Joburg theatre turns 60 in style with celebrations and anticipation of a new era.

By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

Image Supplied.

Joburg theatre kicks off its 60 Anniversary with a star-studded event, with performances by trailblazing artists. 

Theatre doyens and celebrity guests attended a glittering evening of celebration, commemoration and anticipation at the Joburg Theatre’s 60 Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Evening of Celebration held at the theatre on 16 July 2022. It was a night to honour the immense contribution from all the different directors, playwrights, musicians and choreographers who have, over the last 60 years, contributed to the space and left their indelible footprints.  

Directed by Joburg City Theatres’ (JCT) newly appointed Artistic Director James Ngcobo, the Diamond Jubilee Evening of Celebration was a collage of extracts pulled from an array of diverse productions. Not only did the production pay homage to the creatives of the past but aimed to speak to a younger audience and members of the contemporary landscape who may have not been privy to what has been and remind them of the big shoulders they stand on in what is to come.

Ngcobo drew his initial inspiration from Brooks Spector’s book on the history of the Joburg Theatre (originally Johannesburg Civic Theatre) but realised that a step by step chronology was not going to work on stage.

“It was such big task and one had to be very cognisant of the fact that we can’t cover all the productions. So we jumped in time, we had something from 1988 and then a scene from 1991, then over to 1971 and back to 1991 because our focus was on the people who have played such a pivotal role and are interwoven with the space,” explained Ngcobo of his process.

The evening featured music and song from Gershwin, Le Cage Aux Folles and The Colour Purple, excerpts from Fugard’s Waiting for Godot and Statements, Zakes Mda’s Mother of Eating, as well as The Suit , King Kong and a Tribute to Gibson Kente and a dance piece from Revelations inspired by Alivin Ailey Dance Company who visited in the 90s.

“I kept reminding the cast that this theatre is not 60 years old, its 60 years young, it’s just galloping ahead. You know this year both Kente and Fugard would both be turning 90, so it’s the 60th birthday of the theatre and the 90th birthday of these two theatre giants!” says Ngcobo

With 60 years in existence the Joburg Theatre has been witness to the difficult times in South Africa, times laced with anarchy and madness and yet the artists honoured during the evening continued to create amazing theatrical moments that not only allowed audiences an opportunity to reflect on their lives and experiences but often provided a ticket to escape from their lives.

“You look at the evolution of spaces in South Africa, for a long time the theatres were the privilege of the few, and then in the 80s you started seeing a change in content being created which spoke to what we were going through, and those shows started drawing a new audience. We are going through difficult times again and for me I am always staggered by how much beautiful bravery this theatre has brought about and we are now seeing content you would not have seen on this stage,” says Ngcobo.

For Ngcobo, the Joburg Theatre’s 60 Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Evening of Celebration was a fitting inauguration into his new position as Artistic Director for Joburg City Theatres (JCT) and the success of the evening bodes well for his tenure. He brings a gentle, guiding humility to the role and over the coming months he intends to evaluate the three theatres as both individual spaces and part of the JCT collective.

“Society is changing and we need to curate for new audiences, theatre has to be in synchronicity with society and attune these changes. Theatre is never an elite pastime, it is so crucial to a normal working society.”

Visit www.joburgtheatre.co.za for all the 60th Anniversary Celebration events.

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