Library Theatre - Revision history

Darryl: /* Library Theatre or Little Theatre, Johannesburg */

2026-05-17T14:32:25Z

Library Theatre or Little Theatre, Johannesburg

Darryl: /* Library Theatre or Little Theatre, Johannesburg */

2026-05-17T14:32:06Z

Library Theatre or Little Theatre, Johannesburg

Darryl: /* Sources */

2026-05-17T14:20:55Z

Sources

Darryl: /* Sources */

2026-05-17T14:20:39Z

Sources

Darryl: /* Library Theatre or Little Theatre, Johannesburg */

2026-05-17T14:13:45Z

Library Theatre or Little Theatre, Johannesburg

Centaps: /* Sources */

2010-12-21T14:25:29Z

Sources

Centaps: /* Library Theatre in the Cape Province */

2010-12-21T14:23:20Z

Library Theatre in the Cape Province

Centaps at 14:22, 21 December 2010

2010-12-21T14:22:12Z

Centaps: /* Return to */

2010-12-21T14:17:01Z

Return to

Centaps at 14:16, 21 December 2010

2010-12-21T14:16:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:32, 17 May 2026
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	1967: The Gilbert and Sullivan spoof called An Evening with Goldberg and Solomon was staged here in December 1967.		1967: The Gilbert and Sullivan spoof called An Evening with Goldberg and Solomon was staged here in December 1967.
−

	The theatre closed in 1983.		The theatre closed in 1983.

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 == '''Library Theatre''' or '''Little Theatre''', Johannesburg ==
-Its official name of this '''Johannesburg''' theatre was apparently the '''[[Little Theatre]]''' (or "Kleinteater"), but it became known as the '''Library Theatre''' (or '''Biblioteekteater''' in Afrikaans) since it was incorporated into the new Library-complex completed 1936. Used by the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society]] ('''Johannesburg REPS''') as its venue from 1936 until 1941, and again on a part-time basis between 1945 and 1950?*. It is described by [[Percy Tucker]] as a “miserable apology for a theatre”, but it nevertheless provided a venue where work could be done in a time when venues were scarce. Shows seen there include ** The Library Theatre. Theatre situated in the Johannesburg Public Library.  Referred to by Percy Tucker as a miserable apology for a theatre. (Tucker, 1997: 17) Love on the Dole was directed by Taubie Kushlick in 1946 and brought here after an extended run in Benoni. Jean Cocteau’s The Eagle Has Two Heads was performed here in 1949 starring Taubie Kushlick and Leon Gluckman, with Percy Tucker working backstage. Leon Gluckman staged the revue Xmas Box at the Library towards the end of 1949. Herbert Kretzmer composed five of the songs and cast included Marjorie Gordon and Johann Nell. Taubie Kushlick produced and directed Graham Greene’s play, The Living Room, at the Library starring Anne McMenamin in 1955. Margaret Inglis produced and co-starred in Love in Idleness with John Hussey at the Library in 1955. JAATS secured the rights to premiere the poet and playwright Uys Krige’s Die Goue Ring for their Festival production at the Library in 1956. The National Theatre did Shaw’s Candida for their Festival production at the Library in 1956 starring Margaret Inglis in the title role. Their Afrikaans arm staged Dirk Opperman’s Periandros van Korinthe, directed by Anna Neethling-Pohl.  and a translation of Ferenc Molnar’s The Play’s the Thing (Gekonkel in die Nag), also directed by Neethling-Pohl, and also staged here for the Festival. Children’s Theatre staged Mango Leaf Magic for young audiences as their Festival production at the Library in 1956. Taubie Kushlick’s 1956 Christmans show, Listen to the Wind, was a children’s show for all ages. Starring Joyce Grant, Elizabeth Meyer, Brian Proudfoot, June Hern, Maureen Adair and Philip Birkinshaw, with sets by Pamela Lewis and staged at the Library Theatre. Cecil Williams’ production of The Strong Are Lonely was staged here in June 1957. The Company of Three presented the hard-hitting American drama, A Hatful of Rain, with Stuart Brown directing Marjorie Gordon, Ivan Berold and Jenny Gratus at the Library in 1957. Cecil Williams failed to draw audiences with Jean-Paul Sartre’s double bill, The Vicious Circle and The Respectable Prostitute at the Library in 1957. An anonymous author, later revealed to be the Rand Daily Mail theatre critic Lewis Sowden, wrote The Kimberley Train, which exposed the racist attitude of South African society. It was directed by Cecil Williams, and staged at the Library in 1958. Ruth Oppenheim directed German playwright Frank Wedekind’s Spring Awakening at the Library in 1960. She also directed A State of Innocence, written by Clive Hirschhorn and starring Marjorie Gordon and Johann Nell at the Library in 1960. Margaret Inglis and Robert Langford founded a new company circa 1962. Their first production was a revival of Gaslight at the Library in 1962. In July 1965 Children’s Theatre staged James Ambrose Brown’s The Three Wishes at the Library Theatre which proved to be their last production. Ian Bernhardt’s production of Athol Fugard’s Hello and Goodbye, starring Fugard and Molly Seftel was staged at the Library in 1965. The Gilbert and Sullivan spoof called An Evening with Goldberg and Solomon was staged here in December 1967.
+This was a performance venue located at the Johannesburg Public Library. Its official name was apparently the '''[[Little Theatre]]''' (or "Kleinteater"), but it became known as the '''Library Theatre''' (or '''Biblioteekteater''' in Afrikaans). It opened in 1936. The theatre was used by the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society]] ('''Johannesburg REPS''') as its venue from 1936 until 1941, and again on a part-time basis until there own venue opened.
 The theatre closed in 1983.

