Joyce Levinsohn - Revision history

Darryl: /* Sources */

2026-06-09T15:50:29Z

Sources

Darryl: /* 1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions */

2026-05-06T16:21:12Z

1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions

Darryl: /* 1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions */

2026-05-06T16:15:42Z

1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions

Darryl: /* 1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions */

2026-05-06T16:12:33Z

1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions

Darryl: /* 1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions */

2026-05-06T16:11:24Z

1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions

Darryl: /* 1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions */

2026-05-06T16:10:52Z

1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions

Darryl: /* 1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions */

2026-05-06T14:12:02Z

1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions

Darryl: /* Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance */

2025-07-29T12:24:44Z

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

Darryl: /* 1954 - 1961: ZINMAN-GREEN SPEECH AND DRAMA STUDIO */

2025-07-29T12:23:45Z

1954 - 1961: ZINMAN-GREEN SPEECH AND DRAMA STUDIO

Darryl: /* Awards */

2025-07-29T12:22:19Z

Awards

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:50, 9 June 2026
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	https://www.sajr.co.za/the-dramatic-daring-life-of-doyen-of-childrens-theatre/amp/		https://www.sajr.co.za/the-dramatic-daring-life-of-doyen-of-childrens-theatre/amp/
		+
		+	[[Walter Greyvenstein\|Greyvenstein, Walter]] 1988. ''The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa''. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: [[Rand Afrikaans University]].
		+
		+	Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]

	== Return to ==		== Return to ==

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 Growing young minds through quality interactive children's theatre has always been one of Joyce's central goals. As the Director of [[Sandton Speech and Drama Centre]], which she opened in 1961, she was able to actualise her talents in adapting and directing popular children's literary classics for the stage. Within the context of the private drama classes she ran, she focused on cultivating the oral communication skills of her pupils and empowering them with the confidence to express themselves.
-===1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions===
+===1976 - 1990: [[Children's Theatre Productions]]===
-With the establishment of [[Children's Theatre Productions]] by Levinsohn in 1976, Joyce - working with [[Jill Girard]] - became a pioneer and the forerunner of professional, quality children's theatre in South Africa. Whilst the Company was run along almost identical lines to a professional adult theatre company, [[Children's Theatre Productions]] afforded young, emerging actors and actresses the opportunity to perform alongside seasoned professionals.
+In 1976, Levinsohn established [[Children's Theatre Productions]], becoming a pioneer and the forerunner of professional, quality children's theatre in South Africa. Whilst the Company was run along almost identical lines to a professional adult theatre company, [[Children's Theatre Productions]] afforded young, emerging actors and actresses the opportunity to perform alongside seasoned professionals.
-Given that the Company received no state funding, Joyce was thrust in the roles of financial director, theatrical co-director and drama / voice coach. In between knocking on the doors of potential sponsors from both the private and business sectors, she relentlessly hounded officials at various government departments to obtain permission for youngsters from marginalized communities to attend the weekly theatre workshop classes that she ran. As donors and civil servants soon discovered, Joyce's tenacity leaves little room for refusal. With monies received from generous benefactors, the Company was able to tour a host of underprivileged schools and provide children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds with first time exposure to stimulating, interactive, high quality theatrical 'edutainment.'
+'''For more information, see [[Children's Theatre Productions]].'''
 ===1990 - 2004: The Johannesburg Youth Theatre Trust===

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 Following the Soweto Riots of June 1976, the Government temporarily enforced the closure of black schools. Joyce was in the middle of staging a production at the time, which featured black children from her theatre workshops, who played alongside white professional actors. In her determination to uphold the theatrical maxim, 'the show must go on', she took the youngsters into her home, where they remained for the duration of the production.
-In 1987, at a time when there was little exposure of indigenous folklore and mysticism, Joyce conceived the idea for an interactive, eco-musical to promote the message of conservation. Entitled ''[[Songs and Tales under African Skies]]'', the production combined the rich African tradition of oral story telling with vibrant song and indigenous dance. With most of the stories calling for additional players from the audience, this interactive masterpiece was hailed as a 'tour de force for children of all ages'.
+In 1987, at a time when there was little exposure of indigenous folklore and mysticism, Joyce conceived the idea for an interactive, eco-musical to promote the message of conservation. Entitled ''[[Songs and Tales under African Skies]]'', the production combined the rich African tradition of oral story telling with vibrant song and indigenous dance. With most of the stories calling for additional players from the audience, this interactive masterpiece was hailed as a 'tour de force for children of all ages'. In 1990, the production went global and enthralled audiences in London, West Germany and Italy. It also captivated millions of young Americans when it was filmed for the US education TV series, ''Channel One''. It also played to captive audiences in Mauritius during its 1996 tour of the island.
 ===1990 - 2004: The Johannesburg Youth Theatre Trust===

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 ===1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions===
-With the establishment of [[Children's Theatre Productions]] by Levinsohn in 1976, Joyce became a pioneer and the forerunner of professional, quality children's theatre in South Africa. Whilst the Company was run along almost identical lines to a professional adult theatre company, [[Children's Theatre Productions]] afforded young, emerging actors and actresses the opportunity to perform alongside seasoned professionals.
+With the establishment of [[Children's Theatre Productions]] by Levinsohn in 1976, Joyce - working with [[Jill Girard]] - became a pioneer and the forerunner of professional, quality children's theatre in South Africa. Whilst the Company was run along almost identical lines to a professional adult theatre company, [[Children's Theatre Productions]] afforded young, emerging actors and actresses the opportunity to perform alongside seasoned professionals.
 Given that the Company received no state funding, Joyce was thrust in the roles of financial director, theatrical co-director and drama / voice coach. In between knocking on the doors of potential sponsors from both the private and business sectors, she relentlessly hounded officials at various government departments to obtain permission for youngsters from marginalized communities to attend the weekly theatre workshop classes that she ran. As donors and civil servants soon discovered, Joyce's tenacity leaves little room for refusal. With monies received from generous benefactors, the Company was able to tour a host of underprivileged schools and provide children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds with first time exposure to stimulating, interactive, high quality theatrical 'edutainment.'

