Klein Libertas-teater

The Klein Libertas-teater (the Little Libertas Theatre) Stellenbosch. was originally a stable on Bergzicht farm, Stellenbosch. It was converted into a theatre to serve as the home for the Libertas Teaterklub (Libertas Theatre Club) in 1967. A foyer was added and the original stable door still separates the foyer from the intimate auditorium with its thick walls. In 199* it was briefly altered to serve as an art movie house by the owners of the Labia Theatre in Cape Town. When the venture failed, the theatre retained the seats, but reverted to being a performance space for live theatre, being rented to professional companies and performers, as well as local amateurs and the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department as the H.B. Thom Theatre became too small to house all the productions created by student writers and directors.. In 1998(?) a paid manager was appointed, the first being Francois Toerien. In 2000 he was succeeded by Maryn Fourie?*, she in turn by Kabous Meiring for a brief while in 2002, before GiGi Fourie took over in the same year. (Also see Libertas Theatre club.)

Klein Libertas-teater (“Little Libertas Theatre”) Stellenbosch.

The building

Originally a stable on Bergzicht farm, Stellenbosch. In 1967, when the Libertas Theatre Club had to had to move from their original space in the Vredelust celler in Dorp Street, because the Krige family had sold their farm, the munisipality agreed to let the old delapidated stables of the Nergzicht house on the market square to them and fix it up to some extent. At the time the fire-brigade used it. The name changed to Klein Libertas-teater or Little Libertas Theatre to distinguish it from the Oude Libertas Theatre which had been constructed by Distell. In 199* it was briefly altered to serve as an art movie house by the owners of the Labia Theatre in Cape Town. When the venture failed, the theatre retained the seats, but reverted to being a performance space for live theatre, being rented to professional companies and performers, as well as local amateurs and the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department as the H.B. Thom Theatre became too small to house all the productions created by student writers and directors. Gradually a foyer was added and for many years the original stable door still separated the foyer from the intimate auditorium with its thick walls. In 2009 this was removed to create a much larger space. An outdoor stage for music and other outdooer events has since also been added.

Management

The Libertas Theatre Club was an amateur group and for many years the building was run by the LTC executive, with the help of Emile Aucamp, Valentyn ** and student technicians from the University Drama Department.

In 199* the LTC created a multiple structure, including a professional section (letting the theatre to professionals), an amateur section (the Libertas Theatre Club) and an outreach project in the community and on farms.

In 1998(?) a paid manager was appointed, the first being Francois Toerien. In 2000 he was succeeded by Maryn Fourie?*, she in turn by Kabous Meiring for a brief while in 2002, before GiGi Fourie took over in the same year.

As the political structures in the country changed and the arts councils fell away, artists started creating their own work and needed venues to perform. The Klein Libertas Theatre answered perfectly to this need and is therefore now not only used by amateurs and upcoming artists but more and more by professionals as well.

For more information

See also Libertas Teaterklub

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