Ólafur Haukur Símonarson
Encyclopedia
Ólafur Haukur Símonarson, (born August 24, 1947 in Reykjavík
), is an Iceland
ic playwright and novelist who lives in Reykjavík, Iceland.
He is married to actress Guðlaug María Bjarnadóttir and they have three children. He studied interior design in Copenhagen
and literature and theater in Copenhagen and Strasbourg
from 1965-1972.
Símonarson mainly writes for the stage and is one of the most respected and popular dramatists in Iceland. He is a very versatile writer having also written numerous novels, colletions of short stories and poetry and children's books. His songs and lyrics for children have been released on records and CDs.
Símonarson has mainly worked as full-time writer since 1974. He was director of the People's Theatre in Reykjavík 1980-1982, Chairman of the Icelandic Dramatists´ Union 1986-1999, Vice-Chairman of I.T.I.s´ (International Theatre Institut) playwrights´ committee 1993-1998. Honorary Member of the I.T.I.s´ Playwrights´ Forum. Símonarson has been on the board of the Icelandic Writers Union and the Society of Composers and Copyright Owners since 1985. He is an honorary member of The Icelandic Playwrights Union.
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
), is an Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic playwright and novelist who lives in Reykjavík, Iceland.
He is married to actress Guðlaug María Bjarnadóttir and they have three children. He studied interior design in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
and literature and theater in Copenhagen and Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
from 1965-1972.
Símonarson mainly writes for the stage and is one of the most respected and popular dramatists in Iceland. He is a very versatile writer having also written numerous novels, colletions of short stories and poetry and children's books. His songs and lyrics for children have been released on records and CDs.
Símonarson has mainly worked as full-time writer since 1974. He was director of the People's Theatre in Reykjavík 1980-1982, Chairman of the Icelandic Dramatists´ Union 1986-1999, Vice-Chairman of I.T.I.s´ (International Theatre Institut) playwrights´ committee 1993-1998. Honorary Member of the I.T.I.s´ Playwrights´ Forum. Símonarson has been on the board of the Icelandic Writers Union and the Society of Composers and Copyright Owners since 1985. He is an honorary member of The Icelandic Playwrights Union.
Accolades
- Nomination for the Nordic Councils Literature Prize, 1975.
- The Reykjavík Educational Councils Prize for children books, 1983.
- Honorary award from the Writer's Fund of Iceland, 1992.
- The DV Theatreprize for the best Play, 1993.
- The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service Writer's Prize, 1993.
- Nomination for the Nordic Playwright's Prize, 1994.
- The Les Boréales du Normandie Literature Prize for the Best Nordic Crime Novel, 1997