The Fugard Theatre, with performances by the Isango Portobello theatre company recently opened in the District Six area in Cape Town, South Africa. The theatre has been named in honour of Athol Fugard – and it’s not often that a theatre is named after someone in its lifetime. The “Train Driver”, written and directed by Fugard, had its opening night at The Fugard on 24th March, and is being met by sell out houses and standing ovations.
Thanks to UK based producer Eric Abraham, who established Isango Portobello in 2006, The Fugard Theatre is equipped with some of the best possible equipment and DWR Distribution, MA Lighting’s distributor in South Africa, were privileged to contribute a grandMA2 ultra-light console along with backup support.
Mannie Manim, executive director at The Fugard and formerly the CEO at the Baxter Theatre has lit shows across the globe: “grandMA is the state of the art lighting board of this time,” he said. “The only thing that limits you is your own imagination and all mistakes are my own. I had a grandMA at the Baxter, and I’m happy to have one again.”
The Fugard Theatre redeveloped two warehouse spaces and a church to create the 270-seater theatre, a rehearsal studio, foyer space, dressing rooms and full staff facilities. As a textile and soft goods supplier in the early twentieth century the building was frequented by generations of District Six seamstresses and tailors. Care has also been taken to preserve the remnant of an old Gothic-style church.
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