University of Cape Town Drama Department

The Drama Department of the University of Cape Town, often referred to as UCT Drama Department.

Incorporated into the Centre for Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies in 2018.

History

University of Cape Town Conservatoire of Music and Prof Bell

In the Stal Plein Hotel ("Stable Square Hotel"), the home of the South African College of Music (SACM) at the University of Cape Town, Prof William Henry Bell did his first productions of plays, an activity which would lead to the founding of the Department of Speech and Drama in 19**.

The first such a production was Everyman in 19**, directed by Bell.

Minna Freund was appointed head of Speech Training

Ruth Peffers and her Drama School

Peffer's Drama School was founded in Cape Town by Ruth Peffers in 19**.

In 1938 students from the school did The Old Maid by Akins, under the direction of Leontine Sagan in the Little Theatre Cape Town. Rosalie van der Gucht taught there when she first came to South Africa.

The University of Cape Town Drama School

In 19** Peffer's Drama School became the Drama School of the University of Cape Town, with Ruth Peffers as first head.

Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies

In 2018 the Department of Drama and the School of Dance merged into one entity focusing on the study of performance in general, with specialisations in theatre and dance. The Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies offers a BA and a 3-year diploma in theatre and performance.

Programmes

UCT Drama Residency

The UCT Drama Residency(Cape Town) provides an opportunity for highly skilled black theatre practitioners to provide role models for the student body; to influence the aesthetic of the work produced by the department and to bring a strong black African perspective to current debate and working methods. MOST SUCCESSFUL ACT-FUNDED PROJECT AWARD 2005

Venues

The Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies (formerly the University of Cape Town Drama Department) is housed in the University of Cape Town's Little Theatre Complex at the Hiddingh Campus in Orange Street. The Little Theatre provides theatre spaces and facilities for theatre research at UCT as well as production opportunities for theatre, film and television companies, and community groups. The theatre coordinates a programme of classical, contemporary and experimental student productions throughout the academic year. Facilities include a scenery workshop, a costume wardrobe, and furniture and properties stores. The site consists of several performance and rehearsal spaces:

• The Little Theatre (capacity approx. 210)
• The Intimate Theatre (capacity approx 70-80)
• The Bindery Lab (capacity 82)
• The Arena (capacity approx. 70).
• The Rehearsal Studio

The venues showcase a tombola of delights, from cutting-edge plays by critically acclaimed playwrights to work by emerging performers and students. There's also a poster-plastered bar for pre-show socialising.

The Little Theatre

The Little Theatre is a fully-fledged theatre space with a proscenium arch, built-in seating, an existing lighting rig and sound system, a foyer with a cash bar, as well as dressing rooms. It seats 210 people when fully booked. The Little Theatre is supported by the Drama Department’s Workshop and Wardrobe.

The Intimate Theatre

Situated behind the Little Theatre on Orange Street, this space was originally built in the 1950's, after the Drama Department's studios had burnt down, and was to be used as a student working space and rehearsal studios.

In 2002, Christopher Weare and Patrick Curtis re-opened the space as a theatre venue, primarily for use by newly established professionals. They called it The Intimate Theatre, and intended it to be used as a venue in which to experiment and produce work without a crippling theatre rental. Among the groups to use it have been The Mechanicals.

The Bindery Lab

The Bindery Lab is a traditional black box with removable seating. The theatre has its own dressing room adjacent to the space. It has a sound system and can seat up to 82 people, depending on the seating arrangement.

The Arena Theatre

The Arena Theatre is an adaptable theatre space with removable seating. Performances can be done in a conventional seating array, side-seating, in-the-round or thrust-seating array. The theatre has a dressing room and balcony and a foyer with a bar. It has a well equipped sound system and can seat up to 70 people, depending on the seating arrangement.

The Rehearsal Studio

The Rehearsal Studio is ideal for large scale rehearsals, movement classes and/or installation pieces. It often contains temporary seating space for an audience and is situated in the old Commerce Building on campus.

Sources

Donald Inskip, 1972.

Baxter Theatre Official Website, https://baxter.uct.ac.za/history-2

https://www.uct.ac.za/explore-uct/arts-and-culture

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