Gordon Small
Gordon Small (1927-1995) was a Scottish-born architect with a particular love for the theatre.
Contents
Biography
Educated at Durban High School.
Career
His architectural work included The Law School and Arts block (including the Hexagon Theatre) at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg; the theatres at Cordwalles Preparatory School For Boys in Pietermaritzburg and Cowan House in Hilton; the additions to St Alphege's Parish Church; and the new Supreme Court building. He transformed the Old Supreme Court in Pietermaritzburg (dating back to 1865) into Tatham Art Gallery in 1990.
For a time he was President-in-Chief of the South African Institute of Architects.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As a schoolboy, Small appeared in the choruses of musical productions at the Criterion Theatre on the Esplanade in Durban.
At the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, he and his close friend, Peter Hey, put on lively productions.
Gordon Small designed the set for one of Malcolm Woolfson's productions at the Durban Jewish Club.
The Natal Playhouse
In the early 1980s, NAPAC acquired The Prince's Cinema and the Tudor Playhouse. These buildings underwent expert renovation and conversion into a state-of-the-art, multi-venue theatre complex that faithfully preserved many of the buildings' original characteristics and archetectural features. Gordon Small was the architect for this project. The new venue was officially opened on 12 April 1986 by State President P. W. Botha in 1986 as The Natal Playhouse.
Sources
Simon Roberts. 'Gordon Small obituary', https://natalia.org.za/Files/25/Natalia%20v25%20obituaries%20%20Small.pdf
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