Artscape Theatre Centre

Foreshore, Cape Town,
Western Cape

Architect: KENT, MISZEWSKI, HOCKLEY and PARTNERS
Architect: NAUDE, PAPENDORF, VAN DER MERWE and MEYER

Front view from the south west
Photographer: Lila Komnick - 2018

Date:1971
Client:City of Cape Town
Type:Opera House
Style:Brutalist
Status:Extant

 

Coordinates:

Notes:

The Nico Malan Theatre Complex opened in May 1971. It consists of an opera house, two theatres, a restaurant, and a backstage/rehearsals wing. It was named after the then incumbent Administrator of the Cape Province. It was also known as "The Nico". It was renamed Artscape in 2001.

See also:
Nico Malan Theatre.
Artscape - ESAT
Artscape website


References:

Fisher, Roger & Clarke, Nicholas. 2014. Architectural Guide : South Africa. Berlin: DOM Publishers. pg 37

Greig, Doreen. 1971. A Guide to Architecture in South Africa. Cape Town: Howard Timmins. pg 101, 102 (photo)


Distant view from west
Photographer: Roger Fisher - 2023

Northwest corner of square
Photographer: Roger Fisher - 2023

West elevation
Photographer: Roger Fisher - 2023

Stairs to theatres
Photographer: Roger Fisher - 2023

Detail of west elevation with name
Photographer: Roger Fisher - 2023

Entrance
Photographer: Roger Fisher - 2023

Interior of opera foyer. Commissioned tapestry by Eleanor Esmonde-White.
Photographer: Roger Fisher - 2023

Interior of main theatre
Photographer: Roger Fisher - 2023

Artscape (Nico Malan) theatre starting out, c1969
Posted by Etienne du Plessis on flickr

Submitted by Lila Komnick

Photographer: Ben du Plessis

The main foyer of the Opera House. Undated postcard published by The Cape Performing Arts Board.
Posted on Artefacts FB page courtesy of Mark Finnigan

Photographer: Johann Du Plessis

Photo mid-1970s
Courtesy of Martin Greshoff.

Submitted by: Paul van der Merwe

Photographer: Jan Greshoff