Fingers (short story) online