Barnyard Theatres
Contents
Origins
The concept of the Barnyard Theatres came about when the media couple Louis Möller (co-founder and producer of, Carte Blanche) and freelance actress and TV presenter Sybel Coetzee decided to opt out of the media world in 1989 to raise their family on a dairy farm just outside Plettenberg Bay. After a few years of farming they sought a way to combine their two interests, theatre and farming. The result was the birth of the original Barnyard Theatre in 1996.
The original Barnyard Theatre, it was devised and built by the husband and wife team of Louis Moller and Sybel Coetzee to be run as a venue for visiting artists.
A number of theatres were subsequently built for schools (e.g. Summerset College, near Somerset West and *** near Franschoek). Out of this developed the idea of a franchised series of theatres throughout the country, called The Barnyard Theatres.
There are currently five Barnyard Theatres across South Africa: three in Gauteng, one in Cape Town and one in Durban. The Barnyard Theatres have grown to include:
- Emperors Palace Barnyard (East Rand, JHB)
- Silverstar Barnyard (West Rand, JHB)
- Suncoast Barnyard (Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World, Durban)
- Menlyn Barnyard (Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, Pretoria)
- Tyger Valley Barnyard (Tyger Valley Centre, Bellville).
The Barnyard Theatre provides an old-world, informal, yet sophisticated environment. Each venue is slightly different however the general layouts, look and feel of the theatre interior are all similar and resemble the original concept.
The Barnyard Theatres franchise
A series of of franchised theatres, devised and built by Louis Möller, for mainly musical and dinner theatre. Starting with the original wooden Barnyard Theatre, Knysna in 1996, he franchised the idea and formed a company to build specialised dinner theatre venues across the country, in a variety of settings (schools, shopping malls, etc.), all called The Barnyard Theatre. There are such theatres in Durban, Hilton, Johannesburg, Somerset West, Franschoek. A number of them are managed directly by Barnyard Theatre Production Company (e.g. Cresta in Randburg, at Emperors Palace, East Rand , Gateway, Durban, Park View Pretoria East, Sunninghill in Rivonia , Willowbridge near Cape Town).
The Barnyard Theatre Production Company
In 2003 Louis Moller joined forces with the South African musician Duck Chowles to form the Barnyard Theatre Production Company. Chowles directs and produces all Barnyard Theatres productions.
Sources
http://www.barnyardtheatre.co.za/
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