Opera House, Pretoria - Revision history

Darryl: /* Productions mounted in the Pretoria Opera House */

2026-06-25T10:52:00Z

Productions mounted in the Pretoria Opera House

Darryl: /* Sources */

2026-06-25T10:49:46Z

Sources

Darryl: /* History */

2026-06-25T10:48:10Z

History

Darryl: /* Sources */

2026-06-25T10:45:28Z

Sources

Darryl: /* Productions mounted in the Pretoria Opera House */

2026-06-25T10:43:02Z

Productions mounted in the Pretoria Opera House

Darryl: /* Productions mounted in the Pretoria Opera House */

2026-06-25T10:42:17Z

Productions mounted in the Pretoria Opera House

Darryl: /* Productions mounted in the Pretoria Opera House */

2026-06-25T10:32:56Z

Productions mounted in the Pretoria Opera House

Darryl at 10:31, 25 June 2026

2026-06-25T10:31:36Z

Darryl at 10:29, 25 June 2026

2026-06-25T10:29:43Z

Satj at 09:00, 30 May 2019

2019-05-30T09:00:40Z

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 : ''[[Ampie]]'' ([[André Huguenet]])
-: ''[[Spoke]]'' (“Ghosts”) (1947), ''[[Hamlet]]'' (in Afrikaans, produced by [[André Huguenet]] and [[African Consolidated Theatres]]).
+: ''[[Spoke]]'' (“Ghosts”), ''[[Hamlet]]'' (in Afrikaans, produced by [[André Huguenet]] and [[African Consolidated Theatres]]).
 : ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' ([[Johannesburg Reps]])

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:49, 25 June 2026
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	[[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 Unpublished doctoral dissertation.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 Unpublished doctoral dissertation.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.
		+
		+	https://repository.up.ac.za/items/88f8d95c-732b-4f6d-b0be-f9d788dd95fd

	Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]		Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

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 Conceptualised in 1902, but finally opened on 27 February 1904. Designed by the company McIntosh and Moffat for the entrepreneurs [[Ben and Frank Wheeler]].
-Described by McIntosh as follows on 18 February, 1904: "The main front will be on Pretorius Street, of classic architecture in the rennaissance style, showing an elevation of three storeys. At either side of the entrance there will be two shops, one intended as a first class buffet. A long corridor with a marble tiled floor willlead from this entrance into the foyer, above 35 feet square, from whence by mounting a few steps directly in front of the entrance corridor access will be had to the stalls. On either side of the foyer there is a marble staircase leading to the dress circle. The total seating capacity is 1016." On the stage he said: "The proscenium opening is large, leading on to a stage  57 feet by 38 feet, with ample dressing room accomodation… the orchestry will be a sunken one."
+Described by McIntosh as follows on 18 February, 1904: "The main front will be on Pretorius Street, of classic architecture in the rennaissance style, showing an elevation of three storeys. At either side of the entrance there will be two shops, one intended as a first class buffet. A long corridor with a marble tiled floor willlead from this entrance into the foyer, above 35 feet square, from whence by mounting a few steps directly in front of the entrance corridor access will be had to the stalls. On either side of the foyer there is a marble staircase leading to the dress circle. The total seating capacity is 1016." On the stage he said: "The proscenium opening is large, leading on to a stage  57 feet by 38 feet, with ample dressing room accomodation… the orchestry will be a sunken one." The theatre had a seating capacity for 600. The gallery, known as the "gods" was licensed to seat 200 but often as many as 400 crowded in.
-It was meant for opera, but was only used for such for the first two years. Taken over by [[McKay Bros]], the music firm, in 1907, it was mostly used for gramaphone concerts and operettas. It was also long a favourite venue for shows and meetings in Pretoria.
+It was meant for opera, but was only used for such for the first two years. Taken over by [[McKay Bros]], the music firm, in 1907, it was mostly used for gramaphone concerts and operettas. It was also long a favourite venue for shows and meetings in Pretoria. Notable events taking place there include the Kruger-day (10 October) political meeting in 1914 which set off the the armed resistance to participation in the war (the so-called Rebellie - "Rebellion"). Like many such theatres it was later managed by [[African Theatres]] and used as a part time bioscope (cinema house). For example, over the years the film ''[[Die Voortrekkers]]'' was regularly shown there on December 16th (Day of the Covenant).
-Notable events taking place there include the Kruger-day (10 October) political meeting in 1914 which set off the the armed resistance to participation in the war (the so-called Rebellie - "Rebellion"). Like many such theatres it was later managed by [[African Theatres]] and used as a part time bioscope (cinema house). For example, over the years the film ''[[Die Voortrekkers]]'' was regularly shown there on December 16th (Day of the Covenant).
+It was subsequently converted into a full time cinema, and in 1970s the interior was stripped to make way for a shopping mall, called the Opera Plaza - though - in response to a public outcry - the façade was retained and still stands in Pretorius Street.
 ==Productions mounted in the [[Pretoria Opera House]]==

