Joburg Theatre Complex
South African theatre played a very crucial role in the struggle against apartheid. A number of apartheid-themed plays were written and staged at various venues across the country, helping to sensitise citizens from both sides of the racial divide to the unsustainable political system that apartheid was. Most of the plays found their way into neighbouring countries, raising awareness of the conditions blacks lived under and piling international pressure for the end of apartheid.
The anti-apartheid messages carried in theatre productions were made easy to communicate by the talented actors. Many South African playwrights used theatre to fight apartheid in a manner that touched the international community. Because the productions were centred on issues that affected their daily lives, they always produced top performances, which appealed to people’s consciences and inspired them to fight the unjust system.
South Africa has top-class venues to complement the impressive performances. Although there are many decent theatre venues in Gauteng, the Joburg Theatre Complex – formerly the Johannesburg Civic Theatre – in Braamfontein is widely regarded as “Africa’s premiere home of live entertainment” by most theatre publications. Boasting three theatres, eight function rooms and dance studios, the complex has hosted a number of top local and international theatre performances.
The Mandela Theatre, with a seating capacity of 1 069 people, is the largest venue, followed by The Fringe, which seats 251 people, and the People’s Theatre, which can accommodate 176 people. Space.com is an adaptable, “black box” environment used for community theatre and stand-up comedy performances.
From the gumboot dance, which was perfected as a form of entertainment by miners, the pantsula jive, which gripped the townships in the 1980s, to comedy, drama, classical ballet and orchestra performances, the Joburg Theatre Complex has hosted it all.
A number of internationally renowned theatrical productions are staged at the theatre complex, giving performers, writers, directors, designers and technicians an opportunity to incorporate different cultures into their performances and productions. Visitors can catch a local or international production on most days of the week.
The theatre also offers dining facilities for corporate or group functions every day of the week, and has eight hospitality venues available for exclusive hire. They range from 10-seat dining rooms to 200-capacity cocktail lounges – each offering a unique and different entertainment choice.
Admission
Depends on shows
Visiting hours
Depends on shows.
Directions
Loveday Street, opposite the Johannesburg Civic Centre in the city centre