Theatres in Cape Town

Cape Town has been touted as the unequivocal leader in arts and culture in South Africa and theatres abound within its city limits. Theatres in Cape Town range from the imposing, mainstream Artscape to the fun venues of 'On Broadway' and the Comedy Warehouse that host more of the 'off beat' genre of theatre.

What is remarkable is there are literally hundreds of different routes up this glorious and ever-changing 'berg'. Each aspect of Table Mountain has very different panoramic vistas and indigenous flora and fauna, so the intrepid rambler will never tire of this mountain chain that forms the backbone of the Cape Peninsula and stretches some 50 km south to the very tip of the continent, Cape Point.

Artscape - the leading light

The Artscape is the largest and most traditional of Cape Town's theatre offerings and is ideally situated on the Foreshore, between two of the icons that defines the city itself - Table Mountain and Table Bay. There is plenty of parking available for patrons but with no public transport to speak of after hours in the city, it would be wise to invest in a rental car for your night out on the town.

It is the nation's first multi-use centre for the performing arts and has several top-flight arts companies related to it and its enormous success - Cape Town City Ballet, Jazzart Dance Theatre, Cape Town Opera and Siyasanga.

The focal point of the complex is the 1,145-seat opera house and 540-seat theatre, but there are smaller and more intimate venues, including the 120-seat Arena and 100-seat cabaret venue.

The Baxter - cutting edge

The Baxter Theatre in the southern suburb of Rondebosch is Cape Town's second biggest 'playhouse' and is part of the internationally acclaimed University of Cape Town. Thanks to the bequest of Dr. W Baxter, the theatre was built during the height of the apartheid years but has always bucked the trend by hosting multi-racial productions to integrated audiences. The Baxter remains at the forefront of the performing arts and encourages an interactive relationship between the local and university communities.

The preferred venue of largely cutting-edge local works and major international repertoires, the Baxter features music, ballet, opera and drama. It boasts a 638-seat concert hall, a 66-seat theatre and the cosy 172-seat studio theatre.

Theatre on the Bay - sweeping views

Another premier theatre where car hire is a must as it is a little out of the way is the' Theatre on the Bay' in Victoria Road, Camps Bay. Owned by leading impresario, Pieter Toerien, it is situated on one of the trendiest strips in the whole of Cape Town.

Sweeping views of Camps Bay at sunset are added bonuses of this opulently appointed theatre and apart from hosting plays, it is the ideal venue for products launches and conferences.

Maynardville - al fresco

Maynardville Open Air theatre was the brain child of two of the leading ladies of their day - Cecelia Sonnenberg and Rene Ahrenson. They noticed that the Maynardville Park in Wynberg was often underutilized, so they bullied the City Council and turned it into a theatre 'al fresco'.

The unique, wooded 720-seat playhouse setting is probably best known for its internationally acclaimed Shakespeare-in-the-Park productions that draw over 20,000 patrons to this unusual venue each year.

Other theatres in Cape Town include:

• The raunchy 'On Broadway'
• The Comedy Warehouse (for the funnier side of life)
• The Masque Theatre (Muizenberg)
• The Independent Armchair Theatre (Observatory)