Savoy Theatre set to re-open in March
One of Nelson Mandela Bay’s cultural gems, the Savoy Theatre and Conference Centre, is fluffing out its feathers in a brave attempt to be back in business next month.
Starting with an Industry Night on Monday March 1, followed by a new open-mic afternoon on Sunday March 7, the Adockvale theatre is reopening with all Covid-19 safety protocols in place.
PE Gilbert and Sullivan Society president Rose Cowpar said lockdown had hit amateur and professional drama hard.
“So many people from the performing arts world have been suffering badly and we’ve been in silence for so long,” Cowpar said.
“We’ve got loads of plans: this weekend we’re having a big working bee to renovate the bar, and that’s just the start.
“With what’s happening with Covid, people are looking for smaller venues where they can meet safely and in comfort, so we thought let’s renovate the bar so that we can spread the tables farther apart, and where people can sit outside and enjoy themselves there.
“The wishlist is to open up the space with windows looking out over the Bay but in the meantime we’re inviting artists to come and play, tell a joke, share their poetry, whatever, all are welcome!”
The Sunday sessions will take place in the bar and on the deck, which has glorious views over Algoa Bay.
Designed and built by G&S
Society in the 1960s, the Savoy hosts other productions and events and its bar is a popular pre-show meeting place.
Monica Hewitson, who is assisting with publicity for the Savoy, said the team urgently was looking for garden furniture for the bar area.
“We know everyone enjoys chilling in our bar and on our deck so we are looking for some special people to donate
or loan us benches, tables and the like for a few weeks or until we can get things going,” Hewitson said.
“We can still obey all the Covid-19 protocols, as we can have 50 people seated apart from one another in small family groups, similar to restaurants.
“There won’t be a cover charge but we will have a courtesy box if people would like to
donate something to the artist but there will be no pressure.
“We have the deck, we have the music, we have the bar and we have lots of sanitiser.
“If anyone has suitable furniture lying around, they will find a very, very welcome home at the Savoy!”
The theatre’s last major show was The Sound of Music in 2019 and, although gate-takings helped to cover some expenses, those funds are now exhausted.
“It has just not been financially viable for people to hire the venue as you can only accommodate 50 people but we still have to pay for the electricity, cleaning and other expenses,” Hewitson said.
The theatre is also the home of the annual PE Friendly City Dance Festival and Hewitson — who has been involved with ballet in the city for decades — said this had had to take place online last year.
“We decided to go the digital route to give the kids something to look forward to and we may have to look at something similar this year, depending on what happens with Covid.”
Cowpar said the industry sessions would take place on the first Monday of each month and were aimed at anyone “in the industry”.
“Just come along, we’ll have a cut-price rate on drinks and it will give people an opportunity to connect to others and find out what they are doing,” she said.
“Some of the artists have been so clever and all of us benefit from finding out what innovative ways people have come up with to do things.”
The livewire Aussie is also restarting the dormant G&S newsletter and has plans for “travelling theatre” in March.
For more information on the weekend cleanup, contact Cowpar on 072-906-1977, and for furniture loans or donations, contact Hewitson on 083-471-8893.