FISHER, FRANCIS GEORGE (1909 - 1970), dramatist and producer

Born 26 January 1909 in Bargoed, Glamorganshire. He was educated at Lewis' School, Pengam, and at University College, Cardiff, where he graduated in mathematics. For a short period he was a teacher in a missionary college in west Africa; then in 1932 a mathematics teacher (and later deputy headmaster) at Llangefni grammar school till his death on 30 January 1970.

He published a novel, One has been honest (1930), and poems and stories in The Adelphi and in The Twentieth Century in the 1930s; then he turned to drama and his play The disinherited was performed in Swansea Little Theatre in July 1939. He joined the navy during the war and while he was in Iceland he made efforts to learn Welsh from Caradar's booklet Welsh made easy. From then on he was intent on writing plays in Welsh. He wrote at least five short plays between 1945 and 1952 and three long plays: Catrin (which won him a prize in the national eisteddfod at Dolgellau, 1949), Y ferch a'r dewin (1958) (which shared a prize in the national eisteddfod at Rhyl, 1953), and Merch yw Medusa (1951). He also translated Andre Obey's play, Noa (1951). However his most important contribution was to ensure that the drama society at Llangefni had a permanent home, with the creation of the Little Theatre which was opened in Pencraig, Llangefni in May 1953. He was made director of the theatre and realised his vision of an amateur theatre regularly presenting plays of truly professional standard in Welsh and English.

Author

• Bedwyr Lewis Jones, (1933 - 1992)

Sources

• Taliesin, August 1970, 123-5
• Llywelyn Jones, Francis George Fisher, bardd a dramodydd (Ynys Môn 1893)(1983)

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: George Fisher

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q3404451

Published date: 2001

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