The term Little Theatre is found as (a) the name for a specific type of theatre venue as well as (b) a specific name for a particular venue (or even as the name for a company using such a venue).

In Afrikaans term for Little Theatre is Kleinteater.

As a general concept

The concept

Besides the generic and literal meaning of "a small theatre building", it is used to refer specifically to a small theatre for low-cost dramatic productions designed for a relatively limited audience, often dedicated to a small independent theatre used for experimental or avant-garde drama, or for non-commercial community productions by amateurs and students.

The more avant garde meaning of the term is said to have come came into general use in the 20th century by the emergence of the "Little Theatre Movement" in the USA in 1912.[1]

As name of company or venue

There are/have been a number of Little Theatres (Kleinteaters) in South Africa. Among the more prominent are:

The Little Theatre, Cape Town

The Little Theatre is located within a multi-purpose venue built in 1931 by the University of Cape Town on the Hiddingh Campus in Orange Street, Cape Town. Over the years, the venue has been home to several companies, including The Little Theatre Company, The Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society, The Kaapstadse Afrikaanse Toneelvereniging (KAT).

For more information, see UCT Little Theatre.

Little Theatre, Durban

This is a venue located at The Playhouse in Durban (used for a performance of Kessie Govender's Working Class Hero).

For more information, see Playhouse Theatre.

Little Theatres in Johannesburg

The name Little Theatre has been used many times in Johannesburg over the years to refer to a number of different venues.

The Little Theatre/ Die Kleinteater or The Library Theatre

The Little Theatre (or Kleinteater) was a performance venue at the Johannesburg Public Library. It later became known as the Library Theatre (or Biblioteekteater in Afrikaans). It opened in 1936. It was used by the Johannesburg Repertory Society (Johannesburg REPS) and other producers, including Taubie Kushlick, Margaret Inglis, the National Theatre Organisation, The Company of Three and The Children's Theatre. The theatre closed in 1983.

For more information, see Library Theatre.

The Little Theatre, Corner House building

In the Corner House building. It opened in November 1973 with the comedy Till Bed Do Us Part by Louis Ife. It starred and was presented by Louis and Barbara Kinghorn under direction of Rex Garner. Robert Kirby’s The Dot-Dash Show with Robert and Terry Lester was staged here in 1975. Later leased by Toerien-Firth and renamed Barnato Theatre circa 1976 and used by them.

For more information, see Barnato Theatre.

The Little Theatre, Carlton Centre (1983-1986)

Situated in the Carlton Centre in Marshall Street. It opened in December 1983.

It was run by Delia Sainsbury and Keith Galloway as the performance space for their dance studio, The Dance Workshop. It closed when they moved their school to Mutual Square in Rosebank.

For more information, see The Dance Workshop.

The Little Theatre, Mutual Square, Rosebank (1987-1996)

This was the performance space attached to the Waybury Arts Centre, run by Delia Sainsbury and Keith Galloway. Sainsbury/Galloway relocated to Cape Town in 1992 to open the Waterfront Theatre School, and the venue was sold. The venue closed in 1996.

For more information, see Waybury Arts Centre.

The Little Theatre, Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) or PEMADS Little Theatre

The Little Theatre is a small theatre venue located in Gqeberha's city centre. Originally known as the Loubser Hall and later as the Ford Little Theatre. Often referred to as PEMADS Little Theatre (PEMADS is the Port Elizabeth Musical and Dramatic Society which was based at the venue for many years until March 2024).

For more information on the history of the venue, see Loubser Hall.

Die Kleinteater/Unisa Little Theatre, Pretoria

The Unisa Little Theatre a uniquely designed classical drama theatre situated in the heart of Pretoria’s central business district. Designed by acclaimed South African architect, Norman Eaton, the theatre is fully equipped to support all fields of performing arts, and is considered one of the most established dance theatres in South Africa.

Opened in 1961 and owned by the Transvaal Education Department, the venue was used by the students of the Pretoria Educational Training College. In 1995, UNISA became the Theatre's owner, and became known as the Unisa Little Theatre when it was declared a Provincial heritage site in 2004.

For more information, see Unisa Little Theatre.

Sources

"Little theatre." Oxford Languages (Accessed 8 March 2025)[2]

"Little theater." Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/little%20theater. Accessed 8 March 2025.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Theatre_Movement

Gosher, 1988

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Theatre_Unisa

http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=36483

Port Elizabeth: A Social Chronicle to the End of 1945 by Margaret Harradine. Published by E H Walton Packaging (Pty) Ltd., Port Elizabeth. Undated but known to have been printed in 1997.

https://johannesburg1912.com/2013/07/29/theatres-in-early-johannesburg/

https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/About/What-we-do/Arts-&-culture/Unisa-Little-Theatre

Tucker, 1997

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Theatre_(Cape_Town)

Inskip, 1972.

https://www.uct.ac.za/about/arts/littletheatre/