Durban City Hall - Revision history

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2026-06-23T09:29:39Z

Sources

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2026-06-23T09:27:54Z

For more information

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2026-06-23T09:26:52Z

Productions

Darryl at 09:26, 23 June 2026

2026-06-23T09:26:41Z

Centaps: /* For more information */

2010-11-15T07:57:57Z

For more information

Centaps: Created page with " = History = == First Durban Town Hall == With the rapid expansion of Durban, in the late 1800s, there was obviously a need for a much larger Town Hall and so the first Town H..."

2010-11-15T07:57:18Z

Created page with " = History = == First Durban Town Hall == With the rapid expansion of Durban, in the late 1800s, there was obviously a need for a much larger Town Hall and so the first Town H..."

New page

= History =

== First Durban Town Hall ==

With the rapid expansion of Durban, in the late 1800s, there was obviously a need for a much larger Town Hall and so the first Town Hall was taken over to become the current '''Durban Post Office'''.

== From second Durban Town Hall to Durban City Hall ==

Originally erected as the '''Durban Town Hall''', later (when the town reached city status) renamed the '''Durban City Hall'''.

In 1903 the Town Council invited architects to submit designs for a new town hall. The winning design was submitted by Stanley G. Hudson who was inspired by the City Hall of Belfast, Northern Ireland and replicated it. On completion in 1910 it was considered a 'very bold and progressive design'.

Today, the very prominent building still compares favourably with its kind elsewhere in the world as a notable example of Edwardian neo-Baroque architecture. The building is richly embellished with groups of allegorical sculptures representing the Arts, Music, Literature, Commerce and Industry. Sculptures on the main pediment represent Britannia and Unity and Patriotism.

There are three blocks behind the facade designed for the municipal chambers, the art gallery and library and the auditorium;

== Use for theatre ==

Used as a performance space over the years. Inter alia by [[Bertha Slosberg]] to present the [[Mthethwa Lucky Stars]] in March 1936. In August 1954 ''[[Dingane]]'' by [[H.I.E. Dhlomo]] was performed there by students of the University of Natal Medical School (Non-European section) and billed as a “milestone in the indigenous theatre of [the]century”.

== For more information ==

== Return to ==

Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]]

Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]

Return to [[Main Page]]

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 Go to http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/discover/arts/architecture/5727
-[[Walter Greyvenstein|Greyvenstein, Walter]] 1988. The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.
+[[Walter Greyvenstein|Greyvenstein, Walter]] 1988. ''The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa''. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: [[Rand Afrikaans University]].
 Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 : In August ''[[Dingane]]'' by [[H.I.E. Dhlomo]] was performed here by students of the [[University of Natal]] Medical School (Non-European section) and billed as a “milestone in the indigenous theatre of [the]century”.
-== For more information ==
+== Sources ==
 Go to http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/discover/arts/architecture/5727

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 The Hall has been used as a performance space over the years. Productions include:
 : A production of ''[[Babes in the Wood]]'' was staged here in December.
 : [[Bertha Slosberg]] presented the [[Mthethwa Lucky Stars]] in March.
 : In August ''[[Dingane]]'' by [[H.I.E. Dhlomo]] was performed here by students of the [[University of Natal]] Medical School (Non-European section) and billed as a “milestone in the indigenous theatre of [the]century”.
 == For more information ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:57, 15 November 2010
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	== For more information ==		== For more information ==

		+
		+	Go to http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/discover/arts/architecture/5727

	== Return to ==		== Return to ==

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 With the rapid expansion of Durban, in the late 1800s, there was obviously a need for a much larger Town Hall and so the first Town Hall was taken over to become the current '''Durban Post Office'''.
 == From second Durban Town Hall to Durban City Hall ==
 Originally erected as the '''Durban Town Hall''', later (when the town reached city status) renamed the '''Durban City Hall'''.
@@ Line 19: / Line 17: @@
 There are three blocks behind the facade designed for the municipal chambers, the art gallery and library and the auditorium;
-== Use for theatre ==
+: [[Bertha Slosberg]] presented the [[Mthethwa Lucky Stars]] in March.
-Used as a performance space over the years. Inter alia by [[Bertha Slosberg]] to present the [[Mthethwa Lucky Stars]] in March 1936. In August 1954 ''[[Dingane]]'' by [[H.I.E. Dhlomo]] was performed there by students of the University of Natal Medical School (Non-European section) and billed as a “milestone in the indigenous theatre of [the]century”.
+: In August ''[[Dingane]]'' by [[H.I.E. Dhlomo]] was performed here by students of the [[University of Natal]] Medical School (Non-European section) and billed as a “milestone in the indigenous theatre of [the]century”.
 == For more information ==
-Go to http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/discover/arts/architecture/5727
+[[Walter Greyvenstein|Greyvenstein, Walter]] 1988. The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.
 == Return to ==
 Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]]