State Theatre - Revision history

Darryl: /* Sources */

2026-09-02T16:23:53Z

Sources

Darryl: /* Management */

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Management

Darryl: /* The building */

2025-06-10T12:57:48Z

The building

Darryl: /* The opening season in the State Theatre Pretoria (1981) */

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The opening season in the State Theatre Pretoria (1981)

Darryl: /* The opening season in the State Theatre Pretoria (1981) */

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The opening season in the State Theatre Pretoria (1981)

Darryl: /* The opening season in the State Theatre Pretoria (1981) */

2025-02-09T15:23:30Z

The opening season in the State Theatre Pretoria (1981)

Darryl: /* The opening season in the State Theatre Pretoria (1981) */

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The opening season in the State Theatre Pretoria (1981)

Darryl: /* Production history (1982 to 1994) */

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Production history (1982 to 1994)

Darryl: /* Production history (1982 to 1994) */

2025-02-09T15:20:58Z

Production history (1982 to 1994)

Darryl: /* Production history (1982 to 1994) */

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Production history (1982 to 1994)

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:23, 2 September 2026
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	[[Johann van Heerden]] (2008)][http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.sun.ac.za%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10019.1%2F1443%2Fvanheerden_theatre_2008.pdf%3Fsequence%3D1&ei=_egBU77CNYWJhQeE5oCADQ&usg=AFQjCNEWnD1BzeLnFmOV2tvyGLoMyNeT6Q&bvm=bv.61535280,d.Yms]		[[Johann van Heerden]] (2008)][http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.sun.ac.za%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10019.1%2F1443%2Fvanheerden_theatre_2008.pdf%3Fsequence%3D1&ei=_egBU77CNYWJhQeE5oCADQ&usg=AFQjCNEWnD1BzeLnFmOV2tvyGLoMyNeT6Q&bvm=bv.61535280,d.Yms]
		+
		+	https://iol.co.za/entertainment/whats-on/2005-06-01-after-all-that-state-theatre-turns-25/#google_vignette

	See also '''[[National Theatre]]''' and '''[[PACT]]'''		See also '''[[National Theatre]]''' and '''[[PACT]]'''

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 In May 1999, [[Spoornet]], a division of the Transnet Group, announced a sponsorship of R1,5 million a year to the State Theatre for the next five years. The theatre was renamed the [[Spoornet State Theatre]] and Spoornet’s assistant general manager, Japan Pohlwana, would serve on the State Theatre Board of Directors. In the same month [[Jerry Mofokeng]], theatre director, was appointed as the State Theatre’s new Artistic Director.
-In June 2000, the State Theatre was closed by the Minister of Arts and Culture, owing to extreme financial difficulties and an investigation into corruption by the Ministry.
+In June 2000, the State Theatre was closed by the Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr [[Ben Ngubane]], owing to extreme financial difficulties and an investigation into corruption by the Ministry.
 ===Productions===

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 == The building ==
-It is a formal theatre complex built on the old Market Square between Pretorius and Schoeman streets, adjacent to what was to become Strijdom Square. It was built by the Provincial Council of the Transvaal for the use of the [[Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal]] ([[PACT]]) by two architectural firms, Botha, Lötter & Partners and Daneel & Smit.
+The State Theatre was opened in May 1981. It is a formal theatre complex built on the old Market Square between Pretorius and Schoeman streets, adjacent to what was to become Strijdom Square. It was built by the Provincial Council of the Transvaal for the use of the [[Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal]] ([[PACT]]) by two architectural firms, Botha, Lötter & Partners and Daneel & Smit.
 The complex covers 72 143 m2 and , besides the administration offices for the [[Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal]] ([[PACT]]), the complex originally had four theatres:

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 The first director of the [[State Theatre]] was [[Rodney Philips]] and under his guidance the complex was formally opened in 1981 with the first words on the stage being spoken by veteran [[Afrikaans]]/English actor [[Siegfried Mynhardt]], followed by an opening production called ''[[Applause]]'', devised and directed by [[Anthony Farmer]].
-A enormously ambitious programme of extravagant theatre then followed in the first season, including a production of the verse drama ''[[Germanicus]]'' by [[N.P. van Wyk Louw]],  [[Arthur Miller]]’s ''[[After the Fall]]'', the "[[folk drama]]" ''[[Ampie]]'' by [[Jochem van Bruggen]], [[P.G. du Plessis]]'s ''[[Siener in die Suburbs]]'', [[Adam Small]]'s ''[[Kanna hy kô hystoe]]'',  ''[[Kismet]]'', ''[[The Great Waltz]]'', ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' [[Peter Shaffer]]’s ''[[The Royal Hunt of the Sun]]'', ''[[A Midsummer Night’s Dream]]'' and [[Eduardo de Filippo]]'s ''[[Filumena]]'', [[Eric Smith]]'s  puppet show called ''[[Eric’s Puppet Company]]'', and Andrew Lloyd-Webber and [[Tim Rice]]'s ''[[Evita]]''.
+A enormously ambitious programme of extravagant theatre then followed in the first season, including a production of the verse drama ''[[Germanicus]]'' by [[N.P. van Wyk Louw]],  [[Arthur Miller]]’s ''[[After the Fall]]'', the folk drama ''[[Ampie]]'' by [[Jochem van Bruggen]], [[P.G. du Plessis]]'s ''[[Siener in die Suburbs]]'', [[Adam Small]]'s ''[[Kanna hy kô hystoe]]'',  ''[[Kismet]]'', ''[[The Great Waltz]]'', ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' [[Peter Shaffer]]’s ''[[The Royal Hunt of the Sun]]'', ''[[A Midsummer Night’s Dream]]'' and [[Eduardo de Filippo]]'s ''[[Filumena]]'', [[Eric Smith]]'s  puppet show called ''[[Eric’s Puppet Company]]'', and Andrew Lloyd-Webber and [[Tim Rice]]'s ''[[Evita]]''.
 An exhibition on the history of South African theatre was also mounted for the occasion, compiled by [[Astrid Schwencke]] and the staff of the [[Centre for South African Theatre Research]] ([[CESAT]]) of the [[Human Sciences Research Council]].

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 The first director of the [[State Theatre]] was [[Rodney Philips]] and under his guidance the complex was formally opened in 1981 with the first words on the stage being spoken by veteran [[Afrikaans]]/English actor [[Siegfried Mynhardt]], followed by an opening production called ''[[Applause]]'', devised and directed by [[Anthony Farmer]].
-A enormously ambitious programme of extravagant theatre then followed in the first season, including a production of the verse drama ''[[Germanicus]]'' by [[N.P. van Wyk Louw]],  [[Arthur Miller]]’s ''[[After the Fall]]'', the "[[folk drama]]" ''[[Ampie]]'' by [[Jochem van Bruggen]], [[P.G. du Plessis]]'s ''[[Siener in die Suburbs]]'', [[Adam Small]]'s ''[[Kanna hy kô hystoe]]'',  ''[[Kismet]]'', ''[[The Great Waltz]]'', ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' [[Peter Shaffer]]’s ''[[The Royal Hunt of the Sun]]'', ''[[A Midsummer Night’s Dream]]'' and [[Eduardo di Filippo]]'s ''[[Filumena]]'', [[Eric Smith]]'s  puppet show called ''[[Eric’s Puppet Company]]'', and Andrew Lloyd-Webber and [[Tim Rice]]'s ''[[Evita]]''.
+A enormously ambitious programme of extravagant theatre then followed in the first season, including a production of the verse drama ''[[Germanicus]]'' by [[N.P. van Wyk Louw]],  [[Arthur Miller]]’s ''[[After the Fall]]'', the "[[folk drama]]" ''[[Ampie]]'' by [[Jochem van Bruggen]], [[P.G. du Plessis]]'s ''[[Siener in die Suburbs]]'', [[Adam Small]]'s ''[[Kanna hy kô hystoe]]'',  ''[[Kismet]]'', ''[[The Great Waltz]]'', ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' [[Peter Shaffer]]’s ''[[The Royal Hunt of the Sun]]'', ''[[A Midsummer Night’s Dream]]'' and [[Eduardo de Filippo]]'s ''[[Filumena]]'', [[Eric Smith]]'s  puppet show called ''[[Eric’s Puppet Company]]'', and Andrew Lloyd-Webber and [[Tim Rice]]'s ''[[Evita]]''.
 An exhibition on the history of South African theatre was also mounted for the occasion, compiled by [[Astrid Schwencke]] and the staff of the [[Centre for South African Theatre Research]] ([[CESAT]]) of the [[Human Sciences Research Council]].