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 [[Percy Tucker]], 1997
-[[P.J Du Toit]],  1988 [TH, JH]
+[[P.J. Du Toit]],  1988 [TH, JH]
 https://johannesburg1912.com/2013/07/29/theatres-in-early-johannesburg/comment-page-1/

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:20, 17 May 2026
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−	[[Percy Tucker]], 1997; [[P.J Du Toit]], 1988 [TH, JH]	+	[[Percy Tucker]], 1997
		+
		+	[[P.J Du Toit]], 1988 [TH, JH]
		+
		+	https://johannesburg1912.com/2013/07/29/theatres-in-early-johannesburg/comment-page-1/

	== For more information ==		== For more information ==

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 == '''Library Theatre''' or '''Little Theatre''', Johannesburg ==
 Its official name of this '''Johannesburg''' theatre was apparently the '''[[Little Theatre]]''' (or "Kleinteater"), but it became known as the '''Library Theatre''' (or '''Biblioteekteater''' in Afrikaans) since it was incorporated into the new Library-complex completed 1936. Used by the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society]] ('''Johannesburg REPS''') as its venue from 1936 until 1941, and again on a part-time basis between 1945 and 1950?*. It is described by [[Percy Tucker]] as a “miserable apology for a theatre”, but it nevertheless provided a venue where work could be done in a time when venues were scarce. Shows seen there include ** The Library Theatre. Theatre situated in the Johannesburg Public Library.  Referred to by Percy Tucker as a miserable apology for a theatre. (Tucker, 1997: 17) Love on the Dole was directed by Taubie Kushlick in 1946 and brought here after an extended run in Benoni. Jean Cocteau’s The Eagle Has Two Heads was performed here in 1949 starring Taubie Kushlick and Leon Gluckman, with Percy Tucker working backstage. Leon Gluckman staged the revue Xmas Box at the Library towards the end of 1949. Herbert Kretzmer composed five of the songs and cast included Marjorie Gordon and Johann Nell. Taubie Kushlick produced and directed Graham Greene’s play, The Living Room, at the Library starring Anne McMenamin in 1955. Margaret Inglis produced and co-starred in Love in Idleness with John Hussey at the Library in 1955. JAATS secured the rights to premiere the poet and playwright Uys Krige’s Die Goue Ring for their Festival production at the Library in 1956. The National Theatre did Shaw’s Candida for their Festival production at the Library in 1956 starring Margaret Inglis in the title role. Their Afrikaans arm staged Dirk Opperman’s Periandros van Korinthe, directed by Anna Neethling-Pohl.  and a translation of Ferenc Molnar’s The Play’s the Thing (Gekonkel in die Nag), also directed by Neethling-Pohl, and also staged here for the Festival. Children’s Theatre staged Mango Leaf Magic for young audiences as their Festival production at the Library in 1956. Taubie Kushlick’s 1956 Christmans show, Listen to the Wind, was a children’s show for all ages. Starring Joyce Grant, Elizabeth Meyer, Brian Proudfoot, June Hern, Maureen Adair and Philip Birkinshaw, with sets by Pamela Lewis and staged at the Library