Who, what, why?
JMAM is a Jo'burg-based, tertiary training programme that offers a highly practical, movement-based approach to theatre and performance training. At the core of JMAM's philosophy is the Performer as Creator. At JMAM, artists discover how to create their own work by developing a skillset of devising and physical theatre tools. Students will graduate having developed and honed, through provocations and play, their unique poetic voice.
JMAM was founded in 2020 by South African theatre practitioners Roberto Pombo, Kyla Davis, Mlindeli Zondi and Daniel Buckland. Our pedagogy is inspired and guided by the movement theatre syllabus developed by Jaques Lecoq. Through rigorous practice and serious play, the school's vision is to create a generation of insightful practitioners who create thought- provoking and quality theatre.
If you are interested in training with us, please take a look at our 'Training' page where you will find an exciting line-up of 2022 workshops and courses, including our first three-week summer school in October.
Introducing, the JMAM Crew:
ROBERTO POMBO
"After I received my degree in theatre from Wits University, I worked in the industry as an actor, attended auditions, shot some commercials and tried my best to "make it". However, I felt that something was missing - I needed more play, more exploration and more movement. My studies at WITS had ignited the spark but now I needed it to burn. My hunger for more led me to attend the three year training at the Helikos International School of Theatre Creation. It was there that I discovered my passion for movement theatre, theatre-making and theatre through mask. The training was not only a practical course in performance and theatre, but was an introspective journey - it really gave me a new perspective on the world. My spark was burning! This lead me to attain my Masters Degree in 2019 and return to Helikos to attend the pedagogical journey training. My training, lead by maestro Giovanni Fusetti, was a critical, theoretical and practical study of the pedagogy of Jacques Lecoq. It gave a me profound and poetic understanding of the pedagogy and made me realise the necessity for theatre. What was once a little spark, is now a raging fire! I do not do, what I do, because I have to do it. It is this fire inside of me, this invisible force, that pushes me to me create, teach and perform."
KYLA DAVIS
"I am a theatre-maker, director, mother, lover, fighter and wild goat. I care deeply about the Earth, and the interconnected relationships between people and eco-systems. My politics are on the queer side of Left and and I wholeheartedly believe in a just transition to a more sustainable future where life (human and non-human) is valued above profit. I am consistently moved by the potential for live theatre, in particular mask and movement theatre, to mobilise hearts, minds and hands in service of a more empathetic and caring world. It is because of this empathetic connection, that I am powerfully drawn to choral work. I enjoy experimenting with the endless possibilities for play within am ensemble where there are no leaders and no followers but rather, a hivemind of hyper-present performers. I also love to make masks and puppets so that I can take them outside and cause a ruckus! I am the founder and director of Well Worn Theatre Company and am passionate about good quality theatre for young audiences"
Photo courtesy of The Centre for the Less Good Idea.
MLINDELI ZONDI
"I am a graduate of The Market Theatre Laboratory and I have long been involved in devised work as a theatre practitioner and facilitator. My journey into the world of theatre began in a community group and after completing high school, I decided to pursue my dream by attaining formal training at the Market Lab, where my passion for theatre grew even further. It was at the Lab where I discovered my love for movement theatre. After graduating, I have performed in many professional devised theatre productions. I played a lead role in the Naledi award-winning mask production 'Making Mandela', directed by Jenine Collocott. My passion and belief in the future of theatre has lead me to theatre education. I have facilitated as part of the Vananet Program- initiated by well known actor Patrick Shai - as well as having facilitated productions at the Inner City School Festival, hosted by the Hillbrow Theatre. My teaching has also seen me lead classes at the Sibikwa Saturday academy, teaching movement and physical theatre. My work has also extended to that of theatre for activism, having performed in multiple productions with Well Worn Theatre Company"
DANIEL BUCKLAND
"I am a Johannesburg-based performer, director, educator and theatre-maker. My career has seen me work both locally and abroad for over ten years. One of my career highlights was performing in Cirque du Soleil's 'Saltimbanco' and 'Love'. I am a Co-Artistic Director of Dark Laugh Theatre Company who's production of 'The Butcher Brothers', directed by Sylvaine Strike, was awarded the 2011 Naledi Award for Best Cutting Edge Production and a Standard Bank Ovation Award. In 2014, I again collaborated with Strike in the production of the Standard Bank Ovation Award winning one man show ‘The God Complex.’ I most recently worked for the Motion Capture animation studio Flying Circus where I co-wrote, directed and acted in the 26 part animated comedy series “Silly Seasons” and the animated action adventure comedy; “Inside Job”. Most recently, I have been collaborating with The Cirk, creating and directing their recent performance of 'Urban Circus' which was see at the National Ars Festival in 2022."
NOKUTHULA (Noxi) MABUZA
"I find inspiration from the images, discussions, insults and praises that are a product of my lived experience as a black woman in South Africa. Through exploration and playing and around the theatre space - in the capacity of a mover, live performer, playwright, stage manager or director - I have found that I am particularly interested in exploring and bringing to audiences the intricacies and dynamics of the black woman’s experience in Southern Africa and the world at large."