Gold for SA theatre PR campaign by Maverick

"We were overjoyed when we received notification that our campaign reached the finals - now we are over the moon for our campaign having received this ultimate international recognition!" says Joyce Levinsohn, Artistic Director of the JYT.

Sydwell Koopedi, media liaison officer for the JYT says that the educational youth theatre project is a non-profit organisation (NPO) and is dependent substantially on grants and donations for funding. "This is the third major award the Johannesburg Youth Theatre has been involved with this year. The production "Charlottes Web" received the coveted Naledi Award earlier this year and the theatre's Artistic Director, Joyce Levinsohn received the TMSA Life Time Achievement Award."

"We are most pleased at this campaign having been recognised in this way," says Mixael de Kock, Chief Executive of The Maverick Group, which assists the JYT in developing its PR and media campaigns. "It is not always easy to get the right mix for an award together - that is, where client, campaign and consultancy co-exist in total creative harmony. With the Johannesburg Youth Theatre, and the unique work it does in the community, the creation of an award winning campaign was just that much easier to achieve."

Joyce Levinsohn says that the consultancy immediately grasped the essence of the JYT, identifying the synergies between the two disciplines, and developed imaginative theatrical campaigns. "These addressed complex challenges and inspired both the media and the public."

Mixael de Kock concludes: "The success of the Johannesburg Youth Theatre campaign in these august international awards is part of a much bigger South African overall achievement. The JYT and The MAVERICK Group wishes to congratulate the consultancy Magna Carta, who won a gold in the category 'Overall Institutional', and Arcay Communications for its Honourable Mention in the same category."

"All in all seven South African campaigns competed as finalists in various categories, placing South Africa third after the United States of America and the United Kingdom."