Famous and historic: The Fugard Theatre officially closes its doors
After a year of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The iconic Fugard Theatre in Cape Town announced that it will be closing its doors permanently.
In what is a sad day for the performance arts industry in South Africa, Cape Town’s famous and historic Fugard Theatre announced on Tuesday 16 March 2021 that it is the end of the road for the theatre.
The Fugard Theatre closes its doors
According to Cape Town etc, The Fugard Theatre oozes history as rich and diverse as the acts which have taken to the stage, thrilling audiences for over a decade. Now, it is just another COVID-19 casualty.
Fugard Theatre founder, producer, and benefactor Eric Abraham released the following statement online.
“After a year of COVID closure, it is with great regret and sadness that I have to confirm that The Fugard Theatre will close permanently with immediate effect. We are not persuaded that it will be COVID safe or financially viable to reopen as a theatre in the foreseeable future. The theatre will be handed back to the owner of the freehold of the building – the board of The District 6 Museum – as a working theatre and we hope that they will be able to use it for the benefit of the Museum and the District 6 community.
I thank our extraordinary staff for all their hard work and you, our patrons, for your support for The Fugard over the last 10 years. Stay well and take care.”
Fugard moved audiences in SA and around the world
It is said that Athol Fugard is South Africa’s most significant and internationally acclaimed playwright who, over the course of 50 years, has written soul-searing plays with roles inclusive of all South Africans.
The theatre, in the Sacks Futeran building situated in Cape Town’s District Six, boasts the renovated Congregational Church Hall in Caledon Street as its entrance and speaks loudly of history, storytelling, and South African culture.
Twitter reacts
Social media users proceeded to share their sadness and memories of the theatre on Twitter – with most saying it is an absolute blow for the art scene in Cape Town.