Over the years a number of theatres and cinemas have used the term Playhouse or Playhouse Theatre as their name (or part of it).

The Playhouse Theatre, Cape Town

The original name of De Hollandsche Kerk Zaal ("Dutch Church Hall"), a church hall built on Kerkplein, Cape Town in 18** , was bought/rented by ** in 19** and renamed the Playhouse Theatre.

An intimate venue, it was described as "cool, well lit and comfortably furnished" in a review by the Burger of 4 October 1915, though Bosman (1928) differed later, calling it "utterly unsuitable". It was used by local amateurs and professionals.

In 1916 it became the Afrikaanse Koffiehuis, to be used as a venue for concerts, skits and performances, including the famous Koffiehuiskonserte.

For more information, see Afrikaanse Koffiehuis.

The Playhouse, Durban

The name of two theatres in Durban:

the original "atsmospheric" Playhouse designed by W.M. Timlin and owned by African Consolidated Theatres (1935-1985)
the renamed Natal Playhouse complex which incorporated the old Playhouse along with the Prince's Cinema and opened by NAPAC in 1986. Later renamed The Playhouse in 1995.

For more information, the Natal Playhouse.

The Playhouse Theatre, Johannesburg

Situated in Braamfontein, had its inaugural production in October 1960 was For Love or Money, by Adam Leslie. Michael Finlayson directed this show starring Leslie himself, Joan Blake, Olive King, and comedian Garth Meade. Leonard Schach’s production of The Aspern Papers ran here after their season at the Hofmeyr Theatre in 1960. Michael Redgrave’s adaptation of this Henry James story saw the British actress Flora Robson in the lead opposite Canadian actor Robert Beatty. In December 1960 Leonard Schach announced he had signed a two-year lease with the Playhouse. Schach’s Cockpit Players maintained a high standard at the Playhouse in 1961 with Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker with Siegfried Mynhardt, Michael McGovern and Nigel Hawthorne, and Paddy Chayefsky’s prizewinning The Tenth Man, starring the same actors. Schach did William Gibson’s The Miracle Worker here in 1961, starring Reinet Maasdorp and Fiona Fraser. Leonard Schach presented Beyond the Fringe here in 1962, starring New Zealand-born Kerry Jordan and David Beattie. Leonard Schach directed Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party, followed by Tennessee Williams’s The Night of the Iguana which was staged here by the Cockpit Players in 1962. In his company of actors for these plays were Siegfried Mynhardt, Michael McGovern, Margaret Inglis, Marjorie Gordon, Diane Wilson and Kerry Jordan. This saw the end of Schach’s lease of the Playhouse, and so the end of the Cockpit Players. The use of the Playhouse dwindled until it ceased to function as a theatre a year later. Leon Gluckman and Colin Fish presented Sir Donald and Lady Wolfit (the actress Rosalind Iden) in an evening of Shakespeare at the Playhouse in 1962. Wolfit and the producers replaced the programme with Ibsen’s The Master Builder when ticket sales dwindled. Brian Brooke’s Pyjama Tops was staged here in 1963. It starred Shirley Firth and John Hayter. **** (Tucker, 1997)

The Playhouse, Somerset West

The Hottentots Holland Dramatic Society (HHDS) established in 1947, opened The Playhouse on 26th May 1973. Designed by Harry Hargreaves, the original building consisted of a control room, auditorium, a small foyer on the west side, the stage and dressing room. The workshop was added at a later stage and then finally the Green room.

All through this period some exciting theatre was produced and their reputation as one of the leading dramatic societies in the Peninsula was established.

Over several years, more improvements have been made to the theatre including the tarring of the parking lot, the interior redecorated, new signage and a host of other small things. The Society does not receive grants from anywhere and has to generate income from shows & hires to survive.

For more information, see Hottentots Holland Dramatic Society.

The Playhouse, East London

Originally built as a rehearsal venue for the Dramatic Society of East London (DRAMSOC) in 1963, eleven years after the society had been founded, it was designed by architect Bennie Shapiro and was originally called The Playhouse. Later re-named The Alexander Playhouse, after the Society's long-time chair and founding member, Lynette Alexander. Aside from DRAMSOC utilizing the venue, the venue was used for various workshops and the Junior Dramatic Society used to meet there once every fortnight. Initially DRAMSOC rented the land on a 20-year-lease but later raised sufficient funds to buy it outright. During the period that the Guild Theatre was closed for refurbishments, Lynette Alexander and her daughter Michele Brandenburger introduced dinner/theatre productions at the venue.