J. Elwyn Davies
James Elwyn Davies (1909-1983). Teacher, active in amateur theatre. Also known as Elwyn Davies.
Contents
Biography
He was born in Klerksdorp in 1909, the son of a well-known Methodist minister. The young Elwyn Davies was singing leading roles in opera and oratorio in Pretoria and Johannesburg while still at school. Dr Davies matriculated at Pretoria Boys' High School and graduated at the Transvaal University College. He retired as principal of Athlone Boys' High School in Johannesburg after 40 years in teaching in December 1974. He died at the age of 74 in June 1983.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He was an executive member of the an amateur theatre company in Pretoria, who became a member of the first working committee of the Federation of Amateur Theatrical Societies of South Africa (FATSSA) in 1937.
In 1938 he directed The Mikado as the first school musical production staged by Pretoria Boys High School[1] (under the name Elwyn Davies), and this Gilbert and Sullivan operetta would set the pattern at the school for decades to come.
Awards, etc.
The Elwyn Davies Theatre at the Athlone Boys' High School was named in his honour.
Sources
Phyllis Konya, 1985.
http://www.boyshigh.com/index.php?page=briefhistory
E-mail correspondence form Stephan Borgehammar, 30 September 2022.
The Star, ? December 1974; 13 June 1983.
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