Difference between revisions of "Standard Theatre"

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A prestigious Victorian horseshoe-shaped theatre, it was opened on 12 October 1891 by [[Capt. Von Brandis]] as the [[Standard Opera House]]. The architects were J. S. Donaldson and J. A. Moffat. The first solid, purpose-built and lushly decorated theatre in the city, it seated 800 people, but could house up to 1000 with extra seating - though, according to [[P.J. du Toit]] (1988) it could house 1400.  
 
A prestigious Victorian horseshoe-shaped theatre, it was opened on 12 October 1891 by [[Capt. Von Brandis]] as the [[Standard Opera House]]. The architects were J. S. Donaldson and J. A. Moffat. The first solid, purpose-built and lushly decorated theatre in the city, it seated 800 people, but could house up to 1000 with extra seating - though, according to [[P.J. du Toit]] (1988) it could house 1400.  
  
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The favoured venue of touring theatre and opera companies from England, later taken over by [[Leonard Rayne]] and used for his productions till his untimely death in 1925. During the second world war it became a favoured venue for the [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]] and [[Marda Vanne]] company’s seasons of major plays and was also the home of the [[Johannesburg REPS]].  
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The favoured venue of touring theatre and opera companies from England, later taken over by [[Leonard Rayne]] and used for his productions (many featuring and his popular leading lady, [[Freda Godfrey]]), till Rayne's untimely death in 1925. During the second world war it became a favoured venue for the [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]] and [[Marda Vanne]] company’s seasons of major plays and was also the home of the [[Johannesburg REPS]].  
  
 
The Standard was forced to close its doors in September, 1947, by the council, but was demolished in 1956, despite major protests from the theatrical fraternity.     
 
The Standard was forced to close its doors in September, 1947, by the council, but was demolished in 1956, despite major protests from the theatrical fraternity.     
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1925: [[W.J. Pienaar]]'s ''[[Saul]]'' (an Afrikaans play, produced there in 1925).
 
1925: [[W.J. Pienaar]]'s ''[[Saul]]'' (an Afrikaans play, produced there in 1925).
  
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1947: The last production to be put on was Henry Gilbert’s production of  ''[[Golden Boy]]'' by [[Clifford Odets]].
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1943: [[Gwen Ffrangçon-Davies]] and [[Marda Vanne]] presented ''[[Watch on the Rhine]]'' by Lilian Hellman, starring [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]] and [[Derick Redman]].
  
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==The Standard Theatre: ==
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1946: This was a prolific year, with [[Elizabeth Renfield]] and company performing  ''[[Mourning Becomes Electra]]'' by [[Eugene O'Neill]]  and an adaptation of ''[[Wuthering Heights]]'' with [[Johann Nell]] playing Heathcliff opposite Miss Renfield’s Cathy; [[Wensley Pithey]] and company staged ''[[Laburnum Grove]]'',  starring [[Siegfried Mynhardt]]; the  [[Theatre Guild Company]] staged ''[[The Lady of the Rose]]''; the [[Munro-Inglis Company]] produced Shaw’s ''[[Pygmalion]]'' and in December [[Taubie Kushlick]] directed and played in ''[[George Washington Slept Here]]'', starring [[Wensley Pithey]] and [[Gordon Mulholland]].  
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First purpose built theatre in Johannesburg, it was a lushly decorated Victorian horseshoe shaped theatre, erected  behind the Rissik street Post Office in Market Street.  Seated 800 people, but with the addition of extra seats could house a 1000. (According to [[P.J. du Toit]], 1988, it could house 1400.) It opened 1891 and became favoured venue of touring theatre and opera companies from England and elsewhere. For example [[Mark Twain]] performed his ''[[At Home]]'' there in May 1896.
 
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Later it became home to the company of [[Leonard Rayne]] and his popular leading lady, [[Freda Godfrey]]. On occasion it was also used for [[Afrikaans]] plays, such as [[W.J. Pienaar]]'s ''[[Saul]]'' (produced there in 1925).
 
