Issy Silbowitz

Issy Silbowitz (fl. 1980-2026) is an occasional theatre practitioner and performer, and an enthusiastic lifelong follower and supporter of theatre in the country.

Biography

He matriculated at Wynberg Boy's High School and went on to work as a freelance Book Publisher's Marketing representative.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

A lifelong follower and enthusiast of theatre and a long-standing member of the Cape Town Gilbert and Sullivan Society, for which he participated in walk-on parts in numerous productions and working as prompt on occasion, as well as contributing in other capacities, e.g. as the Production Secretary for Fiddler on the Roof (Feb 2011 - Aug 2011) and the Production and Rehearsal Secretary for Yeomen of the Guard (Feb 2012 - Jun 2012).

During the 1980s and 1990s, while working in Durban, he also moonlighted at The Playhouse theatre as an usher.

For a number of years he was also the Secretary of the Cape Town Theatre Club , during which time he co-ordinated guest visits/speakers, which Iincluded luminaries like Percy Tucker, Robyn Scott, Molly Seftel and many others.

In 2026, though still active, he deposited his extensive collection of programmes from local shows he has seen over the years with the Performing Arts Research Collection, housed at the Africa Open Institute at the University of Stellenbosch. The collection includes drama, ballet, orchestral and musical theatre programmes from the 1980s to date.