Reddam House Durbanville has completed a R22m construction project, adding a dedicated creative and performing arts facility to its campus.
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Construction began in October 2025, with The Architectural Cubicle responsible for the design and Remey Construction for the build. The facility was developed to provide specialist spaces for music, drama, dance, art and digital production, with the original plans expanded to include a small theatre and green-screen facility. The new building will serve Grade 7 to Grade 12 students during school hours and cultural clubs after school.
Barry Nieuwoudt, executive head of Reddam House Durbanville, says the completed building gives the performing arts a stronger identity within the school.
“What pleases me most is that it has become a genuine cultural home for the performing arts. It’s not simply a building where classes take place; it’s a space that students can regard as their own and a home base for the creative side of school life,” says Nieuwoudt.
“What has exceeded my expectations is seeing how the spaces themselves invite creativity. Students and teachers are already finding ways to use them to collaborate, experiment and develop ideas. Good educational spaces shouldn’t simply accommodate learning; they should encourage it.”
Specialised sound and lighting systems have been installed in the performance spaces, while the music facilities include new instruments and technology supporting traditional performance as well as contemporary and digital music-making.
Apple TV technology throughout the building enables students and teachers to share work wirelessly, including performances, choreography and student projects. The green-screen room provides students with facilities for film and video production, including working with digital backgrounds and compositing.
Creativity drives learning
Nieuwoudt says the investment reflects the importance Reddam House Durbanville places on the performing and creative arts as part of a well-rounded education.
“The arts are not an add-on to what we regard as the ‘real’ education of a child. They are an important part of it. That is why we have invested in proper spaces, equipment and opportunities that allow students to take their creative work seriously,” he says.
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“At the same time, students are developing skills that extend far beyond the stage or studio. They learn to communicate, collaborate, solve problems, think creatively and have the confidence to put their ideas in front of other people.”
Drama and Public Speaking are compulsory at Reddam House Durbanville until the end of Grade 9, with students able to continue these disciplines in the senior grades. Nieuwoudt says the new performance spaces will give students practical experience of speaking and performing in front of an audience, using the sound, lighting and other technical elements associated with a theatre environment.
“Confidence and communication are not skills that should be left to the naturally outgoing students to develop,” he says. “Whether it is a job interview, a presentation, a difficult conversation or simply being able to advocate for yourself, being able to speak clearly, think on your feet and communicate with confidence will matter throughout life.”
Building future skills
The facility also creates opportunities that were not previously possible at the school. The small theatre will allow for more frequent productions and showcases without requiring the school’s main hall, while the green-screen facility makes student-produced short films, digital projects and multimedia work possible. The music pods provide dedicated spaces for composition, recording, ensemble work and smaller performances.
The school also plans to use the facilities to bring students from its three Western Cape Reddam House schools – Durbanville, Constantia and Atlantic Seaboard – together for larger collaborative productions. Opportunities to involve professional artists, musicians and performers through workshops and selected events will also be explored where these directly enhance students’ learning and exposure to their respective industries.
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Nieuwoudt believes the human skills developed through the creative and performing arts are becoming more, rather than less, important as artificial intelligence changes education and the workplace.
“As AI takes on more routine and technical tasks, qualities such as originality, adaptability, empathy, critical thinking and the ability to communicate effectively will become increasingly important. The performing arts give students repeated opportunities to practise those skills – to take creative risks, work with other people, solve problems and put ideas into action,” he says.
“Our aim is for students to leave Reddam House Durbanville comfortable performing, presenting, creating and taking creative risks. If they carry that confidence, communication ability and creative thinking into whatever they choose to do after school, this investment will have achieved what we intended.”
