The Arts Theatre
There have been three theatre venues in the South African region known by some version of this name.
Contents
The Arts Theatre, George (1962-)
History
For many years the George Society of Arts (founded 1948) put on one or two plays a year in what is referred to as the Old Town Hall in the Eastern Cape town of George.
In 1962 the group obtained its first premises when they leased an old cafe in Davidson Road and converted it into an intimate theatre, seating under 100 persons. Usually called the George Arts Theatre, it was opened with a production of The Reluctant Debutante in December of that year.
In 1969 they moved to new premises, situated in York Street. The building had originally been built as a girls' hostel in 1905, but had later been turned into a cinema. The organisation purchased the building for an amount of R12 000 and spent another R14 000 on renovations, to convert it into a theatre. Further alterations have been made from time to time.
The latter venue was later renamed the Oakhurst George Arts Theatre after its sponsor.
For more on the society and the productions, see the entry on the George Society of Arts
Sources
http://www.georgeartstheatre.co.za/
https://www.georgeartstheatre.co.za/about/
"Theatre Celebrates 50th Birthday", The George Herald:Tuesday, 19 February 2019[1]
"George Society of Arts reawakens The Sleeping Prince after 50 years", The Gremlin/George News (March 26, 2019)[2]
Programmes 1962 to 1964
Go to ESAT Bibliography
The Arts Theatre, Windhoek, South West Africa
History
In the 1950s the South West African branch of the South African Association of Arts ( SAAA, South West African Branch), under the chairmanship of the then President, Olga Levinson, actively petitioned for and obtained a civic theatre for Windhoek.
The venue, initially called the The Arts Theatre, contained a theatre and an art gallery, and was formally opened on 3 October 1960 by the then Administrator of South West Africa (SWA), Mr D. du P. Viljoen.
The theatre and gallery were formally managed by the SAAA until 1973, when was renamed the Windhoek Civic Theatre and its management transferred to the South West Africa Performing Arts Council (SWAPAC). It would evenutually become the National Theatre of Namibia in 1989.
Productions
Sources
The Arts Theatre East London (1987-2021)
History
Deriving from the Arts Theatre Club in East London, The Arts Theatre was a small theatre that was created the club's premises were converted into a small theatre in 1987. Further alterations were undertaken in 1991, with the venue reopening on 30th March 1991. The venue was refurbished in 2005.
The venue was sold in February 2021.
Productions
The Arts Theatre Club staged many of its own productions in the venue, particularly music revues. Touring artists also regularly staged their work at the venue, including Patrick Mynhardt, Nataniel, Andrew Buckland.
Sources
'A history of East London’s theatres', Show Me (online), 1 August 2019 (https://showme.co.za/east-london/events-entertainment/east-londons-theatres-and-their-history/)
DispatchLIVE, 18 February 2021.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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