In 1799, amidst the bustle of Cape Town under British rule, Governor Sir George Yonge decided the city needed a touch of culture. He commissioned the construction of a grand theatre right here on Riebeek Square. This building, now St Stephen’s Cath. Church, first opened its doors not for worship, but for the performing arts, in November 1800. It was South Africa’s very first theatre. Designed by the talented Louis Thibault, the theatre featured elegant touches reminiscent of the French Petit Trianon at Versailles. Sadly, the theatre’s success was short-lived. It eventually fell into disuse. Decades later, this very space found new purpose. In 1838, the building was purchased, repurposed as a school for freed slaves during the week, and a place of worship and Sunday school on Sundays. St Stephen’s Cath. Church continued to serve this community, eventually becoming a Dutch Reformed Church for colored people and former slaves by 1842. It’s believed the church’s name, honoring the first Christian martyr, arose from an incident where dissatisfied slaves stoned the building during a service. St Stephen’s Cath. Church is unique. It’s reputedly the only Dutch Reformed Church named after a saint. Its congregation holds the distinction of being the only colored congregation fully admitted to the Nederduitse Gereformede Kerk’s synod. The original theatre’s balcony and stage are still visible today, a quiet reminder of its past life. St Stephen’s Cath. Church stands as a testament to change and resilience, a place where the echoes of actors and the voices of worshippers intertwine.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to