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During the second world war it became a favoured venue for the [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]] and [[Marda Vanne]] company's seasons of major plays and was also the home of the [[Johannesburg REPS]]. Productions by [[Gwen Ffrangçon-Davies]] and [[Marda Vanne]] in this period included ''[[Watch on the Rhine]]'' by Lilian Hellman in 1943, starring [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]] and [[Derick Redman]]. Once the war was over, 1946 became a prolific year, with [[Elizabeth Renfield]] and company performing  ''[[Mourning Becomes Electra]]'' by [[Eugene O'Neill]]  and an adaptation of ''[[Wuthering Heights]]'' with [[Johann Nell]] playing Heathcliff opposite Miss Renfield’s Cathy; [[Wensley Pithey]] and company staged ''[[Laburnum Grove]]'' ,  starring [[Siegfried Mynhardt]]; the  [[Theatre Guild Company]] staged ''[[The Lady of the Rose]]''; the [[Munro-Inglis Company]] produced Shaw’s ''[[Pygmalion]]'' and in December [[Taubie Kushlick]] directed and played in ''[[George Washington Slept Here]]'', starring [[Wensley Pithey]] and [[Gordon Mulholland]].
 
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In 1947 [[Marjorie Gordon]] and company, in association with [[ACT]], presented Coward's ''[[Design for Living]]''; [[Siegfried Mynhardt]] directed ''[[Laura]]'' for the [[Johannesburg REPS]]; the [[Munro-Inglis Company]] staged their last [[Standard Theatre]] production, Somerset Maugham's ''[[Lady Frederick]]'' starring [[Siegfried Mynhardt]] and ''[[Golden Boy]]'', by Clifford Odets turned out to be the last production to be performed at [[The Standard]]. [[Henry Gilbert]] cast [[Eric Boon]] and [[Gay Gibson]] in this 1947 production.  
 
  
 +
1947: [[Marjorie Gordon]] and company, in association with [[ACT]], presented Coward's ''[[Design for Living]]''; [[Siegfried Mynhardt]] directed ''[[Laura]]'' for the [[Johannesburg REPS]]; the [[Munro-Inglis Company]] staged their last [[Standard Theatre]] production, Somerset Maugham's ''[[Lady Frederick]]'' starring [[Siegfried Mynhardt]] and ''[[Golden Boy]]'', by Clifford Odets turned out to be the last production to be performed at [[The Standard]]. [[Henry Gilbert]] cast [[Eric Boon]] and [[Gay Gibson]] in this 1947 production.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==

Revision as of 15:46, 27 January 2026

The Standard Theatre was a Johannesburg theatre located in Joubert Street (behind the Rissik Street Post Office) between President and Market Street.

History

A prestigious Victorian horseshoe-shaped theatre, it was opened on 12 October 1891 by Capt. Von Brandis as the Standard Opera House. The architects were J. S. Donaldson and J. A. Moffat. The first solid, purpose-built and lushly decorated theatre in the city, it seated 800 people, but could house up to 1000 with extra seating - though, according to P.J. du Toit (1988) it could house 1400.

The favoured venue of touring theatre and opera companies from England, later taken over by Leonard Rayne and used for his productions (many featuring and his popular leading lady, Freda Godfrey), till Rayne's untimely death in 1925. During the second world war it became a favoured venue for the Gwen ffrangçon-Davies and Marda Vanne company’s seasons of major plays and was also the home of the Johannesburg REPS.

The Standard was forced to close its doors in September, 1947, by the council, but was demolished in 1956, despite major protests from the theatrical fraternity.

Productions

1896: Mark Twain performed his At Home there in May 1896.

1925: W.J. Pienaar's Saul (an Afrikaans play, produced there in 1925).

1943: Gwen Ffrangçon-Davies and Marda Vanne presented Watch on the Rhine by Lilian Hellman, starring Gwen ffrangçon-Davies and Derick Redman.

1946: This was a prolific year, with Elizabeth Renfield and company performing Mourning Becomes Electra by Eugene O'Neill and an adaptation of Wuthering Heights with Johann Nell playing Heathcliff opposite Miss Renfield’s Cathy; Wensley Pithey and company staged Laburnum Grove, starring Siegfried Mynhardt; the Theatre Guild Company staged The Lady of the Rose; the Munro-Inglis Company produced Shaw’s Pygmalion and in December Taubie Kushlick directed and played in George Washington Slept Here, starring Wensley Pithey and Gordon Mulholland.

1947: Marjorie Gordon and company, in association with ACT, presented Coward's Design for Living; Siegfried Mynhardt directed Laura for the Johannesburg REPS; the Munro-Inglis Company staged their last Standard Theatre production, Somerset Maugham's Lady Frederick starring Siegfried Mynhardt and Golden Boy, by Clifford Odets turned out to be the last production to be performed at The Standard. Henry Gilbert cast Eric Boon and Gay Gibson in this 1947 production.

Sources

Percy Tucker, 1997 (See Binge, 1969?, Du Toit, 1988; Tucker, 1997) [TH, JH]

https://johannesburg1912.com/2013/07/29/theatres-in-early-johannesburg/

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