Kalk Bay Theatre Re-Opens its Doors

Cape Town's beloved theatre in Kalk Bay is back with some changes

One of Cape Town’s most beloved intimate theatres, The Kalk Bay Theatre, has opened its door once more. The coastal theatre has been closed for seven months after closing its doors on 31 December 2008 and as of 1 August 2009 is back in business!

The intimate Kalk Bay Theatre is housed in the old Kalk Bay Dutch Reform church which was built in 1876 and is now a heritage protected building. Before becoming a theatre, this charming building has been “home” to piano restorers, an auctioneer’s hall and an art gallery. The Kalk Bay Theatre is a 78-seater theatre located on 52 Main Road, Kalk Bay.

While the theatre was under serious threat with dwindling audiences and financial concerns at the time of closing, owners Simon and Helen Cooper stressed that those were not their reasons for closing. The Coopers listed the need for personal time as the reason for closing and stressed that there were plans to re-open the theatre with a new approach in the future.

Now that the Kalk Bay Theatre (KBT) has re-opened its doors, the theatre is making changes to both the way the theatre presents shows and to the catering available at performances.

Previously all shows at Kalk Bay Theatre were selected by the Kalk Bay Theatre themselves and to some extent were produced by the theatre. From now on, only some of the shows will be produced by KBT, these can be identified by a label ‘produced’ or ‘co-produced by KBT”.

The remainder of the shows staged at Kalk Bay Theatre in Cape Town will rent the KBT space and be independently produced. All producers and performers will be on what is called a “receiving house basis.” This process means the Kalk Bay Theatre will let the space to those wishing to hire it with little or no involvement from the owners of the theatre themselves. Those renting the space will be responsible for the running of their own shows including bookings.

The upstairs section of Kalk Bay Theatre will also be transformed into a bar area that will serve light meals, snacks and drinks. The Kalk Bay Theatre will no longer offer a 3 course set menu, but rather light meals. When booking for the theatre you will be asked to indicate whether you are likely to want dinner that evening.

The theatre urges those who are booking for shows to please look carefully at booking line numbers given on advertisements and websites as they may differ from those of the Kalk Bay Theatre.

More information on the Kalk Bay Theatre and the shows staged at the theatre can be found on their website kbt.co.za.

For bookings the theatre can be contacted by email on bluebottle@iafrica.com or telephone on +27 (0)21 788 7257.

The Kalk Bay Theatre also caters for special occasions, birthdays, office parties, corporate functions and tour groups.

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