Final curtain comes down on East London’s Arts Theatre
Arts Theatre to close after almost 60 years
On the market since 2018, the East London Arts Theatre has finally been sold. And while four walls is nothing to get too sad about, the quirky little building has entertained generations of theatre lovers and holds a plethora of fond memories for many.
Though the theatre is not gone forever and will hopefully have new premises in the near future, the theatre community will need to say their final goodbyes to the 60 years’ worth of rehearsals, sound checks, laughter, tears, sweat and songs held within the Arts Theatre’s interior scarlet walls.
And in true theatre fashion, no goodbye is complete without one last song, dance and frolic across the stage.
At the end of the month, the theatre will host a final show before closing its Paterson Street doors for good.
The show, which runs from February 25 to 27, will see Arts Theatre regulars take to the stage once more for The Last Hurrah!
Showcasing songs and scenes from musicals through the theatre’s history, singers, dancers and a band will revisit and recreate snippets from popular shows produced by the Arts Theatre spanning almost 60 years.
Musical delights from plays and musicals such as The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Evita and Grease as well as cabarets such as Magical Mayhem at the Moulin Rouge, Roll the Dice and Change the Channel will fill the theatre for the last time.
Arts Theatre club vice-chair and director for The Last Hurrah! Jonathan Buitendag said the theatre held incredible memories, from the many shows performed to the many friendships that were made over the years.
“While putting this show together, I had a look back at all the archives of shows produced over the years and it was such a nostalgic experience.
“It just reinforced the great part the Arts Theatre has played in EL theatre history. But we will be back with a bang at a new venue soon, and start writing the next chapter.”
Buitendag will also be returning in the final show as a band member and singer.
He said while the show signalled the end of an era for the little theatre with its red-andblack checkered foyer and cabaret-style auditorium, it was exciting to get back on stage.
“I feel privileged to have the opportunity to perform again after so many months without being on stage under lockdown,” said Buitendag who has performed in 15 productions at the theatre including The Ratpack in 2017 and the Valentine’s Roll the Dice in 2018.
Arts Theatre Club board chair and accomplished singer and actress Kerry Hiles said this ending was bittersweet.
“We couldn’t just close the doors without something so we’re going to do this show as best we can and fly the flag as high as possible before the doors close,” said Hiles who will join Buitendag as a band member and singer in the show.
“Any time there’s a change, your heart does feel sad for what’s been and what could be, but we’ve reached the point where in order for there to be a ‘what could be’ we have to make the change and move premises.”
Local performer Megan Francis, who has sung — and sometimes danced — her way through several Arts Theatre productions, will also be joining the cast of The Last Hurrah!
“So much talent has been on that stage and to be able to revisit some of the work done for one last time is such a privilege. I will be singing not just for myself, but for all those who have put in time and effort on that stage,” said Francis.
She said her fondest memories were the “mistakes” often made onstage during performances.
“I love the bloopers. “The most traumatising moments on stage are often the best to remember and have a giggle about afterwards — especially if you managed to trick the audience into thinking it was part of the show,” Francis quipped.
Board member, choreographer and dancer for many an Arts Theatre show, Vicky Luff said some of her fondest memories were at the theatre.
“My annual dance academy was born there, I’ve been involved in every Valentine’s show since 2008 and I’ve done so many fundraising shows and other performances over the years — so much of my life has happened in the Arts Theatre,” said Luff, whose first show with the theatre was Peter Pan in 1994.
Luff is the choreographer and will also be dancing in The Last Hurrah.
Hiles said the theatre had been sold because it was no longer able to give audiences and performers the best theatre experience at the Arcadia premises.
“We’d had the Umtiza Festival earlier on in the year [2018] and the year before and we’d had issues with noise from neighbours interfering with the productions on stage.
“We also had a couple of productions that had to have some performances cancelled due to events happening at the stadium.”
“This was due to the road blockages, no parking and the noise was also an issue.
“Many small industries are also located in the area and we have experienced some vandalism of cars, but that wasn’t the main motivation for the sale,” Hiles explained.
Once just an ordinary house, the quirky little building became a theatre in the 1960s after the Music and Variety Club and the East London Technical College Drama Club amalgamated.
