Bellville Civic Theatre

The Bellville Civic Theatre was the first purpose built municipal civic theatre in the country.

Known as the Bellville Stadskouburg in Afrikaans and the Bellville Civic Theatre in English. Also referred to as the Bellville Civic Centre. , more popularly known as the Bellville Civic Theatre,

See also the general entry on the concept of a Civic Theatre

The venue

It is a cultural and social centre Cape Town’s Northern suburb Bellville and consists of a 750 seater auditorium, a banqueting hall and a conference room.

Designed by *** to specifications supplied by National Theatre Organisation (NTO), it opened in 1956 with the NTO production of Germanicus by N.P. van Wyk Louw.

The complex’s facilities can be hired for theatrical and musical productions, conferences, meetings and parties.

It has been used by various other school, university, professional and amateur companies over the years, including the local group known as Bellvillese Afrikaanse Toneelvereniging (BAT).

It also hosted numerous theatre events over the years, including festivals and competitions, among them the regional trials for the annual ATKV drama competition, annual eisteddfodau and one-off events like an Afrikaanse Toneelweek ("Afrikaans theatre week") in September of 1965.