New AFDA theatre opens
The AFDA Cape Town Live Performance department has announced the grand opening of the new AFDA theatre, 228 On Lower Main, Observatory, Cape Town.
The department, headed up by veteran drama teacher Liz Mills, includes theatre legend and husband Professor Chris Weare, America’s The Bold & The Beautiful’s Texas Battle, AFDA alumni and 7de Laan actress Diaan Lawrenson, and the renowned theatre practitioner and lecturer Lara Bye.
“It’s a formidable line-up of performance practitioners and lecturers who could stand their ground anywhere in the world today,” said Garth Holmes, AFDA co-founder and chairman. “We are looking forward to producing South Africa’s finest screen, stage and musical performance stars of the future.”
228 on Lower Main was designed in consultation with several top designers and theatre practitioners.
“The theatre is an exciting, innovative space offering Cape Town audiences unique opportunities to experience invigorating theatre,” said Chris Weare.
The grand opening
The grand opening takes place on 14 June, 2016, and will feature a performance of: Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, performed by AFDA Cape Town third-year graduate students and directed by Lara Bye.
“This a very exciting moment because the opening of the new theatre gives Live Performance a physical home and the teaching and vision for theatre can be more fully formed,” said Liz Mills.
The Live Performance students then take direct hold of the theatre the next day with the start of the AFDA Experimental Festival, performing and showcasing the productions The Table, directed by Chris Weare, Tooth and Nail, directed by Caroline Calburn and Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, directed by Lara Bye.
AFDA’s annual Experimental Festival will take place on its Joburg campus (17 and 18 June), Cape Town campus (15 to 19 June) and Durban campus (16 June) 2016.
This year AFDA will exhibit 57 new experimental films, broadcast 11 new television shows and perform 12 stage and musical productions.
To follow the productions, view casts and crews, behind the scenes, trailers and interviews simply go to www.afda.co.za/student-work/experimental-festival
