Prolific writer, playwright and arts activist, Mike van Graan was born in Cape Town where he currently resides. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Honors Degree from the University of Cape Town (UCT) where he majored in English and Drama. Van Graan is currently registered for an MA Degree in Drama at UCT, exploring the theme of HIV/AIDS in contemporary mainstream South African theatre.

Van Graan has written more than ten plays, and of this body of work, Peter Feldman comments, “[Van Graan] has the uncanny ability to home in on the South African landscape, isolate areas of interest and then dissect the situation through his witty writing, interesting characters and often profound insights.”

Van Graan has received numerous accolades for his work. In 2001, he was selected for the Arts and Culture Trust Arts Journalist of the Year. His plays, Bafana Republic 1 and Bafana Republic 2 won Best One Person Show at the South African Comedy Awards in 2007 and 2008 respectively. His 2007 theatrical offering, Die Generaal, won the Anglogold Ashanti Smeltkroes Prize for Best Original Afrikaans Script at the Aardklop Arts Festival. Lago's Last Dance, a trilogy which premiered on the main programme of the National Arts Festival in 2009, has been nominated in the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards Best New Script category.

Of his inspiration, Van Graan comments, “I get my themes in the street: violence, abuse of power, crime and corruption... I could never create a piece that does not reflect reality."

Mike van Graan will deliver the festival’s Keynote Address on Opening Night, entitled “The State of the Arts”.

Plays (Selected)  

Brothers in Blood , 2008
Die Generaal/The General , 2007
Bafana Republic , 2007
Mirror Mirror , 2007
Mixed Metaphors , 2006
Two to Tango , 2006
Some Mother's Sons , 2006
Hostile Takeover , 2005
Green Man Flashing , 2004
The Tables Trilogy , 1999
Dinner Talk , 1996
Not Exactly PC! , 1996
Some of our Best Friends are Cultural Workers , 1992
The Dogs must be Crazy , 1991