“How does one talk about a legend at the end of such a successful run,” asked District 9 actor David James as he began a tribute to close friend, Joan Brickhill – the queen of South African theatre – who passed away on 15 January at age 89.
Joan Brickhill left an indelible mark on performers and theatre lovers all across the country. This was irrefutably evident at the memorial held in her honour at the Johannesburg Country Club in Auckland Park on 30 January.
In true Brickhill fashion guests were asked to dress ‘extremely glamorous and highly theatrical’.
“It’s a strange place to have a memorial,” commented acclaimed journalist Adrienne Sichell on the outdoors country club location. “But it’s perfect for Joan because of the elegance and, of course, because she loved gardens.”
“She wasn’t just into song and dance, she was also an AIDS activist. So there are many facets to her history. Her legacy stretches far and wide,” Sichel, sometimes referred to as the ‘doyenne of South African art journalism’, said about the doyenne of South African theatre.
Brickhill was a master teacher. Many of the who’s who in South African theatrical and acting circles owe their success and confidence to her extreme passion and discipline.
“When I got to Joan’s class all thoughts of being a ballerina ended,” said Annabel Linder, another famous South African actress mentored by Brickhill. “I just wanted to be an actor taught by Joan. She was like a mirror; if she believed in you and you looked at her she reflected this vibe that you were absolutely great and that you could do it.”
As the final curtain comes down, it is the end of an era for performance art in the country.
“We are sad for ourselves but for Joan we cannot grieve,” performer Ian Von Memerty charged the audience. “From the most talented child in Natal, to renowned performer, to a true gay icon and gardener nurturing an endless list of seedlings, myself included. My life would not be what it is without her. She was truly the first lady of South African Theatre.”