Theatre. Cecil Williams’ production of The Strong Are Lonely was staged here in June 1957. The Company of Three presented the hard-hitting American drama, A Hatful of Rain, with Stuart Brown directing Marjorie Gordon, Ivan Berold and Jenny Gratus at the Library in 1957. Cecil Williams failed to draw audiences with Jean-Paul Sartre’s double bill, The Vicious Circle and The Respectable Prostitute at the Library in 1957. An anonymous author, later revealed to be the Rand Daily Mail theatre critic Lewis Sowden, wrote The Kimberley Train, which exposed the racist attitude of South African society. It was directed by Cecil Williams, and staged at the Library in 1958. Ruth Oppenheim directed German playwright Frank Wedekind’s Spring Awakening at the Library in 1960. She also directed A State of Innocence, written by Clive Hirschhorn and starring Marjorie Gordon and Johann Nell at the Library in 1960. Margaret Inglis and Robert Langford founded a new company circa 1962. Their first production was a revival of Gaslight at the Library in 1962. In July 1965 Children’s Theatre staged James Ambrose Brown’s The Three Wishes at the Library Theatre which proved to be their last production. Ian Bernhardt’s production of Athol Fugard’s Hello and Goodbye, starring Fugard and Molly Seftel was staged at the Library in 1965. The Gilbert and Sullivan spoof called An Evening with Goldberg and Solomon was staged here in December 1967.
 == Sources ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:25, 21 December 2010
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−	Tucker, 1997; Du Toit, 1988 [TH, JH]	+	[[Percy Tucker]], 1997; [[P.J Du Toit]], 1988 [TH, JH]
−

	== For more information ==		== For more information ==

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 A subsection of the Cape branch of the [[National Theatre Organisation]], founded by [[Laurie van der Merwe]]. ***
-See [[NTO]]
+See [[National Theatre Organisation]]
 == '''Library Theatre''' or '''Little Theatre''', Johannesburg ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:22, 21 December 2010
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		+
		+	== Library Theatre in the Cape Province ==
		+
		+	A subsection of the Cape branch of the [[National Theatre Organisation]], founded by [[Laurie van der Merwe]]. ***
		+
		+	See [[NTO]]

	== '''Library Theatre''' or '''Little Theatre''', Johannesburg ==		== '''Library Theatre''' or '''Little Theatre''', Johannesburg ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:17, 21 December 2010
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	== Return to ==		== Return to ==
		+

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:16, 21 December 2010
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	There is a general use of the term '''Library Theatre''', and then there are a few venues in ~~Libr5aries~~, referred to as '''Library Theatre'''.	+	There is a general use of the term '''Library Theatre''', and then there are a few venues in Libraries, referred to as '''Library Theatre'''.


−	== Library Theatre as a concept ==	+	== '''Library Theatre''' as a concept ==