Said to be the oldest theatre in active use in Africa and the southern hemisphere, the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex recently reopened after a much-needed revamp.
Renovations amounting to R7.5m included redoing the roof, waterproofing, painting internal walls and general maintenance to address mould.
To kick off this new chapter in its more than 130-year existence, the theatre formerly known as the Opera House hosted comedian Marc Lottering for sold-out performances of his latest solo show, Marc Eugene Lottering.
This weekend, it will be the turn of the Joburg Ballet Company to take centre stage with its production DreamScapes, featuring former Gqeberha dancer Revil Yon, the company’s principal male dancer, and its newly appointed artistic director, Dane Hurst, whose brand-new work, Resonance, forms part of DreamScapes.
The Mandela Bay Theatre Complex unveiled a host of projects in April to embolden the Bay’s arts industry with the launch of its 2025/2026 programme.
It issued a tender for a feasibility and economic viability study for the development of the Kani, Ntshona, Fugard Performing Arts Precinct in Central.
Once completed, it is envisaged that the precinct will have a jazz museum, craft exhibition, restaurant, Walk of Fame Pavement along John Kani Road, an ubuhlanti (kraal) with sculptures and an amphitheatre, while the “taxis” artwork will also have been repurposed.
We cannot wait to see it all.
Theatre is more than just a place for entertainment. It is a space where stories come alive, forging and strengthening relationships between venues and the arts.
Theatres also give the arts and, by extension, artists a home, a stage and a voice.
The arts, in return, fill those spaces with energy, beauty, meaning and, perhaps most important, people.
It has been this way for centuries.
Our very own Mandela Bay Theatre Complex dates back to the earliest days of then-Port Elizabeth, having opened in 1892.
That it still exists more than a century later is a testament to the role it plays in our city and in society.
And, seeing the changes already made, we are hopeful that our beautiful theatre complex will continue to thrive for many years to come, perhaps even another century.
The Herald
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