Athenaeum Society

Founding and early history

The Port Elizabeth Athenaeum Society was founded in April 1856. In 1859 the grant of land for the erection of a Town Hall stipulated that the building should also house a library and an Athenaeum. The Society was dissolved in 1886. The new Athenaeum was revived on May 8, 1894 and comprised of the Port Elizabeth Institute, School of Art, Naturalist Society and the Port Elizabeth Camera Club. The Athenaeum Musical and Choral Society was formed in 1896. The Society claimed its original right to space in the City Hall but because the building was not big enough to house all the organisations, the Port Elizabeth Town Council donated £3,000 and a piece of land to the Athenaeum Society in Belmont Terrace. The original plans, drawn up by E J Sherwood proved to be too costly and so the plans of architect G W Smith were used instead. The official opening of the new Athenaeum Building was opened by Mayor James Wynne on Friday, July 24, 1896. On April 17, 1901, a new wing with a hall was opened and named after the President of the Port Elizabeth Institute, M M Loubser, Loubser Hall.

The Athenaeum became a social club in 1916. The Loubser Hall was turned into the Little Theatre in 1946 and used for theatrical productions for many years by organisations such as Pemads. The building was declared a National Monument in 1980.

Aims and function

The aims of the Athenaeum Society were to "promote the interests of science and literature" among its members and the public of Port Elizabeth.

Current status

Thanks to the incredible efforts by Harold Davidson, Pemads was allowed to use the Loubser Hall for their rehearsals and eventually as a venue for staging their productions as well. The hall was turned into the Little Theatre (founded 1945) in 1946 and is still used for theatrical productions by organisations such as Pemads.

Impact on SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

It is still in use today (2018) and is once again known as the Little Theatre. It is still used by Pemads and PEAAT, the Afrikaans theatre group and a host of other organisations.