Baxter Theatre Centre
Encyclopedia
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
.
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
.
The Baxter Theatre conducts workshops aimed at the youth and at benefitting previously disadvantaged communities. The Ikhwezi Outreach program works towards developing community skills and hosts the annual Baxter Ikhwezi Festival of Theatre which is a platform for previously disadvantaged theatre talent.
The Baxter has three venues:
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
complex in Rondebosch
Rondebosch
Rondebosch is one of the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa. It is primarily a residential suburb, with a medium-size shopping area, a small business district as well as the main campus of the University of Cape Town.-History:...
, a suburb of Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The Baxter, as it is often known, is part of the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
; it is also the second largest performing arts complex in Cape Town, after the Artscape Theatre Centre
Artscape Theatre Centre
Artscape Theatre Centre is the main performing arts centre in Cape Town, South Africa. It was opened in 1971 and is located on reclaimed land in the Foreshore area...
.
The Baxter opened on 1 August 1977. It was named after former Mayor of Cape Town William Duncan Baxter
William Duncan Baxter
William Duncan Baxter was the Mayor of Cape Town, South Africa, from 1907 to 1908. Baxter is the namesake of the Baxter Theatre Centre, a performing arts complex in Rondebosch, a suburb of Cape Town...
, 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
Artscape Theatre Centre
Artscape Theatre Centre is the main performing arts centre in Cape Town, South Africa. It was opened in 1971 and is located on reclaimed land in the Foreshore area...
) 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
Academic freedom
Academic freedom is the belief that the freedom of inquiry by students and faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts without being targeted for repression, job loss, or imprisonment.Academic freedom is a...
.
The Baxter Theatre conducts workshops aimed at the youth and at benefitting previously disadvantaged communities. The Ikhwezi Outreach program works towards developing community skills and hosts the annual Baxter Ikhwezi Festival of Theatre which is a platform for previously disadvantaged theatre talent.
The Baxter has three venues:
- the 666-seat Main Theatre
- the 638-seat Concert Hall, with a Von BeckerathRudolf von BeckerathRudolf von Beckerath was a German master organ builder. He was born in Munich, but grew up in Hamburg, where his parents moved the year he was born. He initially pursued an interest in mechanical engineering...
organ - the 172-seat SanlamSanlamSanlam Limited is a financial services group in South Africa with its head office in Bellville in the Western Cape. Established in 1918, the Group demutualised in 1998 and Sanlam Limited then listed on the JSE Limited in Johannesburg and the Namibian Stock Exchange. The Sanlam Group conducts its...
Studio Theatre