Robin Williams

WILLIAMS, Robin (1952- ). South African actress, theatre director and educationist.

Biography

Born Robin Emslie in East London, daughter of Neil Emslie and Pam Emslie, both of whom were active in the theatrical community in East London. Robin was married to Port Elizabeth actor and director, Alan Williams. Their sons Gareth Hewitt Williams and Rhys Hewitt Williams both work in the entertainment industry.

Her sister, Julie Dickson, is actively involved in theatre in Cape Town. Her niece, Julie Dickson, is an actress.

Training

Robin trained as a teacher at the Teacher's Training College in Grahamstown.

Career

Former Subject Head of Speech and Drama/Dramatic Arts/Arts and Culture at the Theodor Herzl High School in Port Elizabeth.

In 2024, she founded Robin Williams and Co., a Gqeberha-based community performance art group.

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

As actress

Productions, as actress, include: Showboat (Julie); Oklahoma! (Laurey); My Fair Lady (Eliza); My Fair Lady (Mrs Higgins); Oliver! (Nancy); Camelot (Guinevere); The Sound of Music (Elsa); The Pajama Game (Babe); Separate Tables; The Happy Apple; A Midsummer Night's Dream (Titania); Twelfth Night (Viola); Witness for the Prosecution (Romaine); Shadowlands (Joy); King Lear (Cordelia); Lettice and Lovage (Lettice); Wait Until Dark (Suzy); The Lion in Winter (Alais).

As director

Director of productions for, inter alia, the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society.

Productions, as director, include: Tom Sawyer and Pinocchio for Westering Primary School; Say It With Music; Mother Goose; Cinderella; Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood (1988); Oliver; Evita (2000); Annie Get Your Gun; The Wizard of Oz; Romeo and Juliet; Electra; The King and I; Gigi; The Boyfriend; Orpheus Descending; Grease (2001); Oklahoma!; Chicago; Sweet Charity; The Sound of Music; Fiddler on the Roof; Cabaret; Footloose (2007); Guys and Dolls (2008); Oklahoma! (2011); Fiela’s Child - The Musical (2011 and 2012); The Caucasian Chalk Circle; Equus; Evita (2012); Curl Up and Dye (2024); The Rainmaker (2025), Annie (2025).

Awards, etc

1982: PEMADS Best Actress Award.

Sources

Correspondence with Robin Williams, October 2014.

My Fair Lady programme, 1976.

Annie programme, 1986.

https://www.theherald.co.za/news/2025-03-22-the-rainmaker-hits-gqeberha-stage/

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