Theatre on the Square needs you

The Theatre on the Square needs you to keep the lights on.

Due to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 24-year-old independent and award-winning theatre based in the heart of Nelson Mandela Square may be facing the possibility of permanent closure.

In an effort to save the theatre, owner Daphne Kuhn has launched an enormous fundraising drive with a breakdown of donations and sponsorship possibilities for the community to play its part.

According to Kuhn, the theatre was sadly closed for the past 13 months. It has been compliant with the Covid-19 health and safety regulations and it could operate with a very small audience now but it would not be viable for the theatre at this stage.

“For over a year, we have had to support the overheads, utilities, and running costs of the theatre and its staff with no income from ticket sales whatsoever. We have no government subsidy nor a naming rights sponsor (the contract with our last naming right’s sponsor, Auto, and General ended a year ago), we are therefore desperate to raise funds to keep the theatre’s lights on,” she said.

Kuhn has thus devised a fundraising strategy to help keep the theatre alive until it can reopen. “This is not only for entertainment and the cultural upliftment of all but almost more importantly, to keep our industry alive, for the benefit of our struggling artists, actors, directors, technicians, playwrights, musicians, dancers, choreographers, and all creatives.”

She noted that the Theatre on the Square has been the life and soul of Sandton since 1997. “It is Sandton’s first theatre, loved by the public for the quality and variety of work that it presents.

“It means so much to the Sandton community as a safe and accessible cultural haven — a small theatre for 200 people with a big heart. In two and a half decades we have produced and presented 2 500 new productions and concerts.”

Kuhn concluded, “We cannot possibly lose this amazing artform at our theatre nor can we lose any more of our amazing South African talents and icons. Our audiences are longing to be back at our theatre, as are our students, actors, directors, musicians, and staff. With the strictest of all health protocols in place and after many vaccine rollouts, we hope to re-open in mid-2021.”

Find out how you can help keep the theatre lights on, visit 

Related articles:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/theatre-square-22-years-later/

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/103031/nostalgic-musical-to-hit-theatre-on-the-square/