The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality recently (yeh ok, some months ago already) renamed three of the streets around the PE Opera House to celebrate three of Port Elizabeth's theatre legends. John Kani, Athol Fugard and Winston Ntshona are truly three world icons and worked together on Sizwe Banzi is Dead in 1972 and The Island … Continue reading Theater icon street names
Tag: theatres
The new Opera House stained glass feature
One of the new additions to the newly revamped Port Elizabeth Opera House is a stained glass window featuring the only three Africans on the continent to win the prestigious Tony Award – John Kani, Winston Ntshona and Athol Fugard. And best of all, they're all from our city. Forty years ago, the trio were nominated for … Continue reading The new Opera House stained glass feature
Inside the Port Elizabeth Opera House
When last have you attended a performance at the Opera House? Do you even know what it looks like in the main theatre? I am ashamed to say that I haven't been there for many many years, but I got to see it while on a tour of the facility last week. The curtain isn't … Continue reading Inside the Port Elizabeth Opera House
The new Opera House extension and renovations
Yesterday's post was a Then and Now post featuring the Port Elizabeth Opera House. As the photo was taken from the street corner, the latest addition to the building wasn't really that visible so I decided to post a second photo. The wine coloured section is is the part that was built on to the … Continue reading The new Opera House extension and renovations
Then and Now – The Port Elizabeth Opera House
The first meeting to discuss a new theatre for Port Elizabeth took place in 1890 after which a company was formed, shares sold and a site was agreed upon with the Town Council. The building was designed by G.W. Smith and opened on 1 December 1892. The first lessees of the building was B and … Continue reading Then and Now – The Port Elizabeth Opera House
Then and Now – The Athenaeum building
The Port Elizabeth Athenaeum Society of Port Elizabeth was founded in 1856 to promote the interests of science and literature among the members and general public. In 1859 land was granted for the erection of the Town Hall and it stated that the building had to provide space for a library and athenaem as well. … Continue reading Then and Now – The Athenaeum building
Open air theatre
St Georges Park has a stunning outdoor theatre venue called Mannville which (used to) host the annual Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival. Unfortunately due to people who feel that they are entitled to other folks' property and those who purposefully go out and damage what is not theirs, the festival has been moved to indoor theatres the last two … Continue reading Open air theatre
Rainbow seats
The upgrade of the Athenaeum Building in Central by the Mandela Bay Development Agency has just about been completed with the revamp of the old Little Theatre. I got to get a peek inside the Little Theatre the other day and have to say that it looks very good right from the foyer right through … Continue reading Rainbow seats
Athenaeum
The Athenaeum in Port Elizabeth was founded in the 1850′s to promote cultural activities but sadly died out in the 1880′s. In 1893 the Young Men’s Institute, the School of Art, the Naturalists’ Society and the Camera Club came together and re-assert the right of the Athenaeum to occupy a part of the City Hall. The then Town … Continue reading Athenaeum
St Georges Park’s open air theatre
What does Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, A Mid Summer Night's Dream, Macbeth, Hamlet, King Lear, Othello and Antony and Cleopatra have in common? Dumb question unless you have never hear of William Shakespeare. The other thing they have in common is that all (or most of them as I … Continue reading St Georges Park’s open air theatre
Firefly the Travel Guy 