Nico Malan Theatre Centre - Revision history

Darryl: /* Arena Theatre (seating 140) */

2026-05-22T15:54:46Z

Arena Theatre (seating 140)

Darryl: /* History */

2026-05-22T15:53:37Z

History

Darryl at 15:53, 22 May 2026

2026-05-22T15:53:06Z

Darryl at 15:52, 22 May 2026

2026-05-22T15:52:01Z

Darryl at 15:47, 22 May 2026

2026-05-22T15:47:27Z

Darryl at 15:46, 22 May 2026

2026-05-22T15:46:39Z

Darryl at 12:09, 14 February 2024

2024-02-14T12:09:12Z

Darryl at 11:09, 14 February 2024

2024-02-14T11:09:20Z

Darryl at 11:04, 14 February 2024

2024-02-14T11:04:14Z

Darryl at 11:03, 14 February 2024

2024-02-14T11:03:08Z

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 == Arena Theatre (seating 140)==
-Built on the side stage of the Theatre, originally as a space to house the work of CAPAB's experimental company, the [[CAPAB Theatre Laboratory]].)
+Built on the side stage of the Theatre, originally as a space to house the work of CAPAB's experimental company, the [[CAPAB Theatre Laboratory]].) It opened with a production of Dylan Thomas’s ''[[Under Milkwood]]'' (1972).
 ==Other venues==

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 As an attempt to popularise it and rid itself of the apartheid stigma, it was renamed '''"[[The Nico]]"''' (with the slogan "The Nico for All") in 19??.
-Apart from CAPAB's own productions, the Centre also acted as a receiving house for visiting/touring shows by other producers, some of which included: Richard O’Brien’s ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'' (1992); [[Pieter Toerien]]'s production of Cameron Mackintosh’s ''[[Les Miserables]]'' (1996).
+Apart from CAPAB's own productions, the Centre also acted as a receiving house for visiting/touring shows by other producers.
 In line with the new South African the political dispensation and the concurrent changes, the complex was renamed the [[Artscape|Artscape Theatre Centre]] in March 2001.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:53, 22 May 2026
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	Also known as the '''"[[The Nico]]"''' or '''"[[Die Nico]]"''' in [[Afrikaans]].		Also known as the '''"[[The Nico]]"''' or '''"[[Die Nico]]"''' in [[Afrikaans]].
		+
		+	Renamed [[Artscape Theatre Centre]] in 2001.

	=History=		=History=

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 Also known as the '''"[[The Nico]]"''' or '''"[[Die Nico]]"''' in [[Afrikaans]].
 The [[Nico Malan Theatre Centre]] (The [[Nico Malan Skouburg]] in [[Afrikaans]]) was opened on 19 May 1971, to be programmed and managed by the [[Cape Performing Arts Board]] ([[CAPAB]]) as a production house with four arts companies – orchestra, opera, ballet and drama. It was named after Dr [[Johannes Nicholas Malan]] (better known as [[Nico Malan]]), a politician and administrator of the Cape Province (1960-1970). Malan had initiated the building project.
@@ Line 10: / Line 11: @@
 As an attempt to popularise it and rid itself of the apartheid stigma, it was renamed '''"[[The Nico]]"''' (with the slogan "The Nico for All") in 19??.
 Covering an area of some 14 000 square meters, the Centre consists of the following performance venues and spaces:
-* Opera House (seating 1487)
+== Opera House (seating 1487)==
-* Theatre (seating 540)
+== Theatre (seating 540)==
-* Arena Theatre (seating 140, built on the side stage of the Theatre, originally as a space to house the work of CAPAB's experimental company, the [[CAPAB Theatre Laboratory]].)
+== Arena Theatre (seating 140)==
 * Piazza
 * Gardens
@@ Line 21: / Line 32: @@
 * Parking
-Apart from CAPAB's own productions, the Centre also acted as a receiving house for visiting/touring shows by other producers, some of which included: Richard O’Brien’s ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'' (1992); [[Pieter Toerien]]'s production of Cameron Mackintosh’s ''[[Les Miserables]]'' (1996).
+=For more information=
 '''For more information, see [[Cape Performing Arts Board]] (pre 2001) or [[Artscape]] (post 2001)'''.
-== Return to ==
+=Return to =
 Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]]

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 In line with the new South African the political dispensation and the concurrent changes, the complex was renamed the [[Artscape|Artscape Theatre Centre]] in March 2001.
-'''For more information, see [[Cape Performing Arts Board]] or [[Artscape]] (post 2001)'''.
+'''For more information, see [[Cape Performing Arts Board]] (pre 2001) or [[Artscape]] (post 2001)'''.
 == Return to ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:03, 14 February 2024
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	Originally known as the [[Nico Malan Theatre Complex]] in Cape Town.		Originally known as the [[Nico Malan Theatre Complex]] in Cape Town.
		+
		+	Also known as the '''"[[The Nico]]"''' or '''"[[Die Nico]]"''' in [[Afrikaans]].
		+
		+	The [[Nico Malan Theatre Centre]] (The [[Nico Malan Skouburg]] in [[Afrikaans]]) was opened on 19 May 1971, to be programmed and managed by [[CAPAB]] as a production house with four arts companies – orchestra, opera, ballet and drama. It was named after Dr [[Johannes Nicholas Malan]] (better known as [[Nico Malan]]), a politician and administrator of the Cape Province (1960-1970). Malan had initiated the building project.
		+
		+	The theatre complex was built on the premises where the [[Alhambra Theatre]] (a [[Bioscope\|bioscope]], at times also used as theatre) had originally stood. Architecturally and technologically the most advanced of all South African theatres when it was opened, it had been constructed for a massive R12million. It was one of the first theatres in the Southern Hemisphere with electro-mechanical facilities for transporting décor. The theatre was also geared with a computerised lighting system. A fire in the opera houses’ lighting switchboard caused approximately a R1million in damages in 1976.
		+
		+	In 1980, the largest symposium to date, a conference on Disaster Treatment, was attended by a 1400 people. In 1981, an even bigger crowd attended to hear the former South African and Israeli Cabinet minister, Abba Eban, speak.
		+
		+	As an attempt to popularise it and rid itself of the apartheid stigma, it was renamed '''"[[The Nico]]"''' (with the slogan "The Nico for All") in 19??.
		+
		+	Covering an area of some 14 000 square meters, the Centre consists of the following performance venues and spaces:
		+
		+	* Opera House (seating 1487)
		+	* Theatre (seating 540)
		+	* Arena Theatre (seating 140, built on the side stage of the Theatre, originally as a space to house the work of CAPAB's experimental company, the [[Theatre Laboratory]].)
		+	* Piazza
		+	* Gardens
		+	* Rehearsal rooms
		+	* Parking
		+
		+	Apart from CAPAB's own productions, the Centre also acted as a receiving house for visiting/touring shows by other producers, some of which included: Richard O’Brien’s ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'' (1992); [[Pieter Toerien]]'s production of Cameron Mackintosh’s ''[[Les Miserables]]'' (1996).
		+
		+	In line with the new South African the political dispensation and the concurrent changes, the complex was renamed the [[Artscape\|Artscape Theatre Centre]] in March 2001.

	'''See [[Cape Performing Arts Board]]'''		'''See [[Cape Performing Arts Board]]'''