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 : [[Lisa Kent]]’s production of ''[[Me and My Girl]]'' was staged here in 1993.
-: [[PACT]] presented [[Dalene Matthee]]’s ''[[Fiela se Kind]]'' here in 1994. [[Charles Wilson]]’s ''[[Don Gxubane Onner die Boere]]'' was staged at the [[Arena Theatre]] in 1994.
+: [[PACT]] presented [[Dalene Matthee]]’s ''[[Fiela se Kind]]'' here in 1994. [[Charles Fourie]]’s ''[[Don Gxubane Onner die Boere]]'' was staged at the [[Arena Theatre]] in 1994.
 ==New management and production history (1995-2000)==

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 == Production history (1982 to 1994) ==
-: [[PACT]] staged [[William Gibson]]’s ''[[Monday After the Miracle]]'' (the sequel to ''[[The Miracle Worker]]'') starring [[Sandra Duncan]] and [[Pamela Gien]] under direction of [[François Swart]] at the [[State Theatre]] in 1982. [[Aubrey Berg]]’s production of [[Tennessee Williams]]’ ''[[Cat on a Hot Tin Roof]]'' starring [[Lena Ferugia]], [[Ron Smerczak]] and [[Victor Winding]] was staged here by [[PACT]] in 1982 before the production moved to the [[Alexander]].
+: [[PACT]] staged [[William Gibson]]’s ''[[Monday After the Miracle]]'' (the sequel to ''[[The Miracle Worker]]'') starring [[Sandra Duncan]] and [[Pamela Gien]] under direction of [[François Swart]] at the [[State Theatre]] in 1982. [[Aubrey Berg]]’s production of Tennessee Williams’ ''[[Cat on a Hot Tin Roof]]'' starring [[Lena Ferugia]], [[Ron Smerczak]] and [[Victor Winding]] was staged here by [[PACT]] in 1982 before the production moved to the [[Alexander]].
-: [[William Egan]] directed an Afrikaans translation of ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' called ''[[Die Vasvat van ‘n Feeks]]'' starring [[Marius Weyers]] and [[Sandra Prinsloo]] for [[PACT]] at the [[Pretoria State Theatre]] in February 1983. [[PACT]] also presented [[Sheridan]]’s ''[[The Rivals]]'' starring [[Pauline Bailey]], [[John Hussey]], [[Wilson Dunster]], [[James White]], [[Pamela Gien]] and [[John Lesley]] directed by [[Michael Atkinson]] here in March 1983. [[PACT]] revived ''[[Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena]]'' starring [[Nomsa Nene]] and directed by [[Marius Weyers]] here in August 1983 before moving the production to the [[Alexander]]. [[Taubie Kushlick]] staged ''[[The Best of Brel]]'' here for PACT in 1983 before it moved to the [[Leonard Rayne]]. PACT staged ''[[The Merry Widow]]'' starring [[Roberta Palmer]] and [[Gé Korsten]] and directed by [[Neels Hansen]] in December 1983.
+: [[William Egan]] directed an Afrikaans translation of ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' called ''[[Die Vasvat van ‘n Feeks]]'' starring [[Marius Weyers]] and [[Sandra Prinsloo]] for [[PACT]] at the [[Pretoria State Theatre]] in February 1983. [[PACT]] also presented Sheridan’s ''[[The Rivals]]'' starring [[Pauline Bailey]], [[John Hussey]], [[Wilson Dunster]], [[James White]], [[Pamela Gien]] and [[John Lesley]] directed by [[Michael Atkinson]] here in March 1983. [[PACT]] revived ''[[Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena]]'' starring [[Nomsa Nene]] and directed by [[Marius Weyers]] here in August 1983 before moving the production to the [[Alexander]]. [[Taubie Kushlick]] staged ''[[The Best of Brel]]'' here for PACT in 1983 before it moved to the [[Leonard Rayne]]. PACT staged ''[[The Merry Widow]]'' starring [[Roberta Palmer]] and [[Gé Korsten]] and directed by [[Neels Hansen]] in December 1983.
 : A new venue called the [[Momentum Theatre]] opened here in March 1984 and [[PACT]] announced it would be used for experimental work. In December 1984 [[Anthony Farmer]] directed ''[[Showboat]]'' starring [[Bess Arlene]], [[Mayo Miza]] with [[Ed Barrett]] and [[Pieter Niemann]] alternating the role of Gaylord Ravenals.

