![]() Noel Coward also visited the Little Theatre in the war years and gave a performance to the service men and woman, accompanied by Norman Hackforth. With the invasion of Paris in 1940 the production of Jean Giraudoux’s Amphitryon again directed again by Sagan at the Little Theatre, played to luke warm reception of the press and audiences. The same month as Britain entered the Second World War, a fire broke out in the Little Theatre causing minor damage to the kitchen, but luckily leaving the theatre unharmed. Here she directed Emlyn Williams's The Corn is Green, as well as Zoe Akins’ Old Maid with Ruth Peffers’ drama students. In 1938 Donald Inskip went on a visit to Europe and convinced Leontine Sagan to undertake another ‘residency’ at the Little Theatre. The Theatre Club broke up soon after Gamble’s return to England in 1938*?. The next milestone was Clemence Dane’s Wild Decembers, produced by Rollo Gamble, who was moving towards creating a forum for professional theatre practitioners called The Theatre Club, launching the idea with his production of Pirandello's Six characters in search of an author. With André Van Gyseghem's production of Bernard Shaw’s Man and Superman in 1937, the Little Theatre entered a new era of professionalism. In 1938 The Cape Town City Council made a decision to build a civic theatre to the loyal Repertory Theatre’s delight, but with the outbreak of war in 1939, the 40,000 Pounds earmarked for the project was allocated to war charities instead and the civic theatre had to wait until the late 1940s. In 1936 presentations of scenes from plays directed by students as part of their basic training were incorporated in the theatre’s events calendar. Other changes saw the theatre hiring ushers employed by the City Hall on demand of Sir Jock **, who was opposed to using students. He was replaced as director by Prof Donald Inskip.Īt this stage the University Council introduced a system of seat booking utilizing Messrs. (The Kaapstadse Afrikaanse Toneelvereniging (KAT) also used to stage one production per year there during the 1940s.) In October 1934 a program made up of three works all with music by Bell was performed in affection to the retiring director of the Little Theatre and College of Music. The theatre continued to share its professional technical staff with this company even after they left. Thus, for example, it became the ‘home’ of the Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society between 19, during which time they did 50 productions. In order to promote theatre in Cape Town, Bell and Duckworth now made the theatre available to any dramatic society in the city free of charge, though all proceeds went to the theatre. The refurbished theatre was opened with Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. The auditorium plan was based on the so-called continental seating plan, with continuous rows with only side isles, giving spectators an uninterrupted view of the whole stage. Brian Mansergh/Mansbergh?* (Designer and Architect) and Prof. Duckworth (Assistant Director and lighting specialist), Mr. The people responsible for making these alterations possible were, Prof. The University Council authorised the modifications and by May 1934 it was approaching completion. After a very successful run of Bernard Shaw’s The Apple Cart (premiered on 15 March 1933), the local press canvassed for the rebuilding of the auditorium. ![]() Inaugurated on 18th of August 1931 with a production of Anton Chekov’s The Seagull (directed by W.A Sewell) * The first Opera held at the Little Theatre was Cimarosa’s Secret Marriage in 1933 with Guiseppe Paganelli as producer. A converted chemistry laboratory, it was initially seen as an experimental training venue and had a stage as large as the auditorium, seating only 194 people. Bell, with the help of Prof Bohle and messrs Roding and Hawkins (clerk of works), to house drama and opera productions. Referred to as the Little Theatre Players The professional productionsĪ multi-purpose venue built by the University of Cape Town on the Hiddingh Campus in Orange Street, Cape Town at the urging of Prof. (Also referred to as the " UCT Little Theatre" or simply as " The Little", and Die Kleinteater in Afrikaans). It originally opened in 1931, but was then reconfigured and rebuilt and opened in 1934. TO BE EDITED As a general concept As name of company or venue Little Theatre, Cape TownĪ multi-purpose venue built by the University of Cape Town on the Hiddingh Campus in Orange Street, Cape Town, in a converted chemistry laboratory. 3.4 The Little Theatre, Port Elizabeth or PEMADS Little Theatre.3.3.4 The Little Theatre, Mutual Square, Rosebank.3.3.3 The Little Theatre, Carlton Centre. ![]()
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