The Simon Telvi Memorial Fund

Simon Telvi, was born on September 20th, 1951, in Istanbul, Turkey. At the age of 18 he finished his schooling at the French School, Saint Joseph in Istanbul before leaving to study in Israel. 

Simon’s acute academic mind and his passion for the theatre, acted as the catalyst for his many years of tertiary education which included a BSc in electronics from the Israeli Institute of Technology in 1975.

In 1980 he received his Drama degree from the University of Paris 8, before earning his Master of Arts degree in 1984 from the Sorbonne in Paris.

His love for both acting and for passing on his skills to his students saw him teaching and lecturing in drama from 1981 to 1982 and again from 1989 to 1990, first at Ankara University and then at Eskisehir University respectively.

He later returned to teach drama once more at Eskisehir University in 1992.

In 1991, Simon assisted in Pierre Debauche’s improvisation workshop during the 24^th International Congress of Drama.

During the prime years of his very short life, Simon Telvi found great satisfaction and gained huge respect and acclaim for his Directing of Plays across the full spectrum of genres. These included a modern adaptation of Goethe’s Faust, Fairytales for Adult, City of  Angels and Ay Carmela!Simon also staged plays and even translated Eugene Ionesco’s "Delire A Deux".

He initiated and lead research into the use of body and mind synergy in acting - the research which has now been continued by one of his students at Yeditepe University in Istanbul.

Sadly, Simon was diagnosed with thyroid cancer but continued to teach until 2007 dramaturgy and improvisation, which was by then, his specialization.

Simon’s dedication to his art and deep commitment to his students drove him to pursue excellence right up to his last few months, despite great suffering in silence.

On June 10th, 2008, Simon Telvi died – and a great luminary in the stage and theatre was silenced. In a moving tribute to their great Master, hundreds of his students, both past and present celebrated the Life & Works of Simon Telvi in a staged production of music, improvisation and eulogy before he was finally laid to rest at the Ulus Jewish Cemetery in Istanbul.

He is survived by his daughter Nil, his partner Aydin, and his mother and brother.

His friends and family decided to establish a fund in his memory that will give partial scholarships to students at the Tel-Aviv University Department of Theatre Studies, at The David and Yolanda Katz Faculty of the Arts.