Theatres in and near Paarl

Ou Meulteater/Old Mill Theatre

The Old Mill Theatre in Paarl, home to the Paarl Theatre Club, is a community theatre producing a variety of entertainment in both Afrikaans and English. The theatre is available for hire by professional entertainers and others seeking a venue for their productions. ... more

Performance art is rich in South Africa. Cultural diversity and a turbulent recent history have given rise to a vibrant theatre scene. A number of very good actors have come out of South Africa, including film actress Charlize Theron, winner of an Academy Award. Attending theatre shows in South Africa is an excellent way to dig a little deeper into the culture and experience something different.

South Africa's major cities all offer outstanding theatre accessible to both visitors and locals. With everything from large scale touring musicals to ballet to opera to compelling, new locally produced theatre, something is on offer for all tastes all year long. It is best to check schedules before you arrive. Tickets for popular theatre shows sell out fast, so book far in advance.

When visiting theatres in Johannesburg, be sure to include the Johannesburg Civic Theatre on your itinerary. This venue is internationally recognised as South Africa's foremost receiving house of live entertainment - presenting the very best of world class theatre, sourced both locally and overseas. Patron of the arts? Pop in to the Wits University Theatre. After raising the curtain in 1983, this establishment has continued to provide a stage where students can learn, develop and display the exciting results of their work to the university and the public at large.

Back down in the cultural hub of the Western Cape, theatres in Cape Town continue to entertain the masses. Nestled between Table Mountain and the shipping waters of Table Bay, the Artscape Theatre Centre graces Cape Town's Foreshore. Situated at the heart of the city's melting pot of people and cultures, this arena offers diverse performances that range from African dance, to comedy, ballet and jazz. There is always an array of productions on offer and visitors will walk away with a genuine feel for the South African oeuvre.

At the centre of South Africa's capital, theatres in Pretoria have over decades brought together people of all ethnicities, ages and cultures. The South African State Theatre is centrally located and hosts world-class shows that include opera, ballet, cabaret and children's theatre, as well as festivals, fashion shows and much, much more.

The Eastern Cape is home to the annual National Arts Festival, and as such theatres in Grahamstown host performance artists that gather from all over the country and around the globe for ten days of plays, dance, music and fine art every winter. There are also a number of local theatre companies who put on shows throughout the year.

Theatres in Durban culminate in the stunning Playhouse Company. Boasting delicate Elizabethan design, this establishment is mandated to produce an equitable programme of live theatre productions in the fields of music, drama and dance, representative of the diverse cultural groups that comprise the population of KwaZulu-Natal. Hosting plays, opera and musical events, it is not to be missed on a trip through this coastal city.