Space Theatre (Cape Town)
Encyclopedia
The Space Theatre was a fringe theatre
in Cape Town
, South Africa
which was active in the 1970's.
It re-opened in late 2008.
and relocated in 1976 to the YMCA
building 44 Long Street
. The Space established itself as a defiantly non-racial venue in a racially-divided country. Taken over by Moyra Fine and Rob Amato after Astbury and Bryceland left, it survived as The People's Space for some two years before succumbing to overwhelming financial pressures.
and Baxter
Theatres), it mounted almost 300 productions starting with the premier of Athol Fugard
’s Statements After an Arrest under the Immorality Act. It hosted the first productions of the Kani/Ntshona/Fugard collaborations The Island and Sizwe Bansi is Dead, and gave a voice to Donald Howarth
’s Othello Slegs Blankes, Fatima Dike and Pieter Dirk Uys’ early plays, and many others.
It became the home of Yvonne Bryceland, Athol Fugard, Pieter Dirk Uys, David Kramer
, Barney Simon
, Winston Ntshona
, John Kani
, Bill Flynn
, Richard E Grant, Paul Slabolepsy, Marius Weyers
, Marthinus Basson, Fiona Ramsay, Percy Sieff, Fatima Dike, Blaise Koch, Ian Roberts
, Henry Goodman, Trix Pienaar, Grethe Fox, Bill Curry, Neil Mc Carthy, Denise Newman, Christine Basson, Mavis Taylor, Maralin van Reenen, Thoko Ntshinga, Dawie Malan, Kieth Grenville, Jacqui Singer, Roger Dwyer and a host of many more young actors, directors and writers who would become stars and stalwarts of the South African stage.
There were many individuals who contributed to the success of the theatre. One of these, newcomer Leon Adams, a 21 year old Ruth Prowse art student introduced to the Space Theatre by Fatima Dike and who appointed as resident Set Builder and Designer by Brian Astbury worked on several productions including Miss South Africa (6), Sizwe Bansi is Dead and The Irresistable Rise of Arturo Ui.
Fringe theatre
Fringe theatre is theatre that is not of the mainstream. The term comes from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which name comes from Robert Kemp, who described the unofficial companies performing at the same time as the second Edinburgh International Festival as a ‘fringe’, writing: ‘Round the fringe...
in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
which was active in the 1970's.
It re-opened in late 2008.
History
The original Space was founded in Cape Town in May 1972 by theatre photographer Brian Astbury and his actress wife Yvonne BrycelandYvonne Bryceland
Yvonne Bryceland was a South African stage actress.-Career:Bryceland worked as a newspaper librarian before her theatrical début in Stage Door in 1947...
and relocated in 1976 to the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
building 44 Long Street
Long Street (Cape Town)
Long Street is a major street located in the City Bowl section of Cape Town, South Africa. It is famous as a bohemian hang out and the street is lined with many book stores, various ethnic restaurants and bars. Restaurants include African restaurants such as Zula, and Indian restaurants such as...
. The Space established itself as a defiantly non-racial venue in a racially-divided country. Taken over by Moyra Fine and Rob Amato after Astbury and Bryceland left, it survived as The People's Space for some two years before succumbing to overwhelming financial pressures.
Productions
The first pioneering fringe theatre in the country (pre MarketMarket Theatre
The Market Theatre, based in the vibrant inner-city suburb of Newtown in Johannesburg, South Africa, was opened in 1976, operating as an independent, non-racial theatre during the country’s apartheid regime...
and Baxter
Baxter Theatre Centre
The Baxter Theatre Centre is a performing arts complex in Rondebosch, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. The Baxter, as it is often known, is part of the University of Cape Town; it is also the second largest performing arts complex in Cape Town, after the Artscape Theatre Centre.The Baxter...
Theatres), it mounted almost 300 productions starting with the premier of Athol Fugard
Athol Fugard
Athol Fugard is a South African playwright, novelist, actor, and director who writes in English, best known for his political plays opposing the South African system of apartheid and for the 2005 Academy-Award winning film of his novel Tsotsi, directed by Gavin Hood...
’s Statements After an Arrest under the Immorality Act. It hosted the first productions of the Kani/Ntshona/Fugard collaborations The Island and Sizwe Bansi is Dead, and gave a voice to Donald Howarth
Donald Howarth
Donald Howarth is a playwright and theatre director. After training at Esme Church's Northern Theatre School in Bradford, he worked in various repertory theatres around England before writing his first play, Sugar in the Morning, which was selected by George Devine for performance at the Royal...
’s Othello Slegs Blankes, Fatima Dike and Pieter Dirk Uys’ early plays, and many others.
It became the home of Yvonne Bryceland, Athol Fugard, Pieter Dirk Uys, David Kramer
David Kramer
David Kramer is a South African singer, songwriter, playwright and director, most notable for his musicals about the Cape Coloured communities, and for his early opposition to apartheid.-Early life:...
, Barney Simon
Barney Simon
Barney Simon was a South African writer, playwright and director.- Early life :The son of working-class Lithuanian Jewish immigrants, Simon discovered a love of theatre while working under director Joan Littlewood in London in the 1950s...
, Winston Ntshona
Winston Ntshona
Winston Ntshona is a South African playwright and actor.Born in Port Elizabeth, Ntshona worked alongside fellow South African Athol Fugard on several occasions and played a minor role in Richard Attenborough's acclaimed film Gandhi....
, John Kani
John Kani
Bonsile John Kani is a South African actor, director and playwright.He was born in New Brighton, South Africa.Kani joined The Serpent Players in Port Elizabeth in 1965 and helped to create many plays that went unpublished but were performed to a resounding reception.These...
, Bill Flynn
Bill Flynn
Bill Flynn was a South African actor and comedian. He was born in Cape Town and matriculated from Plumstead High School...
, Richard E Grant, Paul Slabolepsy, Marius Weyers
Marius Weyers
Marius Weyers is a South African actor. He received international attention playing Andrew Steyn in the movie The Gods Must Be Crazy . He recently starred in Blood Diamond.-Selected filmography:...
, Marthinus Basson, Fiona Ramsay, Percy Sieff, Fatima Dike, Blaise Koch, Ian Roberts
Ian Roberts (South African actor)
Ian Roberts is a South African actor, playwright and singer. A native English speaker, he is also fluent in Afrikaans and Xhosa.-Early life:...
, Henry Goodman, Trix Pienaar, Grethe Fox, Bill Curry, Neil Mc Carthy, Denise Newman, Christine Basson, Mavis Taylor, Maralin van Reenen, Thoko Ntshinga, Dawie Malan, Kieth Grenville, Jacqui Singer, Roger Dwyer and a host of many more young actors, directors and writers who would become stars and stalwarts of the South African stage.
New Space Theatre
36 years after the Space was initially founded, with the encouragement of its founding members and in line with Cape Town City Council’s Inner City Development programme, the theatre re-opened its doors to theatre goers.There were many individuals who contributed to the success of the theatre. One of these, newcomer Leon Adams, a 21 year old Ruth Prowse art student introduced to the Space Theatre by Fatima Dike and who appointed as resident Set Builder and Designer by Brian Astbury worked on several productions including Miss South Africa (6), Sizwe Bansi is Dead and The Irresistable Rise of Arturo Ui.