Baxter Theatre Centre

Baxter Theatre Centre
Baxter Theatre Centre is located in Cape Town
Baxter Theatre Centre
Baxter Theatre Centre
Location in the Cape Town metropolitan area
AddressMain Road, Rondebosch
Cape Town
Coordinates33°57′26″S 18°28′14″E / 33.9572°S 18.4706°E / -33.9572; 18.4706
OwnerUniversity of Cape Town
Construction
Opened1977
ArchitectJack Barnett
Website
baxter.uct.ac.za
Sign and entrance on Main Road, Rondebosch.

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.

History

The Baxter opened on 1 August 1977. It was named after former Mayor of Cape Town William Duncan Baxter, who left money to the University of Cape Town specifically for the construction of a theatre centre. As well as improving the facilities available to the university's Drama Department, the Baxter also provided an alternative to the government-run Nico Malan Theatre Centre (now the Artscape Theatre Centre) for the staging of large productions. This was particularly important before the end of apartheid; while the Nationalist government could prevent the Nico Malan from staging productions that challenged its views, they could not exert the same degree of control over The Baxter, which was protected by the university's academic freedom.

Architecture

The Baxter was designed by architects Jack Barnett and Leslie Broer.[1] The theatre's architectural features include an expansive foyer and a floating roof.[2] The Daily Maverick wrote in 2020: "The structure was unusual at the time; first because of its shape, a floating roof that lets the outside landscape interact with the inside of the building and light soften the edges of the bricks."[3] Barnett was awarded The South African Institute of Architects' Award of Merit in 1977 for his design of the theatre centre.[4]

Venues and programme

The Baxter Theatre Centre comprises five primary venues:

  • The Pam Golding Theatre (Main Theatre) with a seating capacity of 684
  • The Flipside Theatre with a seating capacity of 224
  • The Concert Hall with a seating capacity of 638
  • The Baxter Studio with a maximum audience capacity of 172
  • The Masambe Theatre with a seating capacity of 60

It also houses rehearsal rooms, a restaurant, a bar and large foyers.

The Baxter Theatre conducts workshops aimed at the youth and at benefitting previously disadvantaged communities. The Zabalaza Outreach programme works towards developing community skills and hosts the annual Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival which is a platform for antecedently disadvantaged theatre talent.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Baxter Theatre · Works of Art Collection · Ibali". ibali.uct.ac.za. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  2. ^ Gambade, Emilie; Tyilo, Malibongwe. "Structure and Culture: A theatre built like a hilltop townsquare". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  3. ^ Gambade, Emilie; Tyilo, Malibongwe. "Structure and Culture: A theatre built like a hilltop townsquare". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  4. ^ Gambade, Emilie; Tyilo, Malibongwe. "Structure and Culture: A theatre built like a hilltop townsquare". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Enjoy the Baxter Theatre in Rondebosch, Western Cape". Sa-venues.com. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
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