Playhouse Theatre
231 Smith Street,
Durban
231 Smith Street,
Durban
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This building started as a picture palace in 1896 and was rebuilt in 1935 in Tudor Revival/Atmospheric styles. It reopened on 7th June 1935.
Closed as a cinema in the 1970’s, the building has since been restored and has now been combined with the adjacent former Prince’s Theatre/Colosseum Theatre to form a five venue arts centre.
Contributed by
Graeme McBain
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
Sorry but the Playhouse and the Princess were different theatres and it is not a multiplex,the largest theatre is used for opera,although the venue does host the Durban Film Festival.I will do some more research.
The Playhouse Theatre in Durban was originally opened on 7th June 1935 as a live theatre. It only became a venue for film shows later on. It was converted back to a live theatre venue when the Kinekor Organisation closed the establishment in the 1970s. It then became the official venue of the then Natal Performing Arts Council.It had no connection to the Prince’s Theatre (not Princess)which was situated on an adjacent city block. This particular theatre was refurbished in the late 1960s to become the Colosseum Theatre.
Some pictures and history here; http://www.playhousecompany.com/history.html
Thanks john martin.I have just discovered the website.The original information was off a website I found but have since lost it.The Playhouse complex consists of an Opera Theatre(1224 seats)Drama Theatre(474 seats)and Loft(136 seats).The Prince’s Theatre opened in July 1926.
The Opera Theatre has a starry sky,so could it be described as an atmospheric.
The architect was P.Rogers-Cooke.
Photos of the Playhouse Theatre can be seen here.