The Labia Theatre

Travel back to the golden age of cinema

The Labia Theatre in Gardens is the place to go when you want to sit back, munch on popcorn and be enchanted by the stories on the silver screen.   

The Labia, originally an Italian Embassy ballroom, was opened by Princess Labia in May 1949 as a theatre where plays could be performed.

Today it‘s known as the oldest independant cinema in South Africa and caters to an alternative crowd of viewers who admire the charm of its old-world ambience. There‘s a lot of history in the beautiful yellow walls on 68 Orange Street.

Couch potatoes

The highlights are the antique ticket booth, the small bistro where you can buy homemade chocolate biscuits or soups and the popcorn stall. Plus the prices are also all olden day‘s charm: just R25 for students and R30 for everyone else. This should be enough to get you off your couch at home and into this historic theatre.

The movies vary from classics and blockbusters to an array of independent movies. You also can visit the Lifestyle Centre at 50 Kloof Street, where the Labia has two more screens showing different films. At both places, the first show starts at about 11.30am and the last at 8.30pm.

Dinner and a movie

In addition to the usual cinema evenings Labia offers movie and dinner specials in conjunction with Societi Bistro, Diva Café Restaurant, Kauai and Ocean Basket. Enjoy a meal at one of these nearby restaurants before going to watch a movie.

Mondays: R75 at Ocean Basket
Monday and Tuesday: R90 at Societi Bistro
Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays: R75 at Diva Café Restaurant
Thursdays and Fridays: R75 at Kauai

P.S On some Friday evenings the You, Me and Everyone We Know Market is held at the Labia Theatre. You can buy vintage clothes and art from Cape Town`s creatives. Musicians and DJs are also there to set the mood.

By Jana Lüdtke

Labia
68 Orange Street / Lifestyle on Kloof | Kloof Street | Gardens | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 424 592

Up for more cinema? Then have a look here.

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