A major cultural venue in Cape Town, Baxter Theater Center hosts theatrical productions and other live performances. It was opened in 1977 and consists of a theater, a Concert Hall, galleries and foyers. The theater complex can also be rented for business and social events.
Baxter Theater Center: A Stage For All
Spread over a large area on the premises of University of Cape Town, Baxter Theater Center provides a perfect venue for theaters, music shows and dance performances. Baxter is one the five principal venues for theaters in Cape Town. Over the years, it has earned the reputation of being one of city's best centers for presentation of theaters and other performing arts.
The Baxter Theater Center in Cape Town was established with the money that was left by Dr. W. Duncan Baxter in his will to the University for creating a center for performing arts. The center was inaugurated in 1977 and since then, Baxter has hosted a large number of live theaters, musical shows, dramas, ballet performances, operas and dances. The center also presents an annual comedy festival which takes place at Baxter every year in October.
With an aim towards providing a platform to help South Africans stage their talents and cultural skills, Baxter Theater Center also welcomes international performers. Thus it is a place where the South African culture can meet and interact with other international cultures. The result is a vibrant cultural scenario characterized by a spirit of celebration.
Sections of Baxter Theater Center
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The Baxter Theater Center of Cape Town has several sections. It includes the Theater which can accommodate 666 people, the Concert Hall with 638 seats and the intimate Sanlam Studio Theater which can seat 172 people. Besides, the center consists of several foyers and galleries. The theater complex of Baxter in Cape Town has public spaces which from time to time are used for exhibiting works of fine arts by popular artists.
Multipurpose Usage
Baxter Theater Complex can be rented for various cultural, social as well as business events. For years now, it has been used for staging a large number of performances by local and national musicians, choreographers and playwrights. Though most of the performances that take place in the center are theatrical productions and presentations of performing arts, the center also hosts business meetings, weddings and academic conferences.
Since Baxter Theater Center is a part of university premises, it is used by the students of the University for expressing their talents and creative skills. A large number of performances have been put up by the university students in front of a wide audience.
The center has always provided, without any kind of discrimination, a stage for all the people of South Africa who wish to express their talents in performing arts. Even during the period of apartheid in Africa, the center had kept its doors open for all. Thus, Baxter Theater Center has a long cultural, especially theatrical tradition that represents the rich cultural heritage of the nation.
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