Joburg Theatre

Joburg Theatre
Joburg Theatre Complex
Johannesburg Civic Theatre

Joburg Civic Theatre
Address 163 Civic Boulevard
Braamfontein, Johannesburg
South Africa
Coordinates 26°11′S 28°02′E / 26.19°S 28.04°E / -26.19; 28.04
Owner City of Johannesburg
CEO Xoliswa Nduneni Ngema
Capacity 1,069
Construction
Opened 1962
Rebuilt 1987-1992
Years active 1962 - present
Architect Manfred Hermer
Website
http://www.joburgtheatre.com/

Joburg Theatre Complex, previously known as the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, is a group of four theatres situated in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa. Built in 1962 it was refurnished in the late 1980s and reopened in the early 1990s before being re-branded in 2009. Its a venue to stage both Broadway musicals and home grown productions. It is one of a few theatres open in Johannesburg for independent productions.

History

The idea for a theatre has its origins in 1959 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Union of South Africa called the Union Festival, when an initial fund of R100,000 was set aside by the Johannesburg City Council for an event and when the city was excluded from arranging a cultural event by the South African government, the idea of utilizing the money for a civic theatre was introduced.[1][2]:401 Initially the idea was for a 750-seat theatre but this was soon scrapped in favour of a 1120-seat facility.[2]:401 Johannesburg City Council Mayor, Alex Gorshel, would break the ground at a ceremony at the construction site on 16 September 1960.[3]:5 Johannesburg Civic Theatre was completed in 1962, at a cost of R720,000 and was opened with a gala event on 27 August 1962, attended by the Mayor of Johannesburg and other civic dignitaries.[3]:6[2]:401 The first production was Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann with the next 31 weeks devoted to operas, ballet, dramas' light music and recitals with 145,000 guests attending in the first year and by the end of 1963, the figure had risen to 216,000.[2]:401 The theatre, owned by council, would be managed by the non-profit Johannesburg Civic Theatre Association which up until 1992 was made up of all white governors and management committee consisting of city council members and civic leaders.[3]:15[2]:401 Johannesburg councilor Pieter M. Roos was its first chairman.[2]:401

From its opening in 1962, the theatre was open to white people only due to the Reservation of Separate Amenities Act, 1953, which made mixed audiences at live theatre a criminal act.[3]:15 By April 1978, theatres could apply to open their seating to integrated audiences.[3]:16 The late 1970s saw the beginnings of an international cultural boycott of South Africa by international performers, playwrights and of new works and this affected what was available for production at the Civic Theatre and this boycott would continue until the early 1990s.[3]:16 A more local effect on the size of audiences attending the theatre was caused by the introduction of television in South Africa in January 1976.[3]:16

A puppet theatre was established at the Civic Theatre in 1964.[3]:14 Children were entertained outside the complex, at the Rand Easter Show and by the use of a city bus that had been outfitted as a mobile theatre.[3]:14 The theatre was attended by international puppeteer companies.[3]:14 The puppet theatre was disbanded in 1987 and the puppets were donated to Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) now the University of Johannesburg.[3]:14

The Theatre was closed for two years of renovations in 1987 costing R29 million but it would be five years before the theatre reopened having cost R120 million. The backstage facilities and technical areas were overhauled, the main theaters height increased, and electrical work, lightning and cooling and heating improved.[3]:17 To reopen in September 1992, the theatre failed to secure an international act for its opening night.[3]:17 Les Misérables international producers cancelled and after much negotiation with the anti-apartheid groups in South Africa, the Dance Theatre of Harlem was the replacement production co-produced by the Market Theatre.[3]:17–8

In July 2000, the Johannesburg City Council corporatized the Johannesburg Civic Theatre Association as an independent municipal entity, the Johannesburg Civic Theatre (PTY) Ltd and on 21 January 2009 the Civic Theatre was rebranded as the Joburg Theatre.[4][5] On the 1 January 2013 the Joburg Theatre, Soweto Theatre and Roodepoort City Theatre were integrated into a single theatre management company called Joburg City Theatres.

