On Monday 27 January 2020, the Windybrow Arts Centre (a division of the Market Theatre Foundation) signed a memorandum of understanding with Johannesburg Awakening Minds. JAM is a group of formerly homeless men and women who, through Shakespeare, poetry and classes in acting and voice, have managed to improve their lives and gain employment.
The Windybrow, which is located in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, will be the home of JAM for the next three years.
Members of JAM perform at the launch event.
JAM was founded in 2012 by award-winning actress Dorothy Ann Gould. JAM teaches through voice, breathing, physical warmups, creative writing exercises, painting sessions and emotional release work. The members of the group have found that Shakespearean characters like Macbeth, King Lear, Richard the Third and Titus speak about their pain, and that the plays are huge receptacles that can hold all of the emotions that they needed to release – the rage, the feelings of abandonment. They have begun to flex again their intellectual muscle, to debate, to have opinions and to become a team that support each other and watch each other’s backs, not only on the streets, but on stage.
Soon after the group’s founding, its numbers soared to 40 people. In August 2013, they performed for the first time at the Arts Alive launch luncheon. In November 2013, they performed at Space.com at the Johannesburg Theatre and, in December, at PopArt Theatre (Arts on Main). In 2014, JAM performed for the Shakespeare Society of Southern Africa and appeared four times on Classic FM, as well as giving a repeat performance at Space.com and for the Gala Banquet of the Mzansi International Culinary Festival. Some members of the group participated in Umsebenzi ka Bra Shakes at the Centre for the Less Good Idea in August 2019.
Then in December last year, JAM became homeless and desperately needed to find a new space from which to work. The Market Theatre Foundation responded and offered JAM a three-year residency at the Windybrow Arts Centre. Supported by the Windybrow’s administrative team, JAM will be provided with marketing support and technical support. JAM will also be allocated a season in one of the Market Theatre venues for an annual showcase.
“We are ecstatic to be able to offer JAM a new home at the Windybrow Arts Centre. The partnership will allow the wonderful work that has been cultivated over the years to continue within the area of its inception. This is most valuable to the participants and the initial objectives of the programme. We look forward to working together and creating,” added Keitu Gwangwa, the Head of the Windybrow.
For further information, contact Lusanda Zokufa (Senior Publicist, Market Theatre Foundation)
011 832 1641 ext 202 or 072 367 7867
lusandaz@markettheatre.co.za