Over the years the theatre has housed annual Valentine’s shows, a myriad of plays, musicals, rehearsals, Umtiza Festival productions and more.
Hiles said in the past the Arts Theatre had been a regular host of the drag follies and often partnered with the Guild Theatre to host festivals and bring productions to the stage.
“The Arts Theatre Club has done its own productions, but the Arts Theatre as a venue has been home to so many different people from different walks of life and so many creative juices,” said Hiles.
Arts Theatre stalwart George Mountjoy said the theatre had seen hundreds of shows from Shakespearean plays such as Romeo and Juliet to children’s classics such as Peter Pan, Alice Through the Looking Glass and the more modern musical variety shows.
“We’ve done so much at the theatre and seen so much talent up on that stage and pass through those doors,” said Mountjoy who joined the board in 1971 and later became the chair from 1984 to 1992.
He has been involved in more than 120 plays at the theatre, either as a director or actor. Today, Mountjoy, 81, is still an active member of the board.
“I don’t do too much any more, but I like to keep my nose in it because it’s a lot of fun. It’s sad to leave the building, but I’m glad for the move to a better venue and I’m looking forward to seeing what [the board] do next,” he said.
Hiles said the plan was to reopen the Arts Theatre at a new venue and explore experimental forms of performance.
“We would like to end up in a space where our stage isn’t fixed so we can actually do a theatre in the round or, if we felt like doing a trapeze thing we could, or if the production called for one long corridor of stage on the side of the building we could do that as well.
“So the lights would also have to be on a movable framework that we could position any way we wanted to,” said Hiles.
She said audiences enjoyed the intimate, cabaret style of the Arts Theatre and that they would keep the “supper club” nature of the theatre going at a new venue in the future.
For now, the Arts Theatre shows will take place at the Hudson Park High School Gibson Kente Theatre temporarily, until Covid regulations eased and a suitable and affordable permanent venue is found.
“It doesn’t make sense for us right now under the Covid conditions to be purchasing a property and maintaining that building when we cannot earn a reasonable income,” said Hiles.
The Arts Theatre Club is a nonprofit organisation run by a group of volunteers. No-one receives an income and all proceeds from shows go towards the costs of new productions, maintenance and general taxes and utilities such as lights and water.
Hiles said Covid had been very detrimental to the theatre. “Covid really hammered our budget to the point where even if we weren’t selling, we would have had to, so this sale has happened at the best possible time for us,” said Hiles.
Francis said it wasn’t the building that made the theatre special, but the people in it and this new start was exciting for performers and audiences alike.
“Everyone, cast and supporters alike, are still passionate about entertainment in East London.
“I look forward to performing in a new venue and I think the theatre is looking forward to new occupants. The walls have tolerated our vocal warm-ups and dance routines for long enough so I think there is more excitement than sadness,” said Francis.
Hiles, who has been an Arts Theatre Club board member since 2011, said packing costumes and props away and emptying out the theatre was one of the most difficult things to do.
“I’ve actually been fine until I go into the wardrobe and start packing things up and tidying them away and realising they’re going to be packed for quite a long time.
“And I was just thinking about how many people have been in those costumes and brought joy in those costumes, shared talents and shared experiences.
“I’m very sad to say goodbye to it, it’s such a charming building,” said Hiles.
Luff said: “The theatre holds a very special place in my heart. I met so many special people who are still part of my life today in that building, so it will be a very sad to say goodbye to it and all the memories we’ve had there. But it is also an opportunity for new growth and adventures and we’re ready to embrace new things to come.”
The Last Hurrah! also includes performers Kay Mosiane, Marcel Corson, Daniel Anderson and Pieter van Zyl, band members Nathan Johannisen and Hayley White, and dancers Stacey Schaefer, Kelly Bowman, Emma van der Zee and Tracy Barclay.
● The Last Hurrah! runs for three nights from February 25 to 27 starting at 7pm and tickets are R100 per person. Seats are limited and Covid health protocols will be in place. For bookings contact Buitendag on 082-8416867. Funds raised from ticket sales will go towards a new building in future.