Charon Williams-Ros

Charon Williams-Ros (fl 1992-2023) is a writer, teacher and multi-award-winning actor/singer

Also found as Charon Williams Ros in some sources.

Biography

Born in the UK to theatrical parents, she moved to South Africa as a child. Performing in her spare time, she completed a BA degree in English and Psychology at the University of South Africa, then went on to teach English and Music. In 1992 she entered into the theatre industry on a full-time basis.

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

In 1992 she established Williams-Ros Contemporary Voice [1] in Natal (now known as Kwa-Zulu Natal or KZN), where she trained a host of talented singers. Later, she formed the Williams-Ros Agency to promote them. When the talent exceeded the available work, she began to write and direct musical revues to showcase that talent.

In 2011, Charon returned to performing and spent the next seven years touring South Africa, winning several musical theatre awards including the Mercury DTA for her portrayal of "Mrs Lovett" in Sweeney Todd; a Fleur du Cap Award for the role of "Fraulein Schneider" in Cabaret and a Naledi Award for the role of "Miss Hannigan" in Annie.

As a founding member of The Young Performers Project in January 2001, she has maintained her involvement in a variety of roles: writer, vocal director and director. She wrote the screenplay for the 2021 20th anniversary film.

As an author she has in fact written over 50 musical revues and musical events, on occasion combining forces with several other theatre professionals. Among the works she created have been Curtain Up (2001/2017),

In 2017 she created Williams-Ros Performing Arts Programmes and in 2018 she set up the Williams-Ros Foundation Music Course and wrote the popular Howard & Thandi Performing Arts book series (a series of books, ebooks and audiobooks introducing young readers to the performing arts)[2]. She also edited a guide for amateur theatre enthusiasts called Curtain Up! How to Stage Great Youth Productions (Nick Hern Books[3], 2024).