Leonard Rayne Theatre

Pieter Toerien opened a new auditorium at the Alhambra Theatre in 1983 called the Leonard Rayne Theatre, after Leonard Rayne, the famous impressario/actor/manager of the early 20th century.

The opening production on the 18 July 1983 was Side by Side by Sondheim, a collection of Stephen Sondheim’s pieces starring Dianne Chandler, Andre Hattingh and Eric Flynn who also directed. Taubie Kushlick staged The Best of Brel here for PACT in 1983. Clarence Darrow starring Richard Haines and directed by Rex Garner was staged here in January 1984. It returned twice. The Baxter presented The Importance of Being Oscar starring Michael Atkinson, and Aleksei Arbuzov’s Old-World starring Zoe Randall and John Carson and directed by Rosalie van der Gucht, here in 1984. NAPAC presented Noël and Gertie starring Philip Godawa and Andre Hattingh here in 1986. Michael Richard starred in Kean in June 1985. Moira Lister directed Deadly Embrace starring Sandra Duncan and Jeremy Crutchley here in 1987. Pieter Toerien presented Agatha Christie’s Peril at End House and the revue It’s Getting Harder in 1988. Rex Garner directed Cahoots at the Leonard Rayne in 1988. Lena Ferugia’s We and Them was staged here in 1989. Pieter Toerien presented Malcolm Terrey and Kevin Feather’s Jo’Burg Follies in January 1990. Pieter Toerien presented Richard Harris’ The Maintenance Man here in 1990. Pieter Toerien presented Jo’burg Follies 2 during the festive season of 1990. Never the Sinner opened here on 28 September 1991 after renovations to the Alhambra. Die Van Aardes van Grootoor was staged here in 1992. Michael Atkinson starred in The Importance of Being Oscar in 1992. Harold Brooke and Kay Bannerman’s The Earl and the Pussycat was staged here in December 1992. James Sherman’s Beau Jest was staged here in 1993. Giles Havergal’s dramatisation of Graham Greene’s Travels With My Aunt was staged here in August 1994. It was renamed the Rex Garner Theatre in 1994.

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