Johannesburg Awakening Minds (JAM) is not just a theatre company — it is a living testimony to the power of art to heal, transform, and restore dignity.
Founded in July 2012 by award-winning actress and director Dorothy Ann Gould, JAM began as a small class at the Hillbrow Theatre, offered to men who had been living on the streets. With nothing but Shakespeare’s words, a safe space, and the courage to try, they began to find their voices again.
Over the past 12 years, JAM has grown into a respected, professional theatre troupe. Its members — once voiceless, homeless, and trapped in cycles of addiction — are now performers who bring audiences to tears with their eloquence and emotional depth.
Through Shakespeare, T.S. Eliot, African poetry, and their own original writing, they give new meaning to resilience, hope, and the human spirit.
Today, almost all of the men are no longer homeless. Performing provides them with dignity, self-respect, and purpose, while also helping them stay drug- and alcohol-free. They earn a small living from their performances, but above all, they reclaim their place in society — not as beggars or outcasts, but as artists.
Every ticket bought, every show hosted, and every donation received goes directly to supporting JAM’s performers and ensuring their voices are heard.