Kalk Bay Theatre
A theatre venue in Kalk Bay, Cape Town.
Contents
History
Originally founded in 2004 by Simon Cooper and Helen Cooper, with Nicholas Ellenbogen and Liz Ellenbogen, in the old bakery building in Main Street, Kalk Bay (?*). In 2005 it moved to the heritage protected Dutch Reformed Church (built 1876), on Main Road, which they converted into an intimate 78 seat theatre and restaurant, offering the option of a combined dinner and theatre experience.
The Ellenbogens later moved on to other projects, and the Cooper family continued to run the theatre till 2014, when Follow Spot Productions, under the direction of Vanessa Harris and Ash Searle took over the venue.
Over the years the theatre (and its in-house company, KBT Productions) has presented a varied programme of entertainment, including drama, comedy, cabaret, dance and music, and has offered opportunities for many local writers and performers.
KBT Productions
The Coopers founded KBT Productions as a sister company to the theatre, to undertake and travel with productions. Their work has been presented at the Kalk Bay Theatre, the National Arts Festival, the Baxter Theatre, the Theatre on the Square, the Fugard Theatre, Wits 969, the Schools' Festival, and a number of other venues and events.
With the change of ownership in 2014, KBT Productions (still under the direction of Simon Cooper and Helen Cooper) retained the option of using two performance slots a year at the Kalk Bay Theatre for their productions.
Productions by the company include London Road, A Town Called Fokol Lutho, Same Time Next Year and The Snow Goose, Undermined (2014), Show and Tell (2014), Vaslav (2014), The Agony and the Ecstacy of Steve Jobs (2014). .
“We are honoured to be taking over such a precious Cape Town theatrical landmark,” says Vanessa Harris. “We will be building on everything patrons have come to expect from the Theatre – quality entertainment, delicious food and wine and a unique, intimate theatre experience.”
Sources
KBT raises R9690.07 for Theatre Benevolent Fund - 03/2014 - Artslink.co.za News
Change of scene at Kalk Bay Theatre (Christine Skinner) 04/07/2014 Artslink.co.za News
http://www.kalkbaytheatre.co.za
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