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 == Production history (1982 to 1994) ==
-PACT staged [[William Gibson]]’s ''[[Monday After the Miracle]]'' (the sequel to ''[[The Miracle Worker]]'') starring [[Sandra Duncan]] and [[Pamela Gien]] under direction of [[François Swart]] at the State Theatre in 1982. [[Aubrey Berg]]’s production of [[Tennessee Williams]]’ ''[[Cat on a Hot Tin Roof]]'' starring [[Lena Ferugia]], [[Ron Smerczak]] and [[Victor Winding]] was staged here by PACT in 1982 before the production moved to the Alexander.
+: [[PACT]] staged [[William Gibson]]’s ''[[Monday After the Miracle]]'' (the sequel to ''[[The Miracle Worker]]'') starring [[Sandra Duncan]] and [[Pamela Gien]] under direction of [[François Swart]] at the [[State Theatre]] in 1982. [[Aubrey Berg]]’s production of [[Tennessee Williams]]’ ''[[Cat on a Hot Tin Roof]]'' starring [[Lena Ferugia]], [[Ron Smerczak]] and [[Victor Winding]] was staged here by [[PACT]] in 1982 before the production moved to the [[Alexander]].
-[[William Egan]] directed an Afrikaans translation of ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' called ''[[Die Vasvat van ‘n Feeks]]'' starring [[Marius Weyers]] and [[Sandra Prinsloo]] for PACT at the Pretoria State Theatre in February 1983. PACT also presented [[Sheridan]]’s ''[[The Rivals]]'' starring [[Pauline Bailey]], [[John Hussey]], [[Wilson Dunster]], [[James White]], [[Pamela Gien]] and [[John Lesley]] directed by [[Michael Atkinson]] here in March 1983.
+: [[William Egan]] directed an Afrikaans translation of ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' called ''[[Die Vasvat van ‘n Feeks]]'' starring [[Marius Weyers]] and [[Sandra Prinsloo]] for [[PACT]] at the [[Pretoria State Theatre]] in February 1983. [[PACT]] also presented [[Sheridan]]’s ''[[The Rivals]]'' starring [[Pauline Bailey]], [[John Hussey]], [[Wilson Dunster]], [[James White]], [[Pamela Gien]] and [[John Lesley]] directed by [[Michael Atkinson]] here in March 1983. [[PACT]] revived ''[[Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena]]'' starring [[Nomsa Nene]] and directed by [[Marius Weyers]] here in August 1983 before moving the production to the [[Alexander]]. [[Taubie Kushlick]] staged ''[[The Best of Brel]]'' here for PACT in 1983 before it moved to the [[Leonard Rayne]]. PACT staged ''[[The Merry Widow]]'' starring [[Roberta Palmer]] and [[Gé Korsten]] and directed by [[Neels Hansen]] in December 1983.
-In June 1983 they presented [[John Osborne]]’s ''[[The Entertainer]]'' starring [[Michael Atkinson]], [[Helen Jessop]], [[Stuart Brown]], [[Kate Edwards]] and [[Gina Benjamin]] at the Alexander. [[William Egan]]’s production of [[Tennessee Williams]]’ ''[[Night of the Iguana]]'' starring [[Eric Flynn]], [[Sandra Duncan]], [[Annabel Linder]] and [[Anthony James]] was staged at the Alexander in 1983. Also in 1983 [[Neil Simon]]’s ''[[The Prisoner of Second Avenue]]'' starring [[Michael McCabe]] and [[Erica Rogers]] and directed by [[Ken Leach]] was staged at the Alexander.
+: A new venue called the [[Momentum Theatre]] opened here in March 1984 and [[PACT]] announced it would be used for experimental work. In December 1984 [[Anthony Farmer]] directed ''[[Showboat]]'' starring [[Bess Arlene]], [[Mayo Miza]] with [[Ed Barrett]] and [[Pieter Niemann]] alternating the role of Gaylord Ravenals.
