Lalt will be moving from The Terminal Life & Style Centre to a more vibrant venue in Beyers Park, in September.
The #Coinsforchange event was the final fund-raiser towards the completion of the building of the new academy.
It was all fun and dance as the show displayed some of its finest students’ acting and ballet skills in front of their proud parents and the public.
Armand Joubert, from The Voice SA, set the theatre on fire with his performance and everyone got off his or her seat to sing and dance along to his music.
Theatre owner Louw Breytenbach said: “We received so much support from the public; they exceeded our expectations.
We expected 130 people but there were many more and some ended up standing throughout the show as we didn’t have enough chairs. Our dream is becoming a reality, so I encourage everyone to chase their dreams and to believe in them.”
Patrons were encouraged to bring donations in the form of coins in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the most coins collected in one evening.
Breytenbach said they collected 105 kilograms of coins.
“We did not beat the Guinness World Record of 180 kilograms, but we came very close and are proud of each person who contributed to this wonderful event.
“Some of the cents are still being counted, and re-counted, to make sure we have the correct amount, but our estimation is that we made just over R20 000 – enough to fund the building of the stage, buy lighting and move to our new venue,” he said.
The LALT Theatre House will host acting classes, ballet classes, courses in film and video editing as well as adjudication and script writing courses.
The new venue will also boast an intimate 70-seat theatre, dance hall, various training classes and a quaint coffee shop.
The need for growth is the result of the success of this community theatre, which played host to some of the biggest names in South African theatre, including Jonathan Roxmouth, Wesley Swain Louder, Rocco de Villiers, Nianell, Joshua na die Reën and SAMA winners ADAM, to name a few.
Joubert congratulated Breytenbach and his team for conquering this milestone and wished them a great journey going forward.