On this day in history: The State Theatre in Pretoria opened
On 23 May 1981, the government officially opened The State Theatre in Pretoria.
The State Theatre in Pretoria opened in 1981 as a non-profit government funded company. The building we’ve come to know today as one of the hubs of theatre is a Japanese-influenced complex of theatres. At the time of construction, it was the first of its kind in Southern Africa. The theatre consists of five arenas, a large public square and a number of restaurants. It can accommodate any event, from festivals, product launches to shows such as opera, ballet and musicals.
Today, the State Theatre and all the theatres in the country rely on public funding. This was brought on by the embarrassing investment scam that saw millions lost as well as hundreds of jobs in 2000. Despite this setback and lack of support from the government financially, the theatre continues to host a number of shows.
Source: SA History