Michal Grobbelaar was the first managing director of the Johannesburg Civic Theatre from 1960 until he retired in 1993.[3]:6 Alan Joseph was appointed as Executive Director in 1993 and held the position until 1996.[3]:18 Janice Honeyman would take over as executive director from 1996, while prior to that she had been the artistic director since 1993.[3]:22 On 1 July 2000, Bernard Jay took over from Janice Honeyman as Chief Executive Officer, with his contract extended a number of times until June 2013. From July 2013, experienced theatre administrator, Xoliswa Nduneni Ngema, was appointed as CEO.[6]

Theatres and facilities

Outside the main entrance to the theatre stands a statue called the The Playmakers while at the south end of the theatre complex entrance are the terraced Theatre Gardens that are used by local office workers and students.[3]:25 In 2007, the gardens were transformed through a sponsorship and are now known as the Sappi Theatre Gardens.[7] Costing R1.8 million it has been upgraded and fenced with reed-shaped green fencing, paved walkways, trees, a circular podium, lightning and a water feature that trickles down from the theatre entrance and 24-hour surveillance.[7] Also outside the theatre is a 'Walk of Fame' where over the years, famous performers handprints and names have been inscribed into the concrete pavement.[3]:14 The venue has a minimalistic two-level marbled foyer.[8]

The theatre complex has seven 5 star hospitality venues available for private hire. The Manhattan and Broadway rooms have a capacity of 20 patrons while the Off-Broadway Room hold ten patrons.[3]:28 The Penthouse, The Brickhill, The West End and the PT Barnum Lounge can be used for lunches, dinners and cocktail parties as well as workshops, presentations, training sessions and board meetings.[3]:28[9] The theatre is served by a restaurant called the Stages that is open all day until the end of the last performance.[10]

The theatre has its own secure parking with uniformed guards which is open from Tuesday to Friday between 6pm and 3am and on weekends and public holidays from 9am to 3am.[9]

Mandela

The Nelson Mandela Theatre, previously known as the Main Theatre seats 1069 patrons and has stage floor of 400m². Renamed in 2001, it is the only theatre in the world name after Nelson Mandela.[3]:28[9] The main stage has five computer controlled stage lifts that can raise the sets 3.9 metres above the stage and five stage wagons to move sets across the stage as well as a circular stage wagon.[9]

The Fringe

The Fringe Theatre, previously known as the Tesson Theatre and can seat 251 patrons with a stage floor of 72m².[9] Michal Tesson was a French businessman who had interest's in South Africa and help finance ballet productions in the country as well as the establishment of bursaries for ballet dancers.[3]:28

People's Theatre

The People’s Theatre, can seat 176 patrons with a stage floor of 52m².[9] The theatre caters specifically for children's productions.[10]

Space.com

This theatre can houses 148 patrons. The theatre is used for experimental works, play readings, rehearsals as well as classes, workshops and speakers.[10]

Dance Studios

There are two dance studios, one above the other, with glass facades, that allow the public to view rehearsals of the Joburg Ballet from Simmonds Street.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Joburg Theatre turns 50". Johannesburg City Council. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shorten, John R. (1970). The Johannesburg Saga. Johannesburg: John R. Shorten Pty Ltd. p. 1159.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Spector, J Brooks (September 2007). "The Johannesburg Civic Theatre. 1962-2007" (PDF). Johannesburg Civic Theatre. pp. 1–31. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "The Civic Theatre has a new name". City of Johannesburg. 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Joburg Theatre Annual Report 2009/2010" (PDF). Johannesburg City Council. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  6. ↑ Madywabe Lungile (26 July 2013). "Theatre shake-up points to a new direction". Mail&Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Theatre Gardens enhance Jozi's green image". Johannesburg City Council. 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Joburg Theatre Complex (Johannesburg Civic Theatre)". Cityseeker. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Joburg Theatre: Facilities". Johannesburg City Council. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 Meet The CEOs - Essential Leadership Style in Today's Business World. UK: Penguin. 2012. ISBN 9780143529415.
  11. ↑ "Joburg Theatre: Dance Studios". Johannesburg City Council. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
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