Construction Zone: Jabulani – Soweto’s New Theatre Complex
These aluminum studs are cut-offs from the construction of walls within the theatre complex. The complex is due to open soon. |
Here’s a link http://www.inkanyeli.co.za/index.html to the website where you can see the artist’s original image of what the complex will look like. The order of the colours has changed, but the cubic collection is prominent and exciting to see on the landscape.
Looking from the West at the side of the Theatre. You can see each theatre space seems to have its own cube. |
The theatre is a forward-looking reaction to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, promoting a lasting legacy for South Africans. One goal is to evolve Soweto from a bedroom community into a normalized city on its own merits. Executive Mayor, Amos Masondo said that the theatre would not just provide jobs during the construction phase but also provide on-going employment for cast and crew members such as actors, musicians, dancers, directors and singers. It is designated as a World Class Theatre Venue.
The Jabulani Theatre under construction in July, 2010. This is a view looking nearly East. This side is going to have the large words “Jabulani Theatre” on it. |
This view from the audience seating level on the main floor is an interesting composition of curved and diagonal lines. You can see the proscenium arch walkway above on the right. |
The complex features a 420-seater main proscenium venue fully fitted with wings, orchestra pit, fly tower and buttress.
The proscenium opening shows the curved pit fitted in steel, and the scaffolding in place to work the rigging points for the fly system. |
This tall view of the proscenium theatre from the backstage door looking stage right shows the temporary plywood surface covering the steel girders in place for the soon - to - arrive stage floor. |
This view of the proscenium venue is from the back of the balcony. Soon there will be carpeting, seats, and aisle lights. |
This view from the audience seating level on the main floor is an interesting composition of curved and diagonal lines. You can see the proscenium arch walkway above on the right. |
The complex also includes two smaller "black box" venues of 180 and 90 seats, respectively.
This is what the black box looked like a few days ago. Work lights and ceiling are in. Image is supplied by Denis Hutchinson, the Theatre Consultant. |
This is the smaller of the two black box theatres. The catwalk system and surrounding balcony are similar in both theatres. |
The footprints are a reminder for me to add that other amenities, such as bathrooms, offices, food preparation areas, library and workrooms are also being built. We traveled across some very dusty and very new surfaces to find the costume shop, wardrobe, make-up rooms, offices and loading doors to the scene shop and storage areas.
This work-dusty stairwell will lead from the second floor proscenium arch area down to the hallways leading to the main foyer. |
The plasterers are masters at throwing “mud” on vertical surfaces. The curved walls of the foyer blend into the hallways upstairs. |
As with all construction sites, entrepreneurs find a shady spot to set up food service. |
Through the construction scaffolding of the theatre complex you can see the famous Jabulani Amphitheatre where in 1985 Zindzi Mandela read her father’s letter to President P. W. Botha regarding the ”… preconditions for his release and the ultimate negotiations with the ANC.” (Kgolane, Alfred Rudolph. Celebrating and Commemorating Twenty-Years of the Harare Declaration. Web accessed 10/9/2011. http://www.sahistory.org.za/articles/harare-declaration ). |
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ReplyDeleteTak. Jeg er glad for du kunne lide at skrive og fotografier.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I am happy you enjoyed the writing and photographs.
hi Heidi you should do a follow up on the Soweto Theater since it is now finished. its a great piece of architecture visit the architects web page to see photos afritects.com thanks
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThanks so very much for the afritects website! I will be glad to add that in a wrap-up. I wonder if Denis or anyone has other photos to share.
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