SA mime goes global
South African’s own Mime Master, John Jacobs, will be representing South Africa at the Leonid Yengibaryan International Mime Festival in Tsakhkadzor in Armenia this week.
John Jacobs was born in South Africa, but lived and worked in Paris, France for the last 20 years.
He studied under the well-known Mime Master, Marcel Marceau where he qualified and also worked under Marceau for a number of years. Marceau also bestowed the title of Mime Master upon Jacobs.
This International Mime Festival is presented by the Ministry of Culture, National Theatre Art Association, Municipality of Tsakhkadzor and Yerevan State Pantomime Theatre.
“Mime is the most difficult and unique genre of dramatic art, comprehensible for all people despite nationalities and religions.
The goal of the International Mime Festival is to make widely available the best practices of international Mime. It’s object is to create co-operation between world’s theatrical and cultural organizations,” says Zhirair Dadasyan, Director of the Yerevan State Pantomime Theater and Organiser of the Festival.
He also said that they are very excited to have John Jacobs at the Festival.
“This is the first time ever that we had a representative from South-Africa and from Africa.”
John Jacobs said he is very honored to represent South Africa at this International Mime Festival.
“Although I have been living and working in France and Europe for the last 20 years, South Africa is still my home country and I am so proud to be here in Armenia as a South African. The standard is very high as the art form of Mime is well known and practiced here in Armenia and through the rest of Europe.”
- Press Release