Joshwin, 17, performed three works: Aunty Joyce, a piece where the character tells a story on the acting industry; a poem called Shaun, where the character’s father’s name was also Shaun; and Kinders about a gangster who wants to become an actor and where he plays a few characters.
This is the second time Joshwin entered the competition and last year he made round one, which was the top 60. The person who was placed second this year was Lisakhanya Blouw from the Global Leadership Academy (GLA) in Jeffreys Bay and third was Brandon Eloff from Monument High School in Krugersdorp.
As a 6-year-old boy Joshwin was interested in dancing and would imitate Michael Jackson.
When he was 9, he joined the District Six production with David Kramer and played the character Nines.
He joined Cedar High School of Arts in 2015 and decided to take on drama instead of dance.
He came under the wing of drama teacher Robyn van de Rhede who left the school last year.
With the bursary he received, the Grade 12 pupil plans on studying at the college next year and to then go on to study at Stellenbosch University.
In 2012, Joshwin, who was 10 at the time, lost his brother, Miguel Dyson, who drowned in Gansbaai at the age of 15. He also attended Cedar High.
His mother, Colleen Dyson, 56, said Joshwin didn’t know what to do but he excelled regardless of what he was going through.
“We would go to the shop to hire movies, I would take High School Musical and my brother would take Joe Barber. I was 8 and he was 13, and we would act this out to the T. This is how my love for acting started,” said Joshwin.
His grandmother, Minnie Lentoor, 87, from Rocklands, played a huge role in keeping him grounded in his acting. “She would always pray for me and guide me,” he said.
“The school has been a great help in making Joshwin who he is today and helping him reach his dreams. I am very grateful to his teachers, I am a grateful parent. It’s amazing how he has grown from the disaster,” said his mother.
Peter Braaf, who was his Grade 8 drama teacher, challenged them to interpret what they were acting out.
“I teach my pupils to find a deeper meaning with what they’re bringing across, and he’s mastered this art.
“Through my experiences with him, he grew quite a lot, he has a good personality and is humble. Break a leg for your future endeavours.”
His former drama teacher, Ms Van De Rhede said she is very proud of Joshwin.
“Joshwin was a quiet boy and when he took to the stage for his practical assessment, blew me away with his performance and I knew there was potential. I entered him into this competition because I knew what he was capable of,” she said.
Everytime they rehearsed, he knew his lines and knew what he had to do without her telling him, she said.
“For him it was another chance for him to perform on a big platform, with a lot of people and that is what made the winning difference. A lot of doors has opened up for him,” she said.
The principal at Cedar, David Charles said: “We are very proud of Joshwin, he put in the hard work. We wish him everything of the best.”
