Catalina Theatre

The Catalina Theatre is a 166 seater venue built at 18 Boatman's Road on Wilson's Wharf Durban.

The theatre

Named after the Catalina aircraft, the Catalina Theatre was one of the first businesses to open its doors at Durban’s iconic Wharf in 2004. Since its inception the theatre has sought to stage a variety of artistic works with the specific aim of bringing new artistic work and the artists involved to the attention of the public.

It was originally run by TheatreBIZ, managed by Themi Venturas, supported by Thandeka Sibisi and Bongiwe Nkabinde. Members of the Board of Directors have included Themi Venturas, Ashwin Singh, Illa Thompson, Nothando Ngubane, Ravuan Jacobs, Gcina Mhlophe, Brian Hiles and Darren King.

In early 2008 it was announced that the theatre would be closed because funds were insufficient to keep it in operation in the venue, however - as Margaret von Klemperer phrased it: "at the eleventh hour — as the contents of the Catalina Theatre were being packed away in boxes"[1] the venue obtained a financial lifelines and support to allow it to continue and to develop a sustainable business plan.

The production company

In 2006 a company called Catalina UnLtd was registered as a Not For Profit Company to undertake "performance art theatre" and creating a performing company known as the Catalina UnLtd Theatre Company, with its base at 76 Clark Road, Glenwood, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.