The Playhouse
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The Playhouse, Durban
The name of two theatres in Durban, the original "atsmospheric" Playhouse designed by W.M. Timlin and owned by African Consolidated Theatres (1935-1985) and the renamed Natal Playhouse complex (which incorporated the old Playhouse along with the Prince's Cinema and opened in 1985.
The original Playhouse
An Tudor-style which was opened in Durban on 7th of June 1935 by African Consolidated Theatres, with , Palm Court, Tudor Room and Grill Room.
Smith Street, Durban. This was an internationally-known Tudor-style Playhouse designed by William Mitheson Timlin. According to Marilyn Martin (1995) it opened in 1924(??*), but Malcolm Woolfson (1986) states that it was opened on 7/6/1935 by African Consolidated Theatres (ACT).
It contained an "atmospheric" cinema (or bioscope), Palm Court, Tudor Room and Grill Room. The cinema was one of four such "atmospheric theatres" built by ACT in the country, and sported a starry dome and crennelated walls.
The Playhouse is today the only preserved theatre of its kind in the country, for it was acquired by NAPAC and in 1986 incorporated into the 5-venue Natal Playhouse complex.
The Natal Playhouse
The Playhouse complex after 1995
Sources
Malcolm Woolfson, 1986. The Long Road that led towards the Natal Playhouse. Durban : The Natal Performing Arts Council.)
Marilyn Martin, 1995 (Catalogue: W.M. Timlin)
For more information
See further the Natal Playhouse and William Mitheson Timlin
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Sources
For more information
See further Playhouse and Natal Playhouse
Return to
Return to South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