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 Tucker, 1997)
-[TH, ABr]
+https://artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/bldgframes_mob.php?bldgid=11499
 Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

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 ==Productions mounted in the [[Pretoria Opera House]]==
-Among the many English and [[Afrikaans]] productions done there, including several premieres, were:
+Among the many English and [[Afrikaans]] productions done here, including several premieres, were:
 : ''[[An African Millionaire]]'' ([[Leonard Rayne]])

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 : ''[[Cinderella]]'' ([[J.C. Williamson Company]])
-: ''[[Afrikaner Harte]]'' ("Afrikaner Hearts") by M.M. Jansen by students of the Transvaal University College in 1918, under the direction of Stephanus Maré?*,
+: ''[[Afrikaner Harte]]'' ("Afrikaner Hearts") ([[Transvaal University College]])
-: ''[[Die Heks]]'' (C.L. Leipoldt) by Stephanie Faure and Paul de Groot on 2 May 1925, Huis Toe (Heimat by Süderman) by Paul de Groot in 1925,
+: ''[[Die Heks]]'' and ''[[Lenie]]'' ([[Stephanie Faure]] and [[Paul de Groot]]), ''[[Huis Toe]]'' ([[Paul de Groot]])
-: ''[[Ampie]]'' by Jochem van Bruggen, starring André Huguenet directed by Stephanie Faure on 18 April 1930,
+: ''[[Ampie]]'' ([[André Huguenet]])
-: ''[[Spoke]]'' (“Ghosts”) by Ibsen (1947), A watershed production there was the Afrikaans version of ''[[Hamlet]]'', produced by André Huguenet and African Consolidated Theatres, directed by Anna Neethling-Pohl and Siegfried Mynhardt on ** 1947.
+: ''[[Spoke]]'' (“Ghosts”) (1947), ''[[Hamlet]]'' (in Afrikaans, produced by [[André Huguenet]] and [[African Consolidated Theatres]]).
-: ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' (Johannesburg Reps, 1949).  Pretoria Opera House: Romeo and Juliet was performed here and in the Wits University Great Hall in 1949. It was produced by the Reps to commemorate twenty one years of existance. It was directed by André van Gyseghem, and starred Leon Gluckman, Eugenie Heyns, Muriel Alexander and Herbert Kretzmer. Sets by Len Grosset and costumes by Louis Jacobson impressed.
+: ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' ([[Johannesburg Reps]])
-: Leonard Schach’s Cockpit Players embarked on a lengthy Johannesburg run of four of their recent Cape Town successes in 1959. The second was Basil Warner’s ''[[Try for White]]'', which opened at the Pretoria Opera House before moving to the Intimate Theatre for the remainder of their highly successful run. It starred Marjorie Gordon, Nigel Hawthorne, Zoe Randall, Michael Turner. Joyce Grant and Fiona Fraser replaced Minna Millsten and Heather Lloyd-Jones respectively, from the Cape Town cast. ****
+: ''[[Try for White]]'' ([[Cockpit Players]])
 == Sources ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:32, 25 June 2026
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	1908: ''[[Piet s'n Tante]]''		1908: ''[[Piet s'n Tante]]''
		+
		+	1916: ''[[Cinderella]]'' ([[J.C. Williamson Company]])

	1918: ''[[Afrikaner Harte]]'' ("Afrikaner Hearts") by M.M. Jansen by students of the Transvaal University College in 1918, under the direction of Stephanus Maré?*,		1918: ''[[Afrikaner Harte]]'' ("Afrikaner Hearts") by M.M. Jansen by students of the Transvaal University College in 1918, under the direction of Stephanus Maré?*,

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:00, 30 May 2019
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−	The [[Opera House, Pretoria]] (or more familiarly known as the [[Pretoria Opera House]]) is a venue for operatic and other large scale productions, constructed in Pretoria in 1904.	+	The [[Opera House, Pretoria]] (sometimes [[Opera House Pretoria]], but more familiarly known as the '''[[Pretoria Opera House]]''') is a venue for operatic and other large scale productions, constructed in Pretoria in 1904.

	==History==		==History==