-PACT revived ''[[Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena]]'' starring [[Nomsa Nene]] and directed by [[Marius Weyers]] here in August 1983 before moving the production to the Alexander. [[Taubie Kushlick]] staged ''[[The Best of Brel]]'' here for PACT in 1983 before it moved to the [[Leonard Rayne]]. PACT staged ''[[The Merry Widow]]'' starring [[Roberta Palmer]] and [[Gé Korsten]] and directed by [[Neels Hansen]] in December 1983.
+: In December 1986 ''[[The King and I]]'' starring [[Joe Stewardson]] and [[Judy Page]] was staged in the [[Momentum]].
-A new venue called the [[Momentum Theatre]] opened here in March 1984 and PACT announced it would be used for experimental work. In December 1984 [[Anthony Farmer]] directed ''[[Showboat]]'' starring [[Bess Arlene]], [[Mayo Miza]] with [[Ed Barrett]] and [[Pieter Niemann]] alternating the role of Gaylord Ravenals.
+: [[Marius Weyers]] and [[Sandra Prinsloo]] under [[François Swart]]’s direction starred in an Afrikaans translation of ''[[Hamlet]]'' here for [[TRUK]] in 1987. All the performing arts councils jointly staged ''[[The Great Waltz]]'' under [[David Matheson]]’s direction with choreography by [[Geoffrey Sutherland]] in 1987. It opened here before touring to all the major cities.
-In December 1986 ''[[The King and I]]'' starring [[Joe Stewardson]] and [[Judy Page]] was staged in the Momentum. [[Marius Weyers]] and [[Sandra Prinsloo]] under [[François Swart]]’s direction starred in an Afrikaans translation of ''[[Hamlet]]'' here for [[TRUK]] in 1987. All the performing arts councils jointly staged ''[[The Great Waltz]]'' under [[David Matheson]]’s direction with choreography by [[Geoffrey Sutherland]] in 1987. It opened here before touring to all the major cities.
+: [[Gibson Kente]]’s musical ''[[Sekunjalo, the Naked Hour]]'' was staged in the [[Momentum]] in September 1988.
-[[Gibson Kente]]’s musical ''[[Sekunjalo, the Naked Hour]]'' was staged in the Momentum in September 1988 and [[Max Collie]] performed here in 1989. Also in 1989 [[PACT]], [[NAPAC]] and [[PACOFS]] presented [[Lerner and Louwe]]’s ''[[Camelot]]'' here in 1989. In 1990 PACT staged an Afrikaans version of ''[[King Lear]]'' in the Momentum and [[PACT]], [[PACOFS]] and [[NAPAC]] presented ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' here.
+: [[Max Collie]] performed here in 1989. Also in 1989 [[PACT]], [[NAPAC]] and [[PACOFS]] presented Lerner and Loewe’s ''[[Camelot]]'' here in 1989. In 1990 [[PACT]] staged an Afrikaans version of ''[[King Lear]]'' in the [[Momentum]] and [[PACT]], [[PACOFS]] and [[NAPAC]] presented ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' here.
-''[[Seven Brides for Seven Brothers]]'' was a combined performing arts councils production staged in the Momentum in January 1991. Later in 1991 [[Lerner and Louwe]]’s ''[[Brigadoon]]'' was staged here. PACT staged ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' here in 1992. [[François Swart]]’s production of ''[[Gigi]]'' was staged here in 1992. [[Lisa Kent]]’s production of ''[[Me and My Girl]]'' was staged here in 1993. PACT presented [[Dalene Matthee]]’s ''[[Fiela se Kind]]'' here in 1994.
+: ''[[Seven Brides for Seven Brothers]]'' was a combined performing arts councils production staged in the [[Momentum]] in January 1991. Later in 1991 Lerner and Loewe’s ''[[Brigadoon]]'' was staged here.
-[[Charles Wilson]]’s ''[[Don Gxubane Onner die Boere]]'' was staged at the Arena Theatre in 1994.
+: [[PACT]] staged ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' here in 1992. [[François Swart]]’s production of ''[[Gigi]]'' was staged here in 1992.
 ==New management and production history (1995-2000)==