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 ===1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions===
-With the establishment of [[Children's Theatre Productions]] by Levinsohn and [[Jill Girard]] in 1976, Joyce became a pioneer and the forerunner of professional, quality children's theatre in South Africa. Whilst the Company was run along almost identical lines to a professional adult theatre company, [[Children's Theatre Productions]] afforded young, emerging actors and actresses the opportunity to perform alongside seasoned professionals.
+With the establishment of [[Children's Theatre Productions]] by Levinsohn in 1976, Joyce became a pioneer and the forerunner of professional, quality children's theatre in South Africa. Whilst the Company was run along almost identical lines to a professional adult theatre company, [[Children's Theatre Productions]] afforded young, emerging actors and actresses the opportunity to perform alongside seasoned professionals.
 Given that the Company received no state funding, Joyce was thrust in the roles of financial director, theatrical co-director and drama / voice coach. In between knocking on the doors of potential sponsors from both the private and business sectors, she relentlessly hounded officials at various government departments to obtain permission for youngsters from marginalized communities to attend the weekly theatre workshop classes that she ran. As donors and civil servants soon discovered, Joyce's tenacity leaves little room for refusal. With monies received from generous benefactors, the Company was able to tour a host of underprivileged schools and provide children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds with first time exposure to stimulating, interactive, high quality theatrical 'edutainment.'

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 From 1954 - 1961, Joyce served as co-director of the [[Zinman-Green Speech and Drama Studio]]. Whilst she was also primarily involved in preparing and training pupils for Eisteddfods, festivals and examinations, in addition to running integrated dance, drama, and song workshops for children from junior primary school to high school, she also continued to use her skills to upgrade the literacy and overall teaching competencies of teachers from disadvantaged communities.
-===1961 - 1975: SANDTON SPEECH AND DRAMA CENTRE ===
+===1961 - 1975: Sandton Speech and Drama Centre ===
 Growing young minds through quality interactive children's theatre has always been one of Joyce's central goals. As the Director of [[Sandton Speech and Drama Centre]], which she opened in 1961, she was able to actualise her talents in adapting and directing popular children's literary classics for the stage. Within the context of the private drama classes she ran, she focused on cultivating the oral communication skills of her pupils and empowering them with the confidence to express themselves.
-===1976 - 1990: CHILDREN'S THEATRE PRODUCTIONS===
+===1976 - 1990: Children's Theatre Productions===
 With the establishment of [[Children's Theatre|Children's Theatre Productions]], in 1976, Joyce became a pioneer and the forerunner of professional, quality children's theatre in South Africa. Whilst the Company was run along almost identical lines to a professional adult theatre company, [[Children's Theatre|Children's Theatre Productions]] afforded young, emerging actors and actresses the opportunity to perform alongside seasoned professionals.
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 In 1990, the production went global and enthralled audiences in London, West Germany and Italy. It also captivated millions of young Americans when it was filmed for the US education TV series, ''Channel One''. It also played to captive audiences in Mauritius during its 1996 tour of the island.
-===1990 - 2004: THE JOHANNESBURG YOUTH THEATRE TRUST===
+===1990 - 2004: The Johannesburg Youth Theatre Trust===
 With the founding and formalisation of the [[Johannesburg Youth Theatre Trust]] as a non-profit educational theatre trust, in 1989 /90, and Joyce's appointment as Executive Director came the recognition of the Johannesburg City Council, which granted the Trust a 50-year lease on a heritage site in Parktown, Johannesburg. Two historic houses on a property, which is situated on all major bus and taxi routes fulfilled Joyce's dream of providing all of Gauteng's children, irrespective of socio economic circumstances, with an easily accessible theatre environment in which creative energies are channelled to encourage cognitive development, life skills and literacy.

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 Through her housekeeper, she came into contact with a number of black teachers, whom she instructed in the techniques of [[Theatre-in-Education]]; - a medium, which integrates arts and culture with learning areas such as languages and human and social sciences. Levinsohn's unwavering passion for the performing arts is deeply entrenched in the belief that interactive theatre is an integral part of the human experience; - the means by which actors and audiences choose to participate in the unfolding scenarios which theatre provides; many of which often mirror real life.
-===1954 - 1961: ZINMAN-GREEN SPEECH AND DRAMA STUDIO===
+===1954 - 1961: Zinman-Green Speech and Drama Studio===
 From 1954 - 1961, Joyce served as co-director of the [[Zinman-Green Speech and Drama Studio]]. Whilst she was also primarily involved in preparing and training pupils for Eisteddfods, festivals and examinations, in addition to running integrated dance, drama, and song workshops for children from junior primary school to high school, she also continued to use her skills to upgrade the literacy and overall teaching competencies of teachers from disadvantaged communities.

@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 The following were awarded to her:
-/90: Joyce Levinsohn was the recipient of a [[Vita Award]] for her, 'contribution to the growth of quality children's theatre.'
+: Joyce Levinsohn was the recipient of a [[Vita Award]] for her, 'contribution to the growth of quality children's theatre.'
 : Joyce was the recipient of the prestigious Arts and Culture Trust Lifetime Achievement Award, which hailed her inestimable contribution to children's theatre as follows; - 'Through the [[Johannesburg Youth Theatre Trust]], Levinsohn has fostered a culture of art appreciation, language and literature amongst youth. Her dedication to excellence in children's theatre has helped to build theatre audiences of the future.'