Baxter Theatre Centre

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.

Baxter Theatre Centre

Baxter Theatre Centre Location in the Cape Town metropolitan area
Address	Main Road, Rondebosch Cape Town
Coordinates	33.9572°S 18.4706°E / -33.9572; 18.4706
Owner	University of Cape Town
Construction
Opened	1977
Architect	Jack Barnett
Website
baxter.uct.ac.za

Sign and entrance on Main Road, Rondebosch.

History

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.

Venues and programme

The Baxter Theatre Centre comprises five primary venues:

• The Pam Golding Theatre (Main Theatre) with a seating capacity of 684
• The Flipside Theatre with a seating capacity of 224
• The Concert Hall with a seating capacity of 638
• The Baxter Studio with a maximum audience capacity of 172
• The Masambe Theatre with a seating capacity of 60

It also houses rehearsal rooms, a restaurant, a bar and large foyers.

The Baxter Theatre conducts workshops aimed at the youth and at benefitting previously disadvantaged communities. The Zabalaza Outreach programme works towards developing community skills and hosts the annual Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival which is a platform for antecedently disadvantaged theatre talent.^[1]

See also

• List of concert halls
• University